Every summer, I treat myself and feed my passion for photography by crankin' out a non award-winning digital photo exhibit, In My 'Hood. The focus is on local sports, people, events and breaking news. Week One is local prep sports. Next week's showing: street photography.

I reside and office in Duluth's Lincoln Park neighborhood, in the former West End which actually is in the middle of the city. The housing stock is aged, large and small businesses in the 'hood struggle month-to-month, and police call statistics are the second highest in the city. But we do boast one of America's best drive-up burger and root beer joints, A & Dubs, where attendants still wait on cars.

Lincoln Park is also home to the new $17.3 million Duluth Heritage Sports Center -- which features two ice sheets and a Boys & Girls Club unit -- and the historic Wade Stadium baseball complex. Curly's Bar regulars always leave feeling no pain. I'm headed to Curly's for a few shots (pictures) later today..

Photography is my emotional mood-improver. I've been shootin' Nikon and Nikkor glass since the late 1960's -- and today I shoot a Nikon D700 and have an assortment of lenses in my camera bag. I use PhotoShop for editing, and I never sell my photographs. I refuse to shoot weddings or grads, though I do snap outdoor grads for my high school friends who otherwise can't afford it.

Recently, during a late-afternoon break from work, I snapped the photo shown above of Virginia's outstanding softball chucker, a girl who reportdly goes by the last name of Predovich, I believe. A Virginia fan said her older sister also was a top pitcher for the Blue Devils.

Anyhow, StarTribune.comer's, below is the first In My 'Hood pix for Summer 2010. The subject is Duluth Denfeld junior pitcher Jordan Verry, the ace of the Hunters' pitching staff who throws in the upper 80's. He also throws a heavy ball, and is mentored by former Gophers and Detroit Tigers pitching great Jerry Ujdur, a Duluth Denfeld assistant.

Enjoy. I'll post a new photo each week.

Please don't hesitite to post photography questions below. Good shootin' to everyone this summer, whether it's in your 'hood or down the highway.