Pool Pics by Hoppe

[Tom In Cincy]

Diana Hoppe has been providing GREAT pics of tournament players, spectators and cues for the last 4 or 5 years. She's probably on the road as much as most players and is bound to show up taking pics at any tournament.

AZBilliards Photo Gallery is chock full of Ms. Hoppe's pics from all the great events.

Thanks Diana for sharing these photos.
If you hadn't visited Diana's booth (at most major events), she sells some glossy 8 1/2 by 11s of your favorite Pro players in action and usually with autographs.

 

[Wally in Cincy]

she sells some glossy 8 1/2 by 11s of your favorite Pro players in action and usually with autographs.

and she actually pays them for signing too.

I bought 3 pics from her at DCC. I told her she needed a website.

 

[JAM]

I always enjoy seeing Diana Hoppe at each and every pool event I go to. She has natural talent when it comes to capturing the moment, and she is the players' favorite photographer.

Some of her BEST pictures are those which have not been published. I cherish the one she took of me and mine several years ago at the U.S. Open, and I've blown it up and have it on full display in my living room. Her photographs of players from yesteryear are treasures.

In addition to taking pictures, she also provides updates, but it's her pictures that tell the real story. Promoters and TD's should welcome her with open arms because PoolPics by Hoppe's contributions to this sport fill a niche.

I hope to see her this year at the 2005 U.S. Open, to name one event later this year. For the pool folks around the world who are unable to attend major events like this, Diana Hoppe is a godsend!

JAM

 

[Timberly]

For the pool folks around the world who are unable to attend major events like this, Diana Hoppe is a godsend!JAM

I agree 100%. There's not alot of of big tournaments near me so It's nice to be able to pull up the gallery and check out what's going on.

 

[DaveK]

For the pool folks around the world who are unable to attend major events like this, Diana Hoppe is a godsend!

Your commentary on tournament goings-on are very much appreciated too JAM, you two should collaborate. Between Dianas pictures and your words people would get a very good sense of the atmospheres and actions.

Dave

 

[tigerair]

pool pic by hoppe

d. hoppe has the best pool pics i have ever seen. i have a big collection of her stuff from the past 5 years that she took at our joss n/e 9 ball tour stops.she is also as great a person.she created alot of great memories for me with her pics.she has alot of them signed by players also.if it was not for her and mike howerton with the coverage that azbilliards gave our tournament it would have not been the same.she also helps get you top notch players to your stops.i cant say enough great things about her.hopefully some day in the future she will get her own website so we can purchase somemore of the great pics she takes.if you have never seen them before when you do you will be amazed.

 

[Black-Balled]

Is Diana from the same family as Willie? Hoppe? I always wondered.

 

[Wally in Cincy]

Is Diana from the same family as Willie? Hoppe? I always wondered.

No relation, I am fairly certain.

 

[JAM]

No relation, I am fairly certain.

I asked Diana when I first met her if she was related to Willie Hoppe, and she confirmed that she was a distant relative of the legenday pool player. I can't remember if it was a great uncle or a distant cousin. Achieving excellence, though, seems to run in the family!

JAM

 

[shoutout33]

Some of her BEST pictures are those which have not been published. I cherish the one she took of me and mine several years ago at the U.S. Open, and I've blown it up and have it on full display in my living room. Her photographs of players from yesteryear are treasures.

Jam...you're a pro?!? Snap! If I had known that I'd be taking lessons from you by now. I live in the DC Metro area. Temple Hills, MD. Oh yeah, I also see you on the one pocket fourms too. I've found a place to play near where I live, but if you don't mind me asking, where do you play one pocket in DC?

 

[drivermaker]

How much does an 8x10 or 8 1/2x11 picture from Diane Hoppe run? Autographed and unautographed? My understanding is that they're out of line and quite pricey. Am I wrong?

 

[JAM]

Jam...you're a pro?!? Snap! If I had known that I'd be taking lessons from you by now. I live in the DC Metro area. Temple Hills, MD. Oh yeah, I also see you on the one pocket fourms too. I've found a place to play near where I live, but if you don't mind me asking, where do you play one pocket in DC?

Shoutout33, I'm pretty much a professional railbird these days!

In the metropolitan D.C. area, there's several great pool rooms where one can enjoy pool. Many players like USA Billiards in Laurel, MD. This is an action friendly room and is family-run. They also have several billiard tables. The place is clean, and the entertainment sometimes keeps one there until morning hours (LOL), whether 9-ball, straight pool, one-pocket, or proposition games. At night, there's usually a good one-hole exhibition on the front table. Located at 8568 Laurel Dale Drive in Laurel, MD, (301) 604-3635.

There's a new pool room which just opened up on Route 214. About a mile or so off the Beltway (I-495). The place is Queball-1 Billiards, 7945 Central Avenue, Capitol Heights, Maryland 20743; phone (301) 808-7700. Check out this link for further info about a weekly Wednesday one-pocket exhibition between legendary players. This Wednesday, Bus Driver Ronnie will be competing with Left-Handed Kevin. Keith McCready is on the player roster and is due to play Strawberry either next week or the week after on Wednesday. Here's the tournament thread about it: http://azbilliards.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=11520&highlight=Strawberry

Daytime play, folks have been traveling to Fast Eddies, located at 7255 Commerce Street, Springfield, VA, (703) 912-7529. There are many one-pocket and 9-ball players who frequent this pool room. I haven't been able to check it out during the day because I work, but according to the local pool grapevine, this is the place to go during the daytime hours.

Shooters pool room in Lanham, MD has been around for quite a while. Although very small, real pool enthusiasts enjoy the rich culture and excellent games which occur there from time to time. The regulars are friendly and enjoy seeing first-class pool, welcoming any and all pool players. I've gotta warn you though, many a road agent has encountered tough competition at Shooters and left town with empty pockets. You never know who's going to show up at Shooters, located at 9040 Lanham Severn Road in Seabrook, MD, (301) 577-1188.

I also happen to like Hot Shots on Pulaski Highway in Baltimore. Sonny the owner is a real pool fan, and this room has hosted many tournaments. I think they have a Saturday weekly tournament there. The address is 8101 Pulaski Highway, and the phone number is (410) 687-8720. The Rosedale Inn, also located in the same shopping center and owned by Sonny, is a really great restaurant and has 7 or 8 bar boxes in the back room. Delicious homestyle cooking, too!

All-Star Billiards in Frederick, MD is another great pool room (IMO). Also family run, it is definitely a very popular gathering spot, located at 1051 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21702, (301) 668-5668. They have a league going every day of the week, I hear, and it's a very comfortable place to hang out in.

Bill and Billie's in Arnold, MD is a very well-maintained room. They have a weekly Monday tournament, $20 entry fee, and there's two snooker tables on site. There are many great players who frequent this room on a daily basis. Located 1244 Ritchie Highway in Arnold, MD, (410) 544-8185.

Tuesday nights, check out Champions in Laurel, MD at 904 Upper Fairlawn Avenue, (301) 604-1300: $25 entry fee, race to 7, single elimination, every Tuesday night. Keith McCready, UPA Touring Pro Mike Davis, Ryan "Genie Man" McCreesh, Power Breaker Jerry Slivka, and recent Florida Pro Tour Champion Pooky are some of frequent players, and I've witnessed each one of them getting spanked on more than one occasion by this tournaments weekly cast of regulars. Anything can happen in a race to 7, and this is a very fun tournament (IMO).

On Wednesday evenings, there's a weekly $20-entry-fee 9-ball tournament at Orange Ball in Rockville, MD [430 Hungerford Drive, (301) 309-6440]. They add 100 bucks if they get 16 or more players. This is a very nice pool room with a full bar and excellent cuisine.

Hope you check out some of the above-referenced rooms, if you haven't already. Pool is definitely alive and well in D.C.!

JAM

 

[JAM]

How much does an 8x10 or 8 1/2x11 picture from Diane Hoppe run? Autographed and unautographed? My understanding is that they're out of line and quite pricey. Am I wrong?

I've seen Diana Hoppe's booth at several major events, and depending on the size of the picture and whether it is framed or not determines the cost.

Sometimes she will bring her printer with her on the road and take pictures of the fans/spectators with a pro and then immediately print it and get it personally autographed. People enjoy receiving these keepsakes as a happy memory on the tournament trail.

Diana Hoppe also has a "secret stash" of unpublished photographs, players in, shall we say, funny scenarios, legendary players from yesteryear, and action shots, the ones you like, Drivermaker, with the player ready to pull the trigger on a field of green!

When I want to print a .jpeg file photo I've taken, it costs me $7.50 per picture at my local photo shop. Suitable mailing envelope and postage is an additional expense. If you think about the time involved in producing high-quality photographs, having them enlarged and framed, it can run up to $50 to $100, depending on your personal preference.

Diana Hoppe's prices are very reasonable (IMO), and her individual flare of catching the player's true personality is what separates her from all the rest.

Diana sent me a photo she took of Keith McCready at the '03 Open. It's my favorite shot of him in action. He's putting every ounce of his energy in this shot, to include using his facial english as he tries to twist the ball in the pocket.

JAM

 

[Wally in Cincy]

How much does an 8x10 or 8 1/2x11 picture from Diane Hoppe run? Autographed and unautographed? My understanding is that they're out of line and quite pricey. Am I wrong?

I think I paid $25 for thre 8x10's not framed, can't remember exactly. I don't find that terribly out of line, considering the quality.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

I paid $15 for an autographed print (8.5x11) of Earl Strickland on the US Open TV table, with us Cincy boys in the background.

He was at the Hoppe booth when I purchased the photo (he was there alot)
Earl signed it, and added, 5 time US Open Champion.

I think I paid $25 for thre 8x10's not framed, can't remember exactly. I don't find that terribly out of line, considering the quality.

 

[drivermaker]

I'd say from $10 to $15 for an unframed (even unautographed) photo is a fair price to pay for high quality 8x10. My understanding is that it was at least double that amount ($30+) I'm not a cheapskate by any means, but certain things that are overpriced just rub me the wrong way and I won't purchase out of principal.

Unless there's a "rights" issue with players photos being sold by an outside party, she's probably blowing it by not having a website. Hell, I'd be a weekly customer if she did and the price was right.

 

[Bob Romano]

I don't think that Diana has ever charged $30 for a picture. I think that $20 is more in the range. She uses only the best equipment, to compare her work with anything or anyone else is comparing apples to oranges. When there an occasion that you do not want an amateur photographer snapping pictures haphazardly, i.e., a wedding, anniversary or other, you hire a pro. She is a pro.That's what her PROfession is.

This post seems to have fallen off the track a bit regarding what and Who it was originally meant to convey. But I am glad that this post was started, it is a nice introduction for an article I am writing about Diana, up close and personal. She is a complex, powerhouse, intelligent woman, and my very best friend.

Eydie

 

[Bob Romano]

More about Hoppe

When Diana has a booth you will find pictures ranging from signed $20.00 to limited B/W.The ones that are bigger than 8 x 10 go for more than for instance the US Open Champions 10 x 15 photo's and others. All of these pictures are real photographs not copies nor prints. They are all done on real B/W paper. You will have a professional picture that is not yellowed 10 years from now.

She has pictures of just about everyone. You can ask for someone and she will have it. There are photos such as the Young Guns limited edition that is a 10 x 15 Tony Watson, Mika, Michael Coltrain, Shannon Daulton, Jeremey Jones, Johnny Archer and Troy Frank lying on a stretch limo on the beach . She has helped just about every player in the industry to promote themselves with quality pictures

Diana is acquiring a screen name and plans on posting on this forum shortly. You will be able to ask her first hand anything pool/picture related.....

Eydie

 

[Tom In Cincy]

But I am glad that this post was started, it is a nice introduction for an article I am writing about Diana, up close and personal. She is a complex, powerhouse, intelligent woman, and my very best friend.

Eydie

Ok Eydie... when is the article due and what is the publication's name... I am curious.. this is long over due...

Pool has more stories like Diana's that need to be told.

I'd like to see bios on:

Scott 'The Shot' Smith (UPA Tournament Director)
Steve Tipton (WPBA Tournament Director)
Barry Berhman (US Open host and promoter)
Greg Sullivan (Derby City Classic host and promoter)
The Ramonos (Windy City Open and more, promoters)
Promoters Allen and Dawn Hopkins (Super Billiards Expo promoters)
Regional tour promoters (like Mike Janis for instance)
And,
Pat Fleming (Accu-stats videos)

 

[drivermaker]

Diana is acquiring a screen name and plans on posting on this forum shortly. You will be able to ask her first hand anything pool/picture related.....

Eydie

Aaaaah Eydie...just to ensure that it happens...can you pull her aside and tell her the story of Christopher Reeve?