Side Moments

Sports photographers often chase the peak action or the moment of pure jubilation. Although these moments are great, it is refreshing to take a step back and just walk around and find an image.

Recently while covering the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California I had a few moments to just take a 50mm out and walk around. Being able to shoot for yourself and not to fulfill an assignment is every photographers dream. I only had a few minutes between matches but it was enough to come away with the frame above.

The layers of people, the crazy lens flare both framing the couple holding hands in the middle built a nice moment.

Until next time, take care!

Undefeated

When two undefeated teams are paired together you are always hoping for a close ending.

Recently I had the opportunity to go make pictures of two 7-0 high school football teams.

Coming down to the last few seconds the score was 7-7. Cameron Hooper of Howard High School (pictured above) scored the game winning touchdown but the opposing school had a few seconds to make a last attempt.

I took a gamble and followed Cameron around up and down the sidelines while he couldn't stand the anticipation. Fortunately it paid off and captured the moment when both him and the cheerleaders realized their undefeated season will continue.

I felt this image really told the story for the night.

Until next time, take care!

Summer

Summer is almost over and it has been a fun one.

I was able to both work on some great local and international jobs and right now I am about to start work at the US Open.

I have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes editing, but have still been lucky to get out behind the camera and make some images.

Above are a few frames I have made this summer.

Until next time, take care!

Clean

During a recent cloud covered and slow Baltimore Orioles game I decided to try and make something interesting.

The game action had been lacking so I went and made some features of both teams in the on deck circle.

With a mix between cloud cover and a small window of sun trying to shine through I was able find a clean white background to put the players on.

Until next time, take care!

Tennis

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to go and make photos for the BNP Paribas Open.

Big shout out to good friend and colleague Billie Weiss for the recommendation and a big shout out to the team of photographers and photo editors who I worked alongside during the tournament.

Tackling something as large as a tennis tournament can be a major task. Luckily I was working with some of the hardest working photographers and we were able to capture the story of the tournament well.

Its always great to work with a team.

Until next time, take care!

Lucky Light

Sometimes you get lucky.

Fortunately, yesterday at a local high school lacrosse game the light was working for me.

As the sun set below the trees, a small gap allowed a long strip of light to fall across the field.

Finding the cleanest dark background I sat and waited. Eventually the light hit right at center field and the had a face-off.

Everything fell into place for a nice image. Can't say I can complain about that.

Until next time, take care!

Tight is Right

Finding a clean background can sometimes be a struggle.

That struggle has been very prevalent during my time here in Indian Wells. Advertisements liter the walls and line judges like to hang out in the back of my frame.

Finding a clean background in the tunnel before Nadal took the court was a nice surprise.

Until next time, take care!

Hot

Currently I am enjoying the warm California sun in Indian Wells at the BNP Paribas Open.

I have the great opportunity thanks to fellow photog Billie Weiss to come out and work with the tournament for the next week.

Growing up I was an avid tennis player. Combining my love for the sport and my love for photography has been such a treat the last two days.

Now it is just time to get used to the 90 degree days!

Until next time, take care!

Experiment

Sometimes it can be fun to experiment.

While shooting a recent high school basketball game I found myself shooting images at slower shutter speeds. The Mount Hebron High School coach is known to be very eccentric on the court and I thought he would lend to making interesting imagery.

After trying a few things I ended up with the image above. I felt it really show cased his personality and the emotion he leaves on the court.

Sometimes experiments work, sometimes they don't, but when they do they can leave you with an interesting image.

Until next time, take care!

Opportunity

This last month I have found myself with two great opportunities working with the Getty Images team for NASCAR.

In Daytona I had the opportunity to edit some incredible photographs shot by the team, and then Atlanta I was able to contribute to the imagery as a shooter.

As I transition into the full-time freelance world I am very grateful for all the opportunities I receive. Above is a small gallery of some images from Atlanta Motor Speedway a week ago.

Until next time, take care!

Winter

Seems like winter is finally setting in here in Maryland.

A few weeks back we were spoiled at a nice temperate weather December NFL game at FedExField.

After an unfortunate battle between myself and my monopod (the monopod won leaving me with a few less ounces of blood) I was able to get everything situated and make some images.

The photo above was one of my favorites from the game. I think it speaks really well to the Redskins season from the injury of RGIII to the rise of a relatively unknown quarterback in Kirk Cousins.

Until next time, take care!

New Chapter

For almost the last 3 years I have had the incredibly opportunity to work as the Photography Assistant at the Baltimore Orioles.

I have grown as a photographer and as a person in ways I never thought I would by the age of 23.

When I started here at the Orioles, I was a naive college student who was lucky enough that someone took a chance and hired me.

As a junior photography major, I was looking for a way to push my career when one of my professors sent me a link to apply to work at the Orioles. I knew it was something I had to get. I pulled an all-nighter writing a new cover letter, tweaking my resume and most importantly assembling a portfolio. Fortunately, I was brought in for an interview where I spoke with Todd Olszewski, the team photographer.

After I was hired, Todd taught me everything. I am so incredibly lucky to have gotten this experience and I will miss it greatly.

The group of guys and girls that make photos in Baltimore are some of the best people around. Rob Carr, Patrick Smith, Patrick Semansky, Gail Burton, Nick Wass, and Tommy Gilligan to just name a few, have all shaped my photography and never thought twice about helping me out when I needed it.

This Friday will be my last day working for the Orioles. It was an incredibly tough decision to make but I believe the best thing to do for my career is to go freelance full-time.

I can't wait to see where this career takes me.

Above is a gallery of a few images I made during this last baseball season.

Until next time, take care!

On the Field

For most of the NFL season I have been in the Photo Work Room editing for the Getty Images team.

This last Sunday, I had the opportunity to get out on the field and make some images. Balancing both shooting and transmitting can always be a big task but luckily for me I had some big plays happen in front of me and was able to come away with some good frames.

Until next time, take care!

Having Fun

Recently, I have been out covering a lot of different high school sports, from football to golf to soccer to field hockey The Baltimore Sun Media Group has been keeping me busy with high school sports.

I have to say, they are a lot of fun. Sometimes it is hard to remember why I make images. But I just remind myself it is because I love it. Often the stresses of the professional field can cast a shadow over the actual creative process, but recently I have been trying to remember to always think of the image first.

When I am having fun, I am making better photos.

Until next time, take care!

Playing Catch Up

Recently I have been playing a lot of catch up.

Its always good to be busy as a photographer but recently it has been non-stop and because of that, my blog posts have been suffering. I have a few days open coming up and I should be able to get some new blog posts up soon.

I had the incredible opportunity a few weeks ago to travel down to Darlington, South Carolina and work with the Getty Images team.

I learned a ton from the great group of shooters. Huge shout out to everyone on the team for helping get through my first race.

Until next time, take care!

Preseason

The last two weeks I have had the incredible opportunity to go out and make some images for Getty Images at two local NFL preseason games.

Football is one of my favorite sports to shoot. The energy is always really high and a lot of emotion is shown on the field.

I am beyond grateful to Getty for sending me out to shoot.

I have quite the backlog of assignments that I want to write some blog posts about, hopefully this week I will be able to get those up.

Until next time, take care!

Tryouts

Recently I went out to photograph the first practice/ tryouts for the fall sports at a local high school.

I had free reign to jump between all of the sports and just make art of each of the teams.

While covering some of the football practice, I noticed that the cross country team was running on the other side of a tree line. I found this nice circular cut out and just waited.

I was happy with the frame and felt it was a nice image to showcase the cross county team.

Until next time, take care!

Infrared Baseball

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with an infrared camera thanks to the generosity of Baltimore-based Getty photographer Rob Carr.

Rob lent me his IR converted EOS 1D Mark II to shoot with and so far it has been nothing short of a blast. This is my first experience using one and after a little bit of playing I am starting to get the hang of it.

The images are absolutely wild and I hope to continue to make some images with it.

Until next time, take care!

NASCAR

Wednesday I had the opportunity to make pictures for Getty Images down in Richmond, VA for a NASCAR practice session.

After a late night baseball game where the Orioles beat the Phillies 19-3 I headed down to a hotel right outside Richmond, checking in around 2 a.m. A few hours later I checked out of the hotel at 5:45 a.m. and was off to the track.

A long and tiring day, but an experience that I am so incredibly grateful for.

I put up a small gallery from the days take. 

Until next time, take care!

Busy Baseball

The last month or so has been crazy. A lot of assignments and a lot of work and because of that I have been slacking in blog posts.

May was a very busy month for the Orioles so I decided to put together a small gallery of a few images from the last few homestands. 

Hopefully as more time allows I will be able to catch up here with some more posts.

Until next time, take care!