The end of baseball coverage takes me to my favorite shooting time of year...Fall sports, more specifically, football. For the past two years (and beyond with other companies), I have covered youth and high school football throughout the state every Saturday and Sunday, and I love every minute of it. I don't see much football on TV, but nothing beats photographing the action live. Besides, there are no commercials.
A few years ago while working for a local newspaper, I had the opportunity to photograph a Patriots vs. Chiefs game at Gillete Stadium. That experience was definately up there on the cool scale. I arrived what seemed like 6 hours before the game and headed to the media entrance to sign in and get my bags checked, my on-field pass and a vest. As I made my way through the tunnel towards the field, I can't help but chuckle and say to myself..."Wow, I can get used to this!". When you watch a football game on tv, the field always looks bigger. Go to your local youth or high school football game - that's the size of the field the pros play on, minus 68,550 fans. So as I made my way onto the field area, I walked the perimeter a couple of times to take it all in. One by one players started taking the field for their pre-game warm ups, the stadium began to fill, the interviews were taking place, Tom Brady passes were being zipped to recievers that made it look way too easy! The kickers were sending the ball 50 yards down field like it was their job. Oh yeah, these guys get paid (a lot of money) to play this great game of football on the grandest stage every week. Now when I played high school football, it was the coolest thing when we ran through the paper hoop before the Thanksgiving Day Football game as your name was announced. Fast forward seven years and I'm on the sidelines at Gillette. The weather was absolutely perfect. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the rendition of the National Anthem gave me goose bumps and the 3 jet flyover was right on cue. I can't forget about the 20 foot inflatable Patriots helmet that the team ran through out onto the field with smoke and fireworks through a tunnel of 50 cheerleaders while 69,000 fans rocked the stadium. This is the moment I had worked so hard for.
The Patriots were up by 7 with 6 seconds to go in the game. It was fourth down and the Chiefs had the ball on the one yard line. Now I've been to my fair share of rock concerts that make my ears ring. When the Chiefs came out of the huddle for this fourth down play, I never heard that much noise in a venue. I actually yelled to myself to see if I could hear it, I have no idea what I said, it was that loud. The Chiefs scored and forced overtime. However, Adam "Mr. Clutch" Vinateri nailed a 40+ yard field goal to win the game and sent the Patriots faithful home happy.
Even with the excitement of that game, I still enjoy shooting youth and high school football. I've never attempted to pursue the pro sports scene. I enjoy the fact that families are hanging the images I create on the walls of their homes. It brings great joy when I get a phone call, email or note from a customer saying they loved the photos and that they are hanging in their living room. That's why I do what I do. If you have photos you purchased from Curtis Sports Imaging and have them displayed in your home (framed, collage, albums, etc), snap a photo and email it to me at info(at)curtisimaging.com. I'd love to see what you did with them.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Baseball's unofficial end
Viewed by many on TV, the PA team fell to MD 4-0 in another somewhat uneventful tournament game. It was 0-0 going into the last inning with a total of around 3-4 hits for the entire game. In the sixth, PA's left fielder made a great diving attempt on a soft line drive that found the painted grass in left field for a double. The next batter roped a base hit to right field that scored the winning run. A HR later that inning ensured the win for MD.
If there is one tip for shooting baseball it's that you have to be ready on every single pitch. Finger on shutter release button, right eye in viewfinder, left eye on batter. Why do you have to keep an eye on the batter you ask? At this stage of the tournament you have kids pitching that look like they drove their parents to the game. They throw gas! When you are in the first base photo well and right-handed batters are late on a fastball, they head in my direction....quickly! I had to duck out of the way about five times during the 6 games I covered in Bristol. During the game Monday night, we had another screamer heading in our direction and that was slowed by one of ESPN's mics that was mounted in the photo well. The mic was facing the opposite direction after the hit, but could have easily pegged one of the six photographers in the photo well. I'm getting off point here...baseball is a game that can put you to sleep as a photographer when there is a pitcher's duel, but if you take a break for one pitch, it can be the game winning HR, the shortstop makes a diving play OR you can get drilled with a line drive.
With the regional tournaments over and no other baseball games scheduled (at this time), Monday night was the unofficial end of Curtis Sports Imaging's baseball coverage for 2007. Thanks to everyone that supports our coverage and purchased action photos of your athlete in action! Because of you we can continue providing you with this great service.
If there is one tip for shooting baseball it's that you have to be ready on every single pitch. Finger on shutter release button, right eye in viewfinder, left eye on batter. Why do you have to keep an eye on the batter you ask? At this stage of the tournament you have kids pitching that look like they drove their parents to the game. They throw gas! When you are in the first base photo well and right-handed batters are late on a fastball, they head in my direction....quickly! I had to duck out of the way about five times during the 6 games I covered in Bristol. During the game Monday night, we had another screamer heading in our direction and that was slowed by one of ESPN's mics that was mounted in the photo well. The mic was facing the opposite direction after the hit, but could have easily pegged one of the six photographers in the photo well. I'm getting off point here...baseball is a game that can put you to sleep as a photographer when there is a pitcher's duel, but if you take a break for one pitch, it can be the game winning HR, the shortstop makes a diving play OR you can get drilled with a line drive.
With the regional tournaments over and no other baseball games scheduled (at this time), Monday night was the unofficial end of Curtis Sports Imaging's baseball coverage for 2007. Thanks to everyone that supports our coverage and purchased action photos of your athlete in action! Because of you we can continue providing you with this great service.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Saving the best for second-to-last
Covering the Eastern Region Little League tournament is something I look forward to every year. It showcases some of the best youth baseball in the country and with that usually comes the highest emotions from game competition. Until last night, the games I've covered for PA have been less than exciting with little or no emotion shown on the field. Maybe it's because these kids know they are moving on and they are saving their energy for Williamsport. Maybe it's because they have been winning all year and they take the Barry Sanders approach to the game, "Act like you've been there before".
As a photographer, I usually leave Breen Field with a camera full of peak action and high emotion. Until yesterday it just wasn't there. No close plays at any bases, no celebration during or after their wins. Myself along with other photographers covering the games can't believe the lack of "action" on the field. That changed yesterday.
For the first time in a while I set up a remote camera to cover action at home plate. What this means it that I put one of my cameras on a tripod (there are other ways to secure them) with a remote triggering device attached. I can be a couple hundred feet away and fire the camera with a remote switch. Since I was planning on shooting from the first base side, it gave me coverage of home plate from both sides. I arrived about an hour early to set this up and run my tests. Everything was operating perfectly....until the game started and I really needed it.
The bottom of the sixth inning ended (the score was tied) and I decided to make the 100 yard sprint with camera and 300mm lens in tow from the first base well around the back of the field, around the press box, past the first base bleachers and into the photo well to check on my camera. Struggling to collect my breath I found that the camera hadn't fired all game. Boy was I mad. I was sure to have a few shots from the remote camera since there was finally action at home plate. Nope, nada, zilch, no pictures. "Well", I said, "there is nothing I can do about it now." So I put it out of my head and focused on the game. I'm a true believer in things happening for a reason.
PA had the lead 3-1 going into the top of the sixth inning. PA had to change pitchers because of the new pitch count rule in affect with little league baseball. NJ managed to get two base runners on and the following batter jacked a 3-run homerun to take the lead. The NJ bleachers erupted and the momentum was with the boys from Randolph, NJ. Northampton, PA was cool at the plate in the bottom of the frame and was able to score the tying run on consecutive hits. PA tried to end the game sending their less than speedy base runner home on a base hit but was thrown out by about 10 feet.
The race was off to check my remote camera......
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, PA's utility second baseman Dylan Cochran worked a walk to keep the inning alive. Lead off hitter Zachary Fitzgerald, who has been clutch all tournament long, stepped up to the plate in what would be the biggest at-bat of his life. He drove a fastball out of the park for a 2-run walk off homerun to send his team into the finals against Maryland, a nationally televised game on ESPN, tonight at 8pm.
Fitzgerald rounded first base with both hands in air. As he rounded second, he couldn't hold back the smile pumping his fist in the air. Heading home he was greeted by 12 uncontrollable teammates, 3 confident and relieved coaches and a rocking first base bleacher section that could be heard throughout the Giamatti Complex. I had goosebumps! I knew that moment would change the lives of these kids forever. It's hard to explain what I feel, but this is what I live for. Photography allows me to capture moments just like this over and over again. It's what drives me to get better at what I do. I feel like I have the greatest job in the world. These images never would have happened if I didn't have to check that remote camera. Being in the first base photo well put me in perfect position to capture this moment, one that a lot of people in Northampton will never forget! I know I won't.
Visit our website to see photos from the game.
http://www.curtisimaging.com/
As a photographer, I usually leave Breen Field with a camera full of peak action and high emotion. Until yesterday it just wasn't there. No close plays at any bases, no celebration during or after their wins. Myself along with other photographers covering the games can't believe the lack of "action" on the field. That changed yesterday.
For the first time in a while I set up a remote camera to cover action at home plate. What this means it that I put one of my cameras on a tripod (there are other ways to secure them) with a remote triggering device attached. I can be a couple hundred feet away and fire the camera with a remote switch. Since I was planning on shooting from the first base side, it gave me coverage of home plate from both sides. I arrived about an hour early to set this up and run my tests. Everything was operating perfectly....until the game started and I really needed it.
The bottom of the sixth inning ended (the score was tied) and I decided to make the 100 yard sprint with camera and 300mm lens in tow from the first base well around the back of the field, around the press box, past the first base bleachers and into the photo well to check on my camera. Struggling to collect my breath I found that the camera hadn't fired all game. Boy was I mad. I was sure to have a few shots from the remote camera since there was finally action at home plate. Nope, nada, zilch, no pictures. "Well", I said, "there is nothing I can do about it now." So I put it out of my head and focused on the game. I'm a true believer in things happening for a reason.
PA had the lead 3-1 going into the top of the sixth inning. PA had to change pitchers because of the new pitch count rule in affect with little league baseball. NJ managed to get two base runners on and the following batter jacked a 3-run homerun to take the lead. The NJ bleachers erupted and the momentum was with the boys from Randolph, NJ. Northampton, PA was cool at the plate in the bottom of the frame and was able to score the tying run on consecutive hits. PA tried to end the game sending their less than speedy base runner home on a base hit but was thrown out by about 10 feet.
The race was off to check my remote camera......
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, PA's utility second baseman Dylan Cochran worked a walk to keep the inning alive. Lead off hitter Zachary Fitzgerald, who has been clutch all tournament long, stepped up to the plate in what would be the biggest at-bat of his life. He drove a fastball out of the park for a 2-run walk off homerun to send his team into the finals against Maryland, a nationally televised game on ESPN, tonight at 8pm.
Fitzgerald rounded first base with both hands in air. As he rounded second, he couldn't hold back the smile pumping his fist in the air. Heading home he was greeted by 12 uncontrollable teammates, 3 confident and relieved coaches and a rocking first base bleacher section that could be heard throughout the Giamatti Complex. I had goosebumps! I knew that moment would change the lives of these kids forever. It's hard to explain what I feel, but this is what I live for. Photography allows me to capture moments just like this over and over again. It's what drives me to get better at what I do. I feel like I have the greatest job in the world. These images never would have happened if I didn't have to check that remote camera. Being in the first base photo well put me in perfect position to capture this moment, one that a lot of people in Northampton will never forget! I know I won't.
Visit our website to see photos from the game.
http://www.curtisimaging.com/
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