I am working on a new post highlighting my use of long telephoto lenses (or what's commonly labeled "super-telephotos" in the camera manufacturer's jargon). For photographing sports and an occasional news assignment with "Joe-subject" at a distant podium, while we're positioned on those annoying press risers - there's no substitute for me, as my main camera for game coverage is usually something "long" - either a 300mm, 400mm, and occasionally a 600mm. This image from a high school game yesterday was made on a 600mm. (Actually a 300mm f/2.8 auto-focus with a 2x tele-extender attached, but who's counting millimeter's anyway...?) Losing the two f/stops and shooting at f/5.6 or higher isn't a bad trade off for the gain in focal length to 600mm, especially under ideal conditions. Stay tuned... ~cg.
There's still something sweet about arriving early to a venue, knowing you're there working a big game, no matter what the sport. Throw in some of these newer stadiums and arenas where even local high school games are contested nowadays, and when weather conditions are favorable - it's just about nirvana for me. I've written quite a few posts on this blog the past few years about (my) sports photography and have tried to highlight a lot of the intricacies on what I go through in preparation, the gear and supporting hardware I utilize, just about everything I try to do and work to accomplish in a routine manner in covering games, if you will.
The past few weeks have sort of meshed together with game coverage of HS baseball state tournament games, HS track & field state championships outside Binghamton, NY (another 18+ hour day, but who's counting), HS lacrosse state playoff games a few weeks ago at Middletown HS (top photo) and Thursday at media day & practice (I stayed later) for our local professional minor league team, the Hudson Valley Renegades - where even the simplest of images of a couple of bats in the bat rack (right) in their empty dugout sort of has meaning. It's another image that can be used anytime in conjunction with a baseball story.
Beyond all the talk, notes, diagrams, remote cameras, radio transmitters to trigger those cameras, fancy lenses and do-dads, finger-crossing, silent meditative chanting, and bubble gum chewing I could ever do, I wanted to again emphasize that making good sports images, no matter what level of play, requires an innate amount of concentration, attention to detail, and probably most of all - a working knowledge of the game. It all began for me eons ago, probably way before I gave much thought about being a professional photographer. Because way "back in the day..." I was a pretty decent ballplayer, and to this day understand the minutiae of sports and fine sports photography. In fact, I almost crave it... Here's a slideshow highlighting recent sports work where I've brought out the small strobe kit again for team headshots of the Renegades baseball team during their media day (right), added a 2x tele-coverter to the 300mm for the pole vaulter warming up on the runway (above left), and laid on my belly a few times for low angle images for action & feature images around the ballpark or track. Still not one to be ashamed about getting a little dirty on the job. "Cheers...!" ~cg. *Use the arrow at the bottom left of the player or click the image to start the slideshow. Enable full screen viewing by clicking the 4-way arrow icon above the credits button at lower right of the player. Pause the portfolio slideshow in the right column by clicking the "II" pause button. There is no audio track with this presentation.)
After spending a couple days covering the harness racehorse, Deweycheatumnhowe earlier in the week, it was good to get the assignment for the 83rd. running of the $1.5 Million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, NJ yesterday. It was long & tiring day, with ugly rain showers before the feature race, which drenched one of my remote cameras. With the help of a hard working assistant, we were able to come up with a few different looks from the race, and I'm pretty happy with the results. *(Note: It was kind of special to work a race like this and continue the coverage of heavily favored Deweycheatumnhowe, as this is one of the tracks my mother took me to as a kid. I remember making some of my first bets here when I was finally of age, years ago.) Here's a quick look at the day. Enjoy. -cg.
*(Use the arrows at the bottom of the player or click the image to scroll forward through the slideshow. Enable full screen viewing by clicking the 4-way arrow icon above the credits button at lower right of the player. )
I am working on a new post highlighting my use of long telephoto lenses (or what's commonly labeled "super-telephotos" in the camera manufacturer's jargon). For photographing sports and an occasional news assignment with "Joe-subject" at a distant podium, while we're positioned on those annoying press risers - there's no substitute for me, as my main camera for game coverage is usually something "long" - either a 300mm, 400mm, and occasionally a 600mm. This image from a high school game yesterday was made on a 600mm. (Actually a 300mm f/2.8 auto-focus with a 2x tele-extender attached, but who's counting millimeter's anyway...?) Losing the two f/stops and shooting at f/5.6 or higher isn't a bad trade off for the gain in focal length to 600mm, especially under ideal conditions.
