"Back in the Black..." Army - Northwestern Football. September 17, 2011

Thoughts on working again down at Michie Stadium for my first game of the 2011 season covering the Black Knights of Army. Football for me is similar to covering other sports at any level of competition, and is truly a game of inches. Particularly at the Division I College level. My choice of shooting positions throughout the game is usually from my knees 99.5% of the time, lens and camera choices (usually 3 bodies & at least one stadium remote installed above the stadium for the overall wide view - below), and even the clothing I wear for the day is all predetermined. Well usually. Nowhere was this theory put to the test as it was during Saturday's game against Northwestern. *(Note to self: remember carpenters knee pads & full rain suit in the car's trunk. Change batteries in the Pocket-Wizards to insure consistent firing of remote camera, and attach PW receiver in remote camera's hot-shoe to avoid radio reception interference for that camera atop Kimsey Hall.)

Army and Northwestern on the field in front of 35,784 fans during their game in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY, on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Army defeated Northwestern 21 - 14. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

We all dodged a bullet as the rain held off for the day and the stadium lights were on the whole time, which helped with exposures. With game time kickoff at 3:30PM, I knew it'd be a long afternoon and the workday would spill over into the evening. I certainly didn't want to be leaving the ballpark after 9 or 10PM I kept reminding myself... It wasn't a great game for making peak action images, although Army QB Trent Steelman ran for three touchdowns (2 of them were one - yard 'bang-bang' plays into a scrum at the goal line), so that meant working to stay keyed on just about every play in the second half, because any routine run or pass play could be a game-breaker. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around and the score tied at 14, I remember at times drifting into my "work zone": No crowd noise, no distractions, no talking to fellow photographers along the sidelines or end zone. Fortunately I didn't miss too many pictures on Saturday. All in all it was good to be working back in the big stadium, and working hard to offer full day coverage going into my fifth season of Army Football... ~cg

ARMY Football Practice. (In August, no less...) 9•Aug.•11

It's August. It's been unbearably hot and sticky with high humidity here in the Northeast the last few weeks; so that must mean it's time to start covering Army Football down at West Point again. Gearing up for my fifth season of coverage down at the Academy. Here's a quick take on today's practice... ~cg.

Army starting quarterback Trent Steelman (#8) on the field during practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. The Army Black Knights open their 2011 season on Sept. 3rd. at Northern Illinois, followed by their home opener on Sept. 10th. against San Diego State. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

West Point today. 7•July•11

Spent the morning in the field with Army cadets at West Point during their Soldier First Responder Training at Camp Buckner at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Thursday, July 7, 2011. The Army has implemented a tourniquet-first policy in training new soldiers because so many are "bleeding out" from IED (Improvised Explosive Device) wounds on battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. ~cg.

"Pomp..." Graduation Week. June 2011.

It's graduation week here in my newspaper's coverage area. After the college ceremonies from last month have become almost a distant memory, we're still faced with the one of the busiest weeks of the year documenting numerous commencement ceremonies during this next to last weekend in June. I'll post more of my select images from the four schools I've covered this week. Stay tuned... ~cg.

Alyssa Fortino waits to enter Eisenhower Hall with her classmates prior to James I. O'Neill High School's 2011 Commencement Exercises at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Thursday, June 23, 2011. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

"Memorial Day..."

Today is Memorial Day. So much more than cookouts, ballgames and day trips to the beach, lake or catching another blowout holiday sale at the dreaded local mall. Don't think so, ask any family member who's lost a loved one...

Semper fi. ~cg.

"Class of 2011 - Dismissed...!" West Point, NY. 21•May•11

(3) - Newly commissioned 2nd. Lieutenants toss their covers skyward in the traditional "hat toss" during Army's Graduation and Commissioning ceremony in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Navy Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff delivered the commencement address as 1,031 cadets received their diplomas and were commissioned as 2nd. Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record


"Army Graduation by the numbers..."

Working this year's graduation down at West Point was no easy matter. It never is and shouldn't be looked upon as any mere graduation day. Ever. Not even after working the four previous events, including POTUS (Obama) on station for last year's ceremony, I still had a ton of intricate details to prioritize in my mind and more importantly - in my mind's eye. There are again too many variables to anticipate and to sort out in any cohesive order, so I'll try to put some of the challenges in perspective here a little.
In no particular order: 4:30AM wakeup call, begin packing the car at 5:30AM departure (above left) to stadium. 5 - camera bodies. lenses - 10.5mm fisheye to 600mm (the 300mm f/2.8 + a 2x tele-extender attached at times during the ceremony), 1 - Gitzo monopod, 1 - heavy duty luggage cart, 4 - SuperClamps, 2 - Manfrotto Magic-Arms, 7 - Pocket-Wizards, 1 - pair each: pliers, wire cutters, channel locking pliers, half dozen zip lock freezer bags, 1 - bag 24" black locking plastic ties, 1 - rain poncho, 1 - full rain suit, 1 roll of black gaffer's tape, 1,031 graduating cadets, 1,241 frames shot before first edit, 88 - frames on second edit, 30 - (selects or "keepers") frames...

Secure areas literally in the shadow of the stadium itself on post forced me to actually leave the base, drive out the back gate, and head through the small village of Highland Falls to the main gate. That brief detour cost me nearly 30 minutes, for what would be on a normal day, probably a 6 - 8 minute drive. Keep in mind, all vehicles had to be re-inspected at the gate and I still had to make my way up to the press parking lot, near the opposite end of the stadium were I was only 45 minutes earlier a little after 6AM. Imagine arriving for an assignment literally 4+ hours early, and still worrying that you're late. Although I didn't get into the stadium (more security checks, hand-wanding metal detectors, and bomb sniffing dogs) and finally on the field with my cart full of gear until nearly 7:30AM, things worked smoothly in installing the first remote camera (above left) on one of the aluminum benches for the graduating cadets. Even as a few very brief early morning rain drops fell, and a fog hung over most of the academy, I'd decided while waiting in traffic again to enter the main gate, that I'd install at least the main remote camera. Besides, I loaded up on both zip-lock freezer bags that would fit over the camera if needed and I could easily add another plastic grocery bag over the rig if needed too. Unless there was going to be a downpour, I was intent on installing this #1 remote for the third time. This was the year to make it all work since there weren't going to be any top level dignitaries on the dais, like a POTUS or even a VPOTUS. (Vice - President). In fact, First Lady Michelle Obama had addressed the graduating cadets the night before in a brief ceremony, and luckily I hadn't drawn that assignment. Once the main remote was securely installed and sort of locked into place with the help of two black heavy duty plastic locking ties, I got permission from the West Point PR folks right on the field to place the second low angle remote mounted on a black metal finished floor plate under the stage, and pointing back toward the cadet seating. I knew this camera would probably give me a good picture as well, depending on how the lighting conditions evolved during the morning. I'd thought all week how this second remote camera would provide an additional view of the cadets marching into the stadium, seated and standing during the ceremony, and finally a second unique view of the "hat toss" to end the ceremony. Fortunately I was able to borrow the metal floor-plate from a freelance colleague here in town. It was only a matter of minutes before I had this camera aligned under the main podium at field level. I'd also thought alot about lens selection on these two remotes, and had even briefly wondered how things would've worked out if I had placed the Nikon in this position with the fisheye, and this Canon 1-D on the benches, angled straight up toward the main stadium grandstand to make the lead image. By the time both remotes are in placed, secured and confirmed to be firing from a Pocket-Wizard in my hand (and eventually on the camera in my hands) I barely have enough time to make a restroom pit stop, have a few bites of a power bar, and start looking for feature images of the audience, etc. Ironically, the Cadet First Captain walked around the field about an hour before he and his 1,000+ classmates formed up in the Foley Athletic Center to march into the stadium, and that would become my lead image below in the slideshow to officially start my workday making images... ~cg.

Here's an edited take from the ceremony:

"All for the Corps..." West Point, NY.

Today is Army Graduation Day at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. It'll be my fifth Army graduation I've covered since joining the staff at this newspaper, so obviously I've been thinking a lot about all the preparation that goes into an assignment like this. The ceremony is one of the two biggest days I work all year (the other being the Army - Navy Game in early December). Ironically, both days start about 4AM for me and involve the USMA. Here's a look some of the gear I've utilized and a few favorites from previous graduation and commissioning ceremonies in Michie Stadium... ~cg

2010.

2009.

West Point in January.

Spent all day yesterday at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. This is the beginning of what may possibly be nearly 30 hours of coverage over these two days at the Academy, on two big assignments. So I wanted to start with my initial and closing images from the first day on post. More to come - stay tuned... ~cg.

9AM. Two cadets walk on The Plain (parade grounds) near the Superintendent's residence at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Friday, January 21, 2011. Upwards of 6" of snow fell throughout the Hudson Valley region during the fourth snowstorm in January. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

5:15PM A statue of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower faces The Plain (parade grounds) with the Superintendent's residence in the background at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Friday, January 21, 2011. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Russian "Red Stars" Hockey vs. Army @ West Point. 28•Dec.•10

With more than 20" of snow blanketing major parts of the Northeast after a blizzard on Sunday evening, what better thing to photograph (besides more folks out in the elements) than a Russian All-Star hockey team mixing it up with the cadets here at West Point Tuesday night. I think by the second period of their exhibition game, I realized how cool it was to be photographing players from another part of the world again, particularly when I'd been to some of their regions in Siberia, as sort of an homage to my four visits to the Russian Federation throughout my career. Here's a few favorites from the first two periods of the game. Oh yea, final score: Red Stars 11 - Black Knights of Army 4. ~cg.

Russian Red Stars players gather around goalkeeper Roman Smiryagin (#62, center) prior to their exhibition game against Army in Tate Rink at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. The Red Stars defeated the Black Knights of Army 11 - 4.

Army forward Jack Barnes (#19, left) scores past Russian Red Stars goalkeeper Roman Smiryagin (#62, right) during the first period of their exhibition game in Tate Rink at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. The Red Stars defeated the Black Knights of Army 11 - 4.

Army forward Mark Dube (#15, center) watches the puck as Russian Red Stars goalkeeper Roman Smiryagin (#62, right) makes a save during the first period of their exhibition game in Tate Rink at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. The Red Stars defeated the Black Knights of Army 11 - 4.

Army forward Mike Henderson (#12, right) checks Yaroslav Alshevskiy (#88, center) of the Russian Red Stars as Army's Mark Dube (#15, left) watches during the second period of their exhibition game in Tate Rink at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. The Red Stars defeated the Black Knights of Army 11 - 4.

Army goalkeeper Jay Clark (#35, left) reaches to make a save on a shot by Anton Lazarev (#91, center) of the Russian Red Stars as Army's Bill Day (#23, right) defends during the second period of their exhibition game in Tate Rink at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. The Red Stars defeated the Black Knights of Army 11 - 4.

Russian Red Stars goalkeeper Roman Smiryagin (#62) splashes his face with water during a break in their exhibition game against Army in Tate Rink at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. The Red Stars defeated the Black Knights of Army 11 - 4. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

"More Summer Football..." Aug. 2010

Kingston High School junior varsity running back Jerred Beniquez (center) runs wind sprints with the varsity players during football practice at Ascot Park in Kingston, NY on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Mid-August, and it's still hot. Which means more football practice still to cover for the upcoming seasons, daily and preview sports stories our guys are writing on; both at Army and our local high schools. Here's a take from 3 practice sessions this past week. (Army opens on the road two weeks from today at Eastern Michigan and the local HS season begins on Friday evening, Sept. 3rd.)

Army quarterback Trent Steelman (#8) walks to practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Thursday, August 19, 2010. Army opens their 2010 season on the road at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 4th., and their home opener against Hawaii on Sept. 11. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record


*It has taken awhile for things to sort of set in this early season, but by continually paying attention to all the back stories with some of these teams and key players, it's (finally) shaping up to be an interesting Fall for upcoming sports coverage. Time to start re-checking the backup camera bodies, long & short lenses, remote radio transmitters & receivers, monopd(s) and camera remote mounting hardware, knee pads, rain gear, luggage cart, and all the other extra "do-dads" and "whatchamacallits" I work with for football game coverage... ~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. )