I've been quietly waiting a year to get back into Christl Arena at the United States Military Academy in West Point to work another Army - Navy basketball rivalry. Since I didn't have to opportunity to cover what would've been my fifth Army - Navy football game in FedEx Field last December in Washington, DC, I knew this assignment yesterday was going to be big. For the past few days I'd been playing out different scenarios in my head, and my mind's eye on how to go about covering another big basketball day with two games. Hauling in a full set of arena strobes was a given. (5) Five cameras bodies was also an easy item near the top of the checklist. (I work with four throughout the day.) Enough lenses ranging from a fish-eye to the 'long' 300mm f/2.8AF easily make the cut too. Besides, I'd worked last year's matchup between these two service academies, so I felt a little more comfortable knowing I had a good reference point for logistics in the venue, complete gear selection, shooting positions, strobing the arena again, and of course utilizing at least one remote camera. You can see last year's post on how I covered the games by clicking HERE. Arriving a little more than 3 hours before the start of the women's game at noon, meant at least 4 trips to the top rows of the empty arena to securely install the strobes in each corner. Since both games were on national TV, I hesitated in attempting to install a remote camera behind the backboard glass without a helper, and since the TV guys were still using a large ladder to install their audio equipment on both baskets, I decided not to waste too much time waiting for them and even dismissed the idea of installing a low angle remote camera on the backboard stanchion as I'd done last year. It'd have to be a remote camera from the stands with a telephoto zoom on this day (at right). My "ah-hah" moment didn't come until almost tip-off of the women's game at noon when a fellow photographer took his position on the floor nearby and asked, "Hey Chet, Where's your remote...?" I reminded myself that I'd already been in the building before 9AM... ~cg.
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 starting quarterback Trent Steelman (#8) throws to a receiver during drills prior to their team scrimmage in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, August 13, 2011. The Army Black Knights open the 2011 season on Sept. 3rd. at Northern Illinois and their home opener is Sept. 10th. against San Diego State. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
Ok, I'm going to go out on a limb here after shooting today's scrimmage with this year's Army football team. Something I never, ever do - at least not in a public forum. I try real hard to not become "a homer"; rooting for the home team you're covering. It's always been best for me to not get too attached to local teams and athletes, because when they come up short, it hurts and can sometimes effect your work. Certainly can't have that in this day and age. But this summer there already seems to be somewhat of a buzz in the air down at the United States Military Academy. I got a slight hint of it last week while covering practice in their indoor facility. Players like starting QB Trent Steelman, FB Jared Hassin, and WR Davyd Brooks (from right here in Newburgh, BTW) have a little more bounce in their step. What we used to call "Snap & Pop" in the Marine Corps. Steelman's passes are little tighter (top & left), Brooks' pass routes (bottom) are crisp and exact, and fullback Hassin (right) has become a bona fide punishing runner out of the backfield. Newcomer FB Larry Dixon (a freshman I believe) is built like a armored vehicle and he looks like he's going to be leaving a few stunned tacklers in his wake too. Slotback Jon Crucitti (below at right) is also a baseball player who can reliably "deliver the mail" as well. Along with Ray Maples, they should have a solid backfield. There's a new backup QB, Angel Santiago (left), who looks short in stature, but I'm sure he's got the goods or head coach Rich Ellerson wouldn't have him out there running the second team offense already. In what will be my fifth year of covering ARMY football down at Michie Stadium and on the road, this team may have the makings of something nice this season. We'll see how they look after a few more practicesI'll probably be assigned to before the season starts in three weeks. It also feels really, really good to be working on the warm turf field of a mid-August afternoon in a Div. I college stadium, shooting with long glass (300mm + 1.4 & 2X tele-extenders), multiple cameras, and making good sports images again. Stay tuned. ~cg.
Army receiver Davyd Brooks (#13) dives but cannot make the reception on a Trent Steelman pass during drills prior to their team scrimmage in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, August 13, 2011. The Army Black Knights open the 2011 season on Sept. 3rd. at Northern Illinois and their home opener is Sept. 10th. against San Diego State. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
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
(2) Newburgh City Police SWAT Team officers outside 260 First Avenue during a drug raid in Newburgh, NY on Friday, July 15, 2011. Five individuals were taken into custody including one female and a 15 year-old juvenile. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
Newburgh City Police SWAT Team officers take a woman into custody during a drug raid at 260 First Avenue in Newburgh, NY on Friday, July 15, 2011. Five individuals were taken into custody including this woman and a 15 year-old juvenile. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
(2) Soniel "Sonny" Ayala is taken into custody by Newburgh City Police officers at the intersection of First and Carpenter Avenues in Newburgh, NY on Friday, July 15, 2011. Ayala was wanted for a stabbing during an armed robbery earlier this morning. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
Tommy Bell on the field in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Bell was Army's first 1,000-yard rusher in 1954, but isn't in the Army Sports Hall of Fame. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
(2) Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Army will host San Diego State in their 2011 home opener on Saturday, September 10th. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
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.
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...
(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.
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
I've been quietly waiting a year to get back into Christl Arena at the United States Military Academy in West Point to work another Army - Navy basketball rivalry. Since I didn't have to opportunity to cover what would've been my fifth Army - Navy football game in FedEx Field last December in Washington, DC, I knew this assignment yesterday was going to be big. For the past few days I'd been playing out different scenarios in my head, and my mind's eye on how to go about covering another big basketball day with two games. Hauling in a full set of arena strobes was a given. (5) Five cameras bodies was also an easy item near the top of the checklist. (I work with four throughout the day.) Enough lenses ranging from a fish-eye to the 'long' 300mm f/2.8AF easily make the cut too. Besides, I'd worked last year's matchup between these two service academies, so I felt a little more comfortable knowing I had a good reference point for logistics in the venue, complete gear selection, shooting positions, strobing the arena again, and of course utilizing at least one remote camera. You can see last year's post on how I covered the games by clicking HERE. Arriving a little more than 3 hours before the start of the women's game at noon, meant at least 4 trips to the top rows of the empty arena to securely install the strobes in each corner. Since both games were on national TV, I hesitated in attempting to install a remote camera behind the backboard glass without a helper, and since
the TV guys were still using a large ladder to install their audio equipment on both baskets, I decided not to waste too much time waiting for them and even dismissed the idea of installing a low angle remote camera on the backboard stanchion as I'd done last year. It'd have to be a remote camera from the stands with a telephoto zoom on this day (at right). My "ah-hah" moment didn't come until almost tip-off of the women's game at noon when a fellow photographer took his position on the floor nearby and asked, "Hey Chet, Where's your remote...?" I reminded myself that I'd already been in the building before 9AM... ~cg.
