"They're just 'Hammers & Nails', man..." (Part 2) 24•Jan.•12

Packing up the hardware for a junior college basketball game between two local rivals tonight:

Here's a few favorites from the night, which included working with four cameras (one as a remote installed in the bleachers & aimed down toward a basket), two Dyna-Lite Uni-Jr. strobes clamped high in the stands in either corner of the gym, and just as importantly - gaining permission to edit and transmit my first 5 images on deadline from a coaches office after the game. That alone saved a lot of time and stress before packing everything up and loading the car to head back to the office, only a few blocks away. (Ironically, this is the same college gym where I'd installed the backboard remote and made the image that appeared in Popular Photography Magazine and subsequently their how-to book, "TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT: Essential Tips & Tricks For Shooting Amazing Photos" I'd written about a few days ago as well... ~cg.

"They're just 'Hammers & Nails', man..." Jan. 2012

My gear used to cover Boys HS Varsity swimming between Monroe-Woodbury & Kingston High Schools at Monroe-Woodbury Middle School in Central Valley, NY on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. © www.chetgordon.com/blog

Now that covering the indoor sports seasons are finally in full swing for me again, here's a brief look at what I go through as far as camera & lens selection, lighting equipment, the whole bit. There are a few more big basketball games coming up (both HS & college) in the next few weeks, so now is as good a time as any to continue getting the bugs out of my equipment systems, and shake the rust off while actually working these games. Thanks for looking... ~cg.

Cameron Meyer of Kingston swims the 100 meter freestyle to finish second at 53.9 during their Boys varsity swim meet against Monroe-Woodbury at Monroe-Woodbury Middle School in Central Valley, NY on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Elijah Ghrael (#22) converts his second free throw to put NFA ahead by one point, 65 - 64 in the closing seconds of their game against Middletown in Newburgh, NY on Thursday, January 12, 2012. Ghrael had 15 points as NFA defeated Middletown 65 - 64. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

"No NBA...? No Problem." Basketball coverage has begun for the 2011 / 2012 season for me. Newburgh, NY 15•Nov.•11

The game ball rolls to a stop at court side after the Mount Saint Mary College - SUNY New Paltz women's basketball game in Newburgh, NY on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Mount Saint Mary College defeated SUNY New Paltz 62 - 47. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

For those of you already missing your "Lebron and / or Kobe fix" on the NBA schedule this Fall, I am excited again to return to covering local high school and college games. For me that means utilizing multiple cameras, the usual gaggle of lenses, Pocket-Wizard radio transmitters & receivers, strobing arenas and gyms, remote camera set-ups, clamps, cords, batteries, gaffer's tape, heavy duty extension cords, chewing gum, rubberbands, gizmos, other doo-dads, and of course lugging all that gear to a location on a luggage cart. I sometimes feel like I'm heading out of town on an assignment, when actually I may only be working a few towns away at a big game, no matter the level of competition. After shaking off the rust and getting comfortable again working on the hardwood floor, here's a few images from Tuesday night's doubleheader season opener at nearby Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. Stay tuned... ~cg.

"Another Winner..." NPPA 2nd. Place Sports for June 2011

Well, a second place ain't too bad in the National Press Photographer's Association Monthly News Clip Contest for June 2011. I wrote a bit about how I made this image back during the high school baseball playoffs in an earlier post here on the blog, and have re-posted it below (so you don't have to click on another annoying back-link to find it...). ~cg.


*This is why I like utilizing long glass for sports; no matter the event, venue or level of competition. Peak action, fast shutter speeds, relatively clean or out of focus backgrounds at wide apertures, nice light... (yea, I was 'sitting' on the shortstop and sort of guessed right when he dove for this line drive right toward me as I was 30' or so past first base up the right field line with my trusty 300mm and a 1.4 tele-extender welded on.) Just like we used to do down at the big ballparks in the Bronx and Flushing, NY... ~cg.

(3) - Livingston Manor shortstop Ken Fisk (#14) dives but can't make the play on a ball hit by Tim Steffens (#9) of Smithtown Christian during the fourth inning of their New York State Class D regional final at Pine Bush High School in Pine Bush, NY on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Livingston Manor defeated Smithtown Christian 5 -3. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

"The Stuff That Keeps Me Awake NIghts..." (part 1) 9•May•10

*screengrab from Borrowlenses.com, a Bay Area rental house I'm considering renting a much needed piece of "long glass" for an upcoming big assignment in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned. ~cg.