Blog // Austin American-Statesman
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Just like most photographers, I shoot a ton of sports. This year was no exception. Compared to the past few years, it seems like I shot a wider variety of sports this year than usual. I shot a few sports I had never photographed before including hockey, golf and soccer. So continuing with the year in review posts, here are my 15 favorite sports shots from this year.
James Poscascio, a freshman at Butler, watches the action between his fingers during a viewing party of the Duke-Butler national championship game on Monday, April 5, 2010, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana forward Bobby Capobianco, right, reaches out to grab a rebound in front of Illinois center Mike Tisdale during the second half of IU's 66-60 loss to Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at Assembly Hall.
Categories: Sports, Year in Review | Tags: Austin American-Statesman, Bloomington Herald-Times, Peoria Journal Star | Comments (0)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
It’s been a pretty good year for me. I graduated college, completed three internships and got a job. I also made a few good pictures along the way. Going through my archive recently, I compiled a gallery of the year in pictures that includes 75 photos. It’s a chronological gallery that shows what I’ve been up to this year. Figuring most people wouldn’t want to look at 75 photos, I edited down to my 15 favorites from this year. It’s been a fun year, but I’m very excited to get started in Wyoming in 2011.
Larenz Dempz, age 7, tries to keep his balance as he stands on Brian Beavliev's back during a push up at the East Boys and Girls Club in Austin on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Area youngsters participated in a Police Activities League basketball camp at the gymnasium.
Ongina reacts as a man stuffs money down her bra during a drag performance of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, at the Peoria Pride Festival on the Riverfront.
Categories: Year in Review | Tags: Austin American-Statesman, Bloomington Herald-Times, Peoria Journal Star | Comments (2)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sometimes bad light can be incredible light. Seeing the light is an invaluable part of the job. Whether it is a high school gym or bright sunlight, photographers must be able to expose for the light. One common attribute in the portfolios of great photographers is an eye for the light. Whenever I’m on an assignment, I pay extremely close attention to light. One thing I always look for is contrast. Brightly-illuminated subjects in a dark space can really add an element of drama in a photo. This is something I look for at every assignment I photograph. Here are a few examples from the past year:
Master Gunnery Sgt. John Lund, a member of the Marine honor guard, listens to a memorial ceremony for Sgt. Jeremy McQueary on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, at The Seasons Lodge and Conference Center in Nashville, Ind. Lund, a veteran of the Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraqi War, folded a flag in McQueary’s ceremony. McQueary, 27, was killed in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan on Feb. 18.
Indiana coach Tom Crean waits for player introductions to begin before a game on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, at Assembly Hall.
Categories: Miscellaneous | Tags: Austin American-Statesman, Bloomington Herald-Times, Peoria Journal Star | Comments (0)
Friday, August 13, 2010
I had a pretty good summer. I came to this realization on Wednesday, my last day at the Austin American-Statesman, as a few of the staffers looked through my work from my internship. Throughout the entire internship, I had constantly beat myself up over the quality of my work. I’m by far my own worst critic. I often overlook the good and immediately focus on the flaws. I’m extremely driven to be a better photographer, which can sometimes frustrate me when I don’t make perfect images. I might hit a single, but I’m usually swinging for the fences. In the end (literally since it was the last day at work), I realized I had a pretty good summer, and the experience as a whole was beneficial to me.
Larenz Dempz, age 7, tries to keep his balance as he stands on Brian Beavliev's back during a push up at the East Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Area youngsters participated in a Police Activities League basketball camp at the gymnasium.
Yoga instructor Anna Gieselman leads a group in a stretch during a donation-based class at Casa de Luz on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010. The classes are part of Community Yoga, which collects donations and uses the proceeds to teach yoga to underprivileged citizens who can't afford the classes.
Categories: Features, Music, News, Portraits, Sports | Tags: Austin American-Statesman | Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
My afternoon assignment on Tuesday was photographing a 19-year-old Houston Astro’s prospect who was making a Triple-A debut with the Round Rock Express. Although my single focus was on the young pitcher, I shot a few features in the ballpark and happened to catch the umpire calling a runner safe at home plate (third photo). One thing I loved about the assignment was the light. The game started at 7 p.m. with long shadows on the field that progressed as the sun set in the West. Instead of avoiding the sunlight or exposing away from it, I made some photos with an emphasis on the harsh contrast between shadow and sunlight. This is something I’ve really developed an eye for this summer. Now when I go on assignments, I often find myself looking for this.
Round Rock Express pitcher Jordan Lyles, age 19, throws to a Sacramento batter during his first minor league start at Dell Diamond on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010. Lyles is one of the Astro's top prospects.
Express pitcher Jordan Lyles, age 19, runs out to the mound at the top of an inning against Sacramento at Dell Diamond on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Austin American-Statesman, Baseball | Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Instructor Joanna Fried leads a group of women in a yoga class at North Loop on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010.
Categories: News | Tags: Austin American-Statesman | Comments (0)
Monday, August 9, 2010
I got the opportunity today to photograph the presidential motorcade and Air Force One during Barack Obama’s visit to Austin. I was working in a support role to the rest of the staff today who were covering Obama’s arrival, the president’s speech at the University of Texas and crowd reactions at places in between. With such a huge news story, it was very cool to be able to contribute to the staff’s coverage, especially as an intern. While some might be disappointed that they are not photographing the speech itself, as an intern you have to be humble and be thankful that you were asked to contribute to a big news story.
It's business as usual at Callahan's General Store off of U.S. 183 as Air Force One carrying President Barack Obama prepares to land at Bergstrom International Airport on Monday, Aug. 9, 2010.
President Barack Obama's motorcade passes under Riverside Drive as it heads South on Interstate 35 towards Bergstrom International Airport on Monday, Aug. 9, 2010. Obama spoke to Democratic fundraisers downtown and students at the University of Texas before concluding his trip to Austin. Later in the day, the president is scheduled to make a stop in Dallas.
Categories: News | Tags: Austin American-Statesman | Comments (0)
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Photographing golf can be difficult. I love to play golf, but it’s not one of my favorite sports to photograph. Usually I’m looking for a telling moment at the end of the given tournament when the winner is celebrating or when the loser gives up the championship on the last hole. On Sunday, I followed the final pairing for their entire 18 holes. After getting a few standard shots of all the players, I got creative and looked for some interesting shots. I was especially drawn to the golf course’s openness (lack of trees around the holes) and the sky dotted with clouds.
Brenden Redfern watches a tee shot during the final round of the Austin City Golf Championship at Jimmy Clay Golf Course on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010. Redfern held the lead for most of the day in the final group, but lost by one stroke.
Kody King watches as his tee shot heads down the left side of the fairway on the 10th hole of the Austin City Golf Championship final round at Jimmy Clay Golf Course on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010. King's tee shot found a water hazard.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Austin American-Statesman, Golf | Comments (0)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Maybe I’m just in a reflecting kind of mood. I’ve got less than a week left in Austin so while I’ve been reflecting about my internship experience, I made a couple images today featuring reflections. This wasn’t something I set out to do, and I didn’t realize the connection until I was looking at some photos in Photo Mechanic a few hours after the shoots. The first image below is from a factory that manufactures the glass used to make touch-screen devices. Oddly enough, as I rolled up for the shoot, “Your Touch” by the Black Keys started playing in my car. Almost as weird as the time last summer when I went to the scene of a shooting and “Happiness is a Warm Gun” started playing.
A worker cleans off the surface of a piece of glass that will be used in a touch-screen device at Touch International on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010.
Fashion model Eva Hernandez poses as designer Tina Sparkles, not pictured, snaps a picture of her in the "Systems Dress" on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010. Sparkles created the dress using colored electrical wire.
Categories: News | Tags: Austin American-Statesman | Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Gay rights activist Irene Andrews waves a gay pride flag as she leads a chant against California's Proposition 8 during a rally at Austin City Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010. Earlier in the day a U.S. District Court in San Francisco overturned the controversial legislation, deeming it unconstitutional.
A gay rights activist carries an equality flag in his backpack as he listens at a rally for gay marriage rights at Austin City Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010.
Categories: News | Tags: Austin American-Statesman | Comments (0)
