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High school football: Lampeter-Strasburg defeats West York 24-13

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on November 26, 2011| 2 Comments »

Photographing a home team’s loss is always a little rough.

But it’s rougher when the loss means the home team isn’t going to district championships.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York's Zack Smith kneels on the field before joining his teammates and coaches for a huddle after West York lost the PIAA District 3 Class AAA semifinal game on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.

It’s even rougher when you photographed that same team’s jubilant quarterfinal victory the previous week. (I’ll blog some of those photos after they’re published in a special feature this coming Tuesday.)

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. West York's Zack Smith and Brock Gladfelter take a moment after the PIAA District 3 Class AAA semifinal game on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, at Lampeter-Strasburg High School. West York ended its 10-3 season with a 24-13 loss that cuts its path to the district championship game.

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Scenes from State College

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, Travel on November 22, 2011| 2 Comments »

When the paper sent Lauren and me to State College two Fridays ago, it wasn’t just to cover the candlelight vigil and the season’s last home game/first game without Joe Paterno.

Lauren is a business reporter, so as soon as we arrived in State College, we started working on a biz story: (How) have the Sandusky case and Paterno’s firing affected the Penn State brand?

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. People walk out of and past Lions Pride - a Penn State merchandise store on East College Ave. in State College - at dusk on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. The store continues to sell a high volume of branded merchandise even after former head coach Joe Paterno was abruptly fired days after one of his former assistants was charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse.

The first store we walked into was Lions Pride. When the clerk fetched the store manager for us, he (the manager) scratched his head and said he wasn’t giving interviews because he knew what we wanted to talk about. He’d been turning down CNN, a few big-name papers and other outlets all week.

But then he started talking anyway. And then he agreed to let us quote him, and take photos in his store. And, once I was done making photos, we approached him to thank him and give him our business cards — right as he was turning down another national media outlet on the phone.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State junior Autumn Sikora, left, checks out a "Joe Knows Football" T-shirt with fellow junior Lauren Owazany, both of Luzerne County, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, in Lions Pride in State College.

Lauren and I went to several other stores afterward. No one else would talk to us.

Here’s Lauren’s story.

The next morning, before the game, we set out again — this time, in the vicinity of Beaver Stadium. I made sure at one point to stop by the Joe Paterno statue, but it was so swarmed by fans and media that I almost left because I felt like I couldn’t get a genuine photo. Then, as I turned to my right, I saw a different kind of picture to make…

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Tom Boyer of New Cumberland reads the plaques detailing the scores of games for which Joe Paterno was head coach, near the larger-than-life-sized Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, before the game against Nebraska. In the Nittany Lions' first game in 46 seasons without former head coach Joe Paterno at the helm, Penn State hosted Nebraska at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.

…so I made the picture.

The quote on the wall reads as follows:

“They ask me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach.”

(For those who may be unfamiliar with the layout of the Paterno statue area, check out this photo.)

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Floating: Soccer ball

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on November 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The second of the “I’m magic!” photos*, although this is a standard soccer photo:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right) York Catholic's Chris Sosa and Fairfield's Chris Herl vie for the ball in the second half of the YAIAA Division 3 Class A boys soccer semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at Northeastern High School. York Catholic defeated Fairfield 4-2 and went go on to the YAIAA Division 3 Class A boys soccer finals.

* You can view the first photo, too.

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College football: Nebraska defeats Penn State 17-14

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News on November 13, 2011| 3 Comments »

I wasn’t supposed to cover Penn State’s final home game.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Surrounded by members of the media, Penn State tight end senior Andrew Szczerba prepares to rise after kneeling on the field after Penn State lost 17-14 to Nebraska in the Nittany Lions' first game in 46 seasons without former head coach Joe Paterno at the helm at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.

But things fall apart, and I was sent to State College on Friday night to cover the PSU Hope candlelight vigil and to stay through Saturday to cover the last home game of the season.

Which was also senior day.

Which was also the first game without Joe Paterno since 1950.

Any game is a potentially emotional rollercoaster, and for four hours, the mood in Beaver Stadium fluctuated between contemplation, resilience, hope and sorrow.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Blue Band drum major Ian Kenney, right, takes a moment to himself before the game.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State sophomore Allen Sheffield and juniors Carolyn Lasky and Troy Weller cheer before the players took the field.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. The ball rolls off of Nebraska fullback Tyler Legate's arm after Nebraska I-back Rex Burkhead had a fumble in the fourth quarter.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State corner back and senior Chaz Powell leaves the field after Penn State lost 17-14 to Nebraska.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State senior and Blue Band silk member Kaitlyn Otto wipes tears from her face as the Blue Band prepares for its final home performance for the season after Penn State lost 17-14 to Nebraska. "I'm sorry; I'm a senior," Otto said to a photographer with an apologetic smile as her fellow silk members gathered to console her before their performance.

Be sure to check out more photos that Jason and I made yesterday before, during and after the game.

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College football: Penn State defeats Illinois 10-7

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News on October 30, 2011| 2 Comments »

I’d always considered The Nebraska Game to be the/my standard of the/my Index of Bodily Misery While Photographing A Sports Event.

Shooting The Nebraska Game at Missouri in 2009 meant four hours in 50 degrees, wind and rain. Despite my new rainjacket (which I still have) and my best efforts to stay warm and dry, I was soaked to the skin by halftime and had to peel my clothes off when I finally returned home that night. It made for good photos, but the experience wasn’t something I’d like to repeat.

Hello, Saturday. Hello, snowfall. Throughout the entire game.

Thick, wet, mushy snow.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Hot air rises among members of the Fighting Illini as they huddle on-field between plays and as Penn State defensive end Jack Crawford waits for the drive to resume in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions defeated the Fighting Illini 10-7. This was Penn State's first home game with measurable snowfall since Nov. 2, 1996, against Northwestern.

Check out more photos (and read the overall article), too.

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Analog: Penn State football

Posted in Analog, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports on October 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »

My editor slated me for three Penn State football games this season, at least before any post-season action starts up. I took my Mamiya to the first game I shot — against Alabama — just for kicks, and it turned out to be a nice icebreaker for the veteran photographers and me.

The film turned out nicely, too.

© 2011. The press box at Beaver Stadium.

© 2011. A bicycle I found outside the stadium.

© 2011. The photo vests we have to wear on the field kinda swallow me. Photo by Jason Plotkin.

© 2011. On my way to the other side of the field during the fourth quarter.

My last regular-season game is tomorrow, against Illinois. The forecast is calling for snow, which I’m actually okay with. For aesthetics and my own comfort, I’d much rather shoot in snow than in cold rain.

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College football: Penn State defeats Iowa 13-3

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News on October 9, 2011| 2 Comments »

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State tailback Silas Redd rushes the ball in red zone in the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2011.

Shot another Penn State game yesterday. I did better than last time, which is good, although I’m still kicking myself for forgetting to get loaner gear from CPS. I’m shooting one more game — unless Penn State has a postseason — so I’ll try to remember to get loaner gear then.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State head coach Joe Paterno greets fans on the field before the game against Iowa at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State defensive lineman Devon Still ends Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg's rush in the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Iowa fullback Mark Weisman tries to bring down Penn State wide receiver Derek Moye in the third quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2011.

Be sure to check out many, many more photos, plus game coverage by my esteemed colleagues!

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Analog: High school football

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on October 8, 2011| 1 Comment »

I shot a few frames of film in my first week of shooting high school football:

© 2011. Dover High School football. Sept. 2, 2011. Portra 400.

And I shot a few minutes of video footage on my third week:

Click on the image above to watch the video of a football player taking my knee out.

Oof.

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The York Revolution: 2011 season wrap-up

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, The York Dispatch, York on October 6, 2011| 2 Comments »

I began the York Revolution’s 2011 season as the photo intern at The York Dispatch and ended it as a full-time staff photojournalist at The York Daily Record.

It’s been an interesting journey. Slowly but surely, as I followed the Revolution from spring training to their Atlantic League Championship win, I became a better baseball photographer, as well another of the team’s and fans’ superstitions.

I am so glad and thankful that I had the opportunities to do this.

Here’s a look back at the season, from the Revs’ starting their spring training…

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Revolution pitching coach Mark Mason, far left, gives a few pointers to the pitchers during the first day of spring training at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Monday, April 18, 2011. Monday, April 18, was the York Revolution team's first day of spring training for the 2011 season. The team plays its opening game on Friday, April 29, at home against the Camden Riversharks.

…playing an exhibition game…

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Revolution outfielders Chris Walker and Scott Grimes warm up before batting in the ninth inning against the Heroes of the Diamond on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The York Revolution tied 6-6 with the Heroes of the Diamond, a traveling team of former and active-duty military personnel. Because it was an exhibition game, the teams did not play overtime innings.

…winning on opening day…

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. After diving into the crowd behind home plate, York Revolution catcher Octavio Martinez shows the ball he successfully caught bare-handed after Camden Riversharks outfielder Drew Macias' bat in the third inning of the Revolution's opening day game on Friday, April 29, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The Revolution defeated the Riversharks 8-2.

…hosting the All-Star Game…

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Fans walk over York Revolution manager Andy Etchebarren's star as they enter Sovereign Bank Stadium via the main entrance on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, before the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game.

…playing the regular season…

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution left fielder James Shanks briefly returns to first base just as Southern Maryland Blue Crabs first baseman Joe Jiannetti misses his catch in a pickoff attempt in the second inning on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium. Shanks turned around and made it safely to second base.

…clinching a spot in the postseason playoffs…

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution outfielder Chris Walker and pitcher Corey Thurman hug and exchange words after the Revolution defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 8-2 in the first game of a doubleheader in their drive to clinch a playoff spot on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

…playing in the playoffs…

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution outfielder Chris Walker heads onfield during the second inning of the second playoff game on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The Revolution defeated the Lancaster Barnstomers 4-1.

…playing in the Atlantic League Championship series…

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison waits in the dugout before his name is announced in the starting lineup before Game 3 against the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League Championship series on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The York Revolution defeated the Long Island Ducks 9-6.

…and, finally, becoming a back-to-back Atlantic League Championship team.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution pitcher R.J. Rodriguez celebrates with Champagne in the team locker room after the Revolution defeated the Long Island Ducks 6-3 in Game 4 to clinch the 2011 Atlantic League Championship on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Who’s already excited for next year?

Me!

(Yeah, okay, and the Revs probably are, too.)

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Pop champagne: Revs win the 2011 Atlantic League Championship

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on October 3, 2011| 1 Comment »

I was unaware of this until I read Steve’s column, but the York Revolution were once the worst team in the league.

As of yesterday, they are now a back-to-back Atlantic League Championship team.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution outfielder Val Majewski and other teammates celebrate their 2011 Atlantic League Championship win with Champagne in the locker room on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, after defeating the Long Island Ducks 6-3 at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

There was definitely some good game action in Game 4 — and I definitely have photos to prove it — but this blog post is all about victory.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison congratulates designated hitter Bryant Nelson after Nelson scored a run in the eighth inning of Game 4 in the Atlantic League Championship series on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution mascot Downtown and players celebrate midfield after defeating the the Long Island Ducks 6-3 in Game 4 to clinch the 2011 Atlantic League Championship on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

 

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison weeps as outfielder Chris Walker stands by his side after the York Revolution defeated the Long Island Ducks 6-3 in Game 4 to clinch the 2011 Atlantic League Championship on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution outfielder Jose Herrera, center, lifts a Champagne bottle in the air while celebrating with his teammates in the locker room after the Revolution defeated the Long Island Ducks 6-3 in Game 4 to clinch the 2011 Atlantic League Championship on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Check out many more photos of the game and celebration!

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Rain delay

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on October 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Game 4 of the 2011 Atlantic League Championship series was called off after an hour-long rain delay.

Of course, rain delays, game postponement and a damp 50-degree clime don’t let a newspaper photographer off the hook: We still need to make pictures.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Members of the Sovereign Bank Stadium grounds crew evaluate the amount of rainwater accumulated on the field tarp almost 45 minutes before the scheduled game time on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011.

When I approached Florence and her son (below), they were the furthest fans from the concourse and from everyone else.

“This is the stupidest thing I have ever done,” Florence told me, stoicly grimacing. When I pointed out that, despite her sentiment, she was still sitting out in the rain, she retaliated with, “But it’s the championship game, and they could clinch!”

Revs, I hope you appreciate your hard-core fans.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Ethan Lowe and his mother Florence Blantz of Wrightsville share an umbrella as rain falls steadily over Sovereign Bank Stadium and as they wait for the end of a continuing rain delay of the York Revolution's Atlantic League Championship series game against the Long Island Ducks on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011.

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York Revolution: Game 3 against the Long Island Ducks

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on October 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The York Revolution are playing a best-of-five against the Long Island Ducks for the 2011 Atlantic League Championship. With their second series victory in Game 3 last night, the Revs are set to clinch the championship if they win tonight’s game.

I feel all right about the action shots I got last night, but my favorites are features. Go figure.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution staffer Juanita Hare, center, takes tickets from fans entering Sovereign Bank Stadium on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, for the York Revolution's championship game against the Long Island Ducks. Downtown traffic and parking on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, were complicated by the simultaneous occurrences of the York Revolution's championship game, a William Penn Senior High football game, a concert in the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center and the annual York Bike Night Parade.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison waits in the dugout before his name is announced in the starting lineup before Game 3 against the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League Championship series on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The Revolution defeated the Ducks 9-6.

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Family fun with the York Revolution

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Shot the York Revolution-themed “Date Night” centerfold feature for FlipSide a few weeks ago. I figure since the Revolution are now in the post-season, it’s time I finally blogged a few photos from that feature.

(I wasn’t officially aware of it until this assignment, but FlipSide’s “Date Night” feature usually entails a family-friendly setting — not necessarily a date night for a couple!)

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Frances Heindel, 5 of Red Lion, gets York Revolution mascot DownTown's attention before the Revolution's game against the Road Warriors on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, in Sovereign Bank Stadium.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Amber Losing of Dover Township watches as her son Blake, 6, and Brinly, 9, cheer after the Road Warriors' offensive turn ended in the top of the third inning on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Sienna Rivera, 8 of Springettsbury Township, and Metta Pfaff, 10 of Springettsbury Township, watch as the York Revolution's unofficial mascot, Boomer, snatches the hat off his trainer, Jeff Hoke, on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

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The 2011 Freedom Division Playoffs: Corey Thurman

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 22, 2011| 1 Comment »

Last night was the first game of the 2011 Atlantic League Freedom Division playoffs. The York Revolution will be playing best-of-5 against the Lancaster Barnstormers.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution leftfielder Val Majewski, far left, ambles in the dugout as he and other members of the York Revolution team wait for the start of their first playoff game agains the Lancaster Barnstormers on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Here’re two shots I have of starting pitcher Corey Thurman in two very different circumstances.

Sweat in the third inning:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Sweat beading on his brow, York Revolution pitcher Corey Thurman, center, high-fives outfielder Chris Walker as he returns to the dugout after pitching in the third inning against the Lancaster Barnstormers in the first playoff game on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Rain (and maybe some sweat) in the sixth inning:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution pitcher Corey Thurman exits the field after being relieved during the sixth inning in the first playoff game against the Lancaster Barnstormers on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

The Revolution won last night’s game 3-2. I’m shooting tonight’s game, as well, and hoping for no rain.

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Pop champagne: Revs clinch a spot in the 2011 playoffs

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 16, 2011| 4 Comments »

After shutting out the Bridgeport Bluefish in a doubleheader last night, the York Revolution won the second-half Atlantic League Freedom Division title and clinched one of four spots in the league playoffs.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison pours a can of Bud Light over team manager Andy Etchebarren's head in the team locker room after the Revolution clinched a spot in the playoffs and shut out the Bridgeport Bluefish in a doubleheader on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

The games themselves were remarkable as well, despite the low crowd turnout. Scott Grimes became the first Revolution player to hit for the cycle.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution outfielder Scott Grimes returns to the dugout after hitting a homerun in the sixth inning against the Bridgeport Bluefish and becoming the first Revolution player to hit for a cycle, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

To get to the playoffs, the Lancaster Barnstormers had to lose their game last night (which they did) and the Revolution had to win at least one of their two games (they won both). Here’s a moment I captured after the Revs won the first game and before the Lancaster game wrapped up:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right) York Revolution outfielder Chris Walker and pitcher Corey Thurman hug and exchange words after the Revolution defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 8-2 in the first game of a doubleheader in their drive to clinch a playoff spot on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

And here’s a moment after the Revs won the doubleheader:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution team manager Andy Etchebarren addresses the team before cracking open dozens of bottles of Champagne and cans of Bud Light in the team locker room after the Revolution clinched a spot in the playoffs and shut out the Bridgeport Bluefish in a doubleheader on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution pitcher Kris Regas, outfielder Jose Herrera, catcher Salvador Paniagua and pitcher Lorenzo Barcelo celebrate with Champagne and beer in the team locker room.

All in all, a good night, despite the 12.5-hour shift and getting champagne in my eyes. (It stings.)

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College football: Alabama defeats Penn State 27-11

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News on September 11, 2011| 6 Comments »

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State students Corey Lee, Tracey Edouard, and David Bennett cheer as two planes perform a flyover at Beaver Stadium before kickoff against Alabama, as a tribute to 9/11, on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.

Shot Penn State football yesterday.

Against Alabama.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Alabama's C.J. Mosley (No. 32) tries to recover a loose ball after Alabama's Mark Barron, far left, blocked Penn State's Derek Moye for an incomplete pass during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.

It’s been a while since I seriously shot a college football game, and Penn State presented a few challenges. One challenge was the crowded sidelines, although fortunately the field officials were aggressive about keeping the privileged spectators behind the photographers and standing up for those of us who were working the game.

Another challenge was… it’s been a while since I seriously shot a college football game.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State's Devon Smith blocks Alabama's Wilson Love as Penn State's Justin Brown, No. 19, rushes the ball in the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.

I know I can shoot better than this, and I will. But I think I’m already doing better than I was doing mid-season in 2009 — so that’s good at least, right?

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State's Khairi Fortt, No. 11, and Eric Latimore, No. 56, take down Alabama's Eddie Lacy during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.

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High school football: William Penn defeats McCaskey 41-33

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 10, 2011| 1 Comment »

Most Friday nights this season, I’ll be shooting video on the sidelines of two different games for two different highlights reels. Last night, though, I was shooting stills.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA. William Penn cheerleader Zhane McMillion, center, jumps as she, fellow cheerleaders and the football team greet their fans after William Penn overcame a 27-14 halftime deficit and defeated McCaskey 41-33 on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, at McCaskey in Lancaster.

The game had its share of odd moments, some of which I’m posting here. The more functional photos can be found along with the wrap-up article.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA. McCaskey's Dante Heard, far left, chases a loose ball from an incomplete pass during the second quarter against William Penn on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. William Penn overcame a 27-14 deficit at halftime and defeated McCaskey 41-33

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA. William Penn's Jared Posey holds onto the ball as a McCaskey defender unsuccessfully tries to bring him down during the third quarter on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. McCaskey's Avery Wilson leaps over William Penn's Jared Posey after Posey was taken down by McCaskey's Aaron Swinton during the third quarter on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011.

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High school tennis: Dallastown at Northeastern

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 9, 2011| 4 Comments »

Trying to catch up with my blogging. Shot high school girls tennis last week. I’ve always laughed at people who managed to bring down their shutter speed enough to get motion blur in sunlight… but now I’ve done it. And I’m kinda okay with it, because I like the photo.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown's Tori Davis returns the ball against Northeastern's Cara Glatfelter on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at Northeastern High School. Davis defeated Glatfelter 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.

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Football season: Ready, set, go!

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 1, 2011| 2 Comments »

Tomorrow night, high schools all over York County will be kicking off their first games of the 2011 football season.

Today, the paper’s football preview tab was distributed. Splashed on the cover is a sportrait — my first.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA.com.

When I first showed this particular take to my editors, Brad’s response was something along the lines of, “He shouldn’t be throwing footballs in the school lobby. That’s dangerous.”

All facetiousness aside, taking the sportraits indoors was my only workable option at the time. Red Lion’s stadium was closed and a mess because they were getting their turf replaced. The sun was still shining too brightly at 4:30 p.m. for me to use any lights, and the team’s practice field was spotted with large patches of dirt and teemed with the defensive players as they practiced that day.

So we took the sportraits indoors. The photo used for the cover was a three-strobe setup, not including my on-camera 580EXII, which I used to fire off three slaved Nikon flashes. Two strobes were bounced off umbrellas onto Klinefelter, with the third on a tripod on the stair landing above him.

Here’s another option I shot:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA.com.

The locker room shoot was a challenge. I had to turn off the overhead lights so they wouldn’t interfere with the lighting. But because I was using strobes-only, I didn’t have a modeling light — which meant we were working in complete darkness. I told Klinefelter that, when the red focus-assist beam on my on-camera flash lit up, he should look directly below that light. As for myself, I had to guess at where he was in the dark and rely absolutely on that focus-assist beam and my camera’s center-point focus to get Klinefelter’s face in focus.

Fortunately, Klinefelter was patient and accommodating as I adjusted the strobes and stumbled around in the dark. The final photo is a tad underexposed — but I’d rather have it a little darker than have the metal locker doors and fixtures blown out. It was a two-strobe setup, with one strobe right behind me and another to Klinefelter’s left. Looking back now, I wish I’d tried putting the third strobe behind Klinefelter as an accent light.

Next season, right?

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Town ball: Game 5 of the Central League Championship Series

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on August 30, 2011| 4 Comments »

This was the decisive, final game in the league championship series. Serious business was on the line, folks.

And this was the weirdest double-play photo I have ever taken in my life:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Glen Rock's Tim Frisch throws the ball to first base for a double-play after tagging out Manchester's Chris Langley at second base, as Manchester's Andy Clemens, foreground and left, runs to first in the third inning of the final, decisive game of the Central League Championship Series on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, in Glen Rock Community Park in Shrewsbury Township. Manchester defeated Glen Rock 4-2 to win the series.

Re-read the caption if you have to.

Seriously, the weirdest double-play photo I’ve ever made.

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