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Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category

Professional baseball: Barnstormers defeat Revs 4-3

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on August 5, 2011| 1 Comment »

Having photographed more York Revolution baseball games than probably any other single team*, I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of shooting baseball.

* No, the “Missouri Tigers” — football, mens basketball, womens basketball, etc., as a collective whole — do not count.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Lancaster Barnstormers second baseman Gilberto Mejia safely steals second base as York Revolution second baseman Ramon Castro misses the ball in the third inning on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium. Mejia reached third base safely in the same play.

Also, thank goodness for high resolution.

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Professional baseball: Revs defeat Blue Crabs 5-3

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on July 31, 2011| 1 Comment »

Here are two of the shots I managed to get from yesterday’s Revolution game before I had to leave for another assignment. First, a feature:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution team manager Andy Etchebarren tells catcher Octavio Martinez to have a good night after some fans wished Martinez a happy 32nd birthday before the Revolution began playing against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Next, my first successful shot of a(n unsuccessful) pickoff attempt:

© 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.

(Note: The contrast in the second photo is pretty much straight out of camera. I tried to tone it down a little for the blog. If you view it on the paper’s website, it looks more “normal” because our browser tends to desaturate our images anyway.)

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The 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on July 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I may have had a raging headache — induced by lack of both sleep and food — but I’ll be damned if I didn’t zip up my mansuit (Philmont reference) and do my best to make pictures at the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game on Wednesday.

Just a few shots from the day:

© 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. Etchebarren managed the Freedom Division team for the All-Star Game as well.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Recent York Catholic graduate Alex Tucci warms up before going up to bat for his turn in the home run derby on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium before the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game. Each team in the home run derby included one recent York County high school graduate, one York County townball player and one Atlantic League player. Tucci, who made two fair homeruns and hit a foul ball over the fence, was the only recent graduate to hit out of the field.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution outfielder Val Majewski returns to the Freedom Division dugout after hitting a homerun in the fourth inning and scoring the first point in the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

This photo was the main art for today’s front page:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution pitcher Corey Thurman and third baseman Vince Harrison dance on the track during the seventh inning of the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

I was editing and transmitting photos when the fireworks show began, and had no intention to make pictures of the show. Once it began, though, I couldn’t resist leaving my computer and going to the front of the media room with my camera. I didn’t have a tripod, and was basically holding my camera steady on the open window ledge, but hey — it worked.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. A fireworks show concluded the night for the 8,053 fans who came to the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Check out more photos, and complete coverage.

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Town ball: Mt. Wolf at Glen Rock

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on July 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I’m about to head out to shoot a professional baseball game — but first, here’re a couple of feature shots from a town ball game from a bit ago.

Some nice light:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Glen Rock's Dan Rhodes goes up to bat against Mt. Wolf in the first inning on Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Glen Rock Community Park.

And some nice camaraderie:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Glen Rock's Dan Rhodes high-fives his teammates after scoring against Mt. Wolf in the first inning on Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Glen Rock Community Park.

(It’s just a coincidence that these two photos are of the same guy…)

As far as I understand, town ball is basically guys playing baseball just to play baseball. It’s not American Legion baseball, it’s not pro, it’s not Little League. I may be wrong — and, if so, correct me — but this is just playing for the sport.

The word “Americana” comes to mind.

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Flying high

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on July 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

As his wife stays grounded, a York County man will soon be soaring across Italy.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. With his wife Sue's help, Larry Bunner of Lower Windsor Township sets up his hang glider in a field across from their house on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Bunner started hang gliding shortly after he and Sue married, so his hang gliding - which might be a novelty for another family - is nothing out of the ordinary for Sue or their children and grandchildren.

Not too long ago, I went out to meet Larry Bunner, who showed me his hang glider. He’s been hang gliding for 36 years, and his wife is usually the one following him on the ground in a car to pick him up. Bunner will compete against 152 other pilots in the World Hang Gliding Championships coming up this month in Italy.

Not shabby for a 57-year-old man in retirement!

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. With his wife Sue's help, Larry Bunner of Lower Windsor Township sets up his hang glider in a field across from their house on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Bunner started hang gliding shortly after he and Sue married, so his hang gliding - which might be a novelty for another family - is nothing out of the ordinary for Sue or their children and grandchildren.

Check out Steve’s article about Larry, which ran on the front page a few days ago.

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Senior swimming

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on June 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I photographed the York County Senior Games swim meet a few days ago. It was awesome.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Lore Gutmann, 82 of York City, kisses Bryson Neidigh, 7 of Springettsbury Township, on the cheek after he presented her with her gold medal for the 50-yard breaststroke in the 80-84 age division in the York County Senior Games swim meet on Friday, June 24, 2011, at Central York High School. Seniors ranging in age from 51 to 88 swam three strokes and an individual medley to compete in the 10th annual York County Senior Games.

I’ve shot high school swim meets and pro swim meets, where the natatorium is always full of tension as the swimmers look at the timeboard and either grimace or sigh in exhausted relief. With the seniors? People were just having fun, and even the two men boasting a decades-old rivalry had great camaraderie.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right) Tim Grumbacher, 71 of York Township, shakes hands with Jon Edmonds, 70 of Springettsbury Township, after defeating him in their 100-yard freestyle heat in the York County Senior Games swim meet on Friday, June 24, 2011, at Central York High School. Grumbacher and Edmonds said they have competed against each other since they both participated in the 1980 Oxford Triathlon.

I should add that a few of these seniors could easily outswim me. I can only hope that when I’m their age, I too can still get in the water and swim a few laps.

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Legion baseball: Spring Grove defeats Dallastown 7-1

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on June 18, 2011| 1 Comment »

Call me un-American, but I’d never heard of American Legion baseball until the day before I shot a game.

After checking out the list of teams, though, I’m not too surprised about my ignorance: There are only 26 teams in Texas (where I grew up)… and there are 393 teams in Pennsylvania (where I am now).

So yesterday around sunset, I photographed my first legion ball game. It was a junior game, with the boys’ ages ranging from 16 to 19. The light was beautiful, and the field was nestled behind a small business and between several backyards.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown's Travis Hamberger pitches against Spring Grove in the seventh inning of an American Legion baseball game on Friday, June 17, 2011, at Shryock Field. Spring Grove defeated Dallastown 7-1 in seven innings at Shryock Field in an American Legion baseball game on Friday, June 17, 2011.

I also brought along the paper’s 300mm, which proved to be too tight for home plate, at least from where I shot (on the further end of the home team’s dugout).

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Spring Grove's Paul Smith slides into home in the first inning of an American Legion baseball game against Dallastown on Friday, June 17, 2011, at Shryock Field.

And, finally, an autofocus accident with which I’m okay:

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown pitcher Tyler Fisher watches as second baseman Ryan Tracy makes a catch during the first inning of an American Legion baseball game against Spring Grove on Friday, June 17, 2011, at Shryock Field.

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Fighting right: Mixed martial arts

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

No matter where I go, I can’t escape mixed martial arts.

I’m not complaining. The sport fascinates me, and the fact that it’s on the rise doesn’t surprise me too much. It was on the rise in Missouri, and it’s on the rise here in Pennsylvania.

Last week, I spent a few hours in an airless, stuffy gym as a former high school wrestler and his former coach duked it out in preparation for their upcoming fights on Saturday. By “duking it out,” I mean that they were just rasslin’ — throwing punches during training would be a little extreme when they’re so close to their fights.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. A photo that didn't run. Sweat marks.

One thing that Bill Walizer — the former wrestling coach — said that surprised me was that many wrestlers are going into MMA. He said wrestlers coming out of college have few options to pursue wrestling professionally, and so many of them turn to MMA.

Eric Albright — the former high school wrestler — said wrestling is the best base for training in MMA.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Eric Albright lies splayed out on the wrestling mats after a three-minute match against former Red Lion wrestling coach Biff Walizer, on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Red Lion Area High School. Albright, who wrestled at Red Lion Area High School in 2004 and 2005, is promoting the upcoming "Brawl in the Hall" mixed martial arts tournament via his organization FightRight MMA.

“You can control where the fight goes,” Walizer added. “You don’t have to play to your opponent’s defense.”

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. FightRight MMA promoter Eric Albright, left, observes as former Red Lion wrestling coach Biff Walizer, center, and mixed martial arts fighter and trainer Casey Bush demonstrate a jiu-jitsu position on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Red Lion Area High School. Walizer, who was Albright's wrestling coach, just ended his final and 12th season coaching at Red Lion and has fought 16 MMA fights.

Check out Ted’s article for some more information about the fighters and the tournament!

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High school soccer: West York defeats Susquehannock 1-0

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on May 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Thursday morning brought buckets of rain and a tornado, but the sun was shining by afternoon, and roads that had been brimming with water in the morning were completely dry.

By evening, the sky had clouded over again, which made for a completely gorgeous backdrop for girls soccer.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. West York's Lauren Gay gains possession of the ball during the first second on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Susquehannock High School. West York won 1-0 in double-overtime to clinch the team's second consecutive York-Adams League Division II title.

And, once the sun had set, the stadium lights weren’t too shabby, either.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. West York's Jess Noll attempts to pass the ball to Raychel Johnson and past Susquehannock's Katie Steines during the second period on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Susquehannock High School.

(No, I didn’t just make “pretty sky!” pictures. Yes, I do have more action shots. Check ’em out.)

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Professional baseball: Revs defeat Riversharks 8-2

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on April 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday was the York Revolution‘s season opener.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. The Camden Riversharks, umpires and York Revolution stand at attention as members of the York Youth Revolution bring the American flag onto the field before the season opener on Friday, April 29, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

I’d covered the team’s first exhibition game last week, so inwardly I was worried about making the same “first game”-y pictures. Fortunately, the fanfare was much different and more grand than it had been last week. And I didn’t make still pictures of the opening ceremony after all because my editor had me on video duty:

The most exciting moment of the game? For at least a few people, this was it:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. After diving into the crowd behind home plate, York Revolution catcher Octavio Martinez shows the ball that 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.

I happened to be shooting from the stands when Martinez caught that ball for the Riversharks’ final out of the third inning. Otherwise, I’d never have made this shot — and I wished all the more I had a 300mm for less depth of field. (With the access we get in the stadium, a 400 would be almost excessive except for far outfield action.) I’m shooting the game tomorrow, though, and will probably be borrowing Bill’s (manual) 300.

A few more shots:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. The Spring Garden Band and Sovereign Bank Stadium are reflected in band member Michael Bubb's tuba as the band performs outside the stadium before the York Revolution's opening game on Friday, April 29, 2011.

(more…)

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Professional baseball: Exhibition game against the Heroes of the Diamond

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on April 24, 2011| 2 Comments »

Baseball! Sunshine! Action!

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison unsuccessfully tries to tag out Heroes of the Diamond outfielder Francisco Santana in the first inning of the exhibition game on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

But first: Music! Overcast sky! Thompson Square!

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. American country duo Thompson Square -- husband Keifer and wife Shawna Thompson -- perform "Let's Fight" as their first song for the crowd who came to Fan Fest outside Sovereign Bank Stadium on Saturday, April 23, 2011, before the York Revolution's exhibition game against the Heroes of the Diamond.

Yesterday was the York Revolution’s exhibition game against the Heroes of the Diamond, which is a traveling team of former and active-duty military personnel. Opening day isn’t until April 29, but I worked to make plenty of “first game” feature pictures.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Staff member Jim Knaub scans tickets at one of the Sovereign Bank Stadium gates before the York Revolution exhibition game on Saturday, April 23, 2011. Knaub said he took the first ticket at the Revolution's first-ever game, as well as the 1 millionth ticket last season.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Grounds crew member Bob Darr cleans off the home plate at Sovereign Bank Stadium prior to the York Revolution's exhibition game against the Heroes of the Diamond on Saturday, April 23, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison stretches against the foul-line wall before the exhibition game on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

(more…)

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Professional baseball: First day of spring training

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on April 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

York has its own professional baseball team, and yesterday was the first day of 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 teams first day of spring training for the 2011 season. The team plays its first game on Friday, April 29, at home against the Camden Riversharks.

One of the sports reporters, John, told me that the players have one-year contracts with the team, which means that half of this year’s team is new to York. Their jerseys haven’t arrived yet, so we’ll be getting to know their faces pretty well over the next two weeks of training.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Revolution manager Andy Etchebarren, center, talks with outfielders Chris Walker (not pictured), Scott Grimes and Val Majewski between practice drills on the first day of spring training at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Monday, April 18, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Revolution pitcher Jason Richardson changes out his cleats mid-practice at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Monday, April 18, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Revolution catcher Salvador Paniagua suits up during the first day of spring training at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Monday, April 18, 2011.

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Amateur golf: The YCAGA Better Ball tournament

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on April 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Here’s another spring sport I shot for the first time recently: Golf.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Rollie McSherry, of Out Door Country Club, chips his shot to the 18th green at the Bon Air Country Club golf course for the 2011 York County Amateur Golf Association Better Ball tournament on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

A big storm had hit the region the night before, wreaking destruction and leaving hundreds of people without power. But the golf course remained intact for the tournament, and while it was cold and windy, the quality of light was, largely, stunning.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Brandon Hoffman, of Grandview Golf Club, chips his shot to the 18th green at the Bon Air Country Club golf course for the 2011 York County Amateur Golf Association Better Ball tournament on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Eric Schaefer, of Regents' Glen Country Club, watches his shot after putting at the 18th green at the Bon Air Country Club golf course for the 2011 York County Amateur Golf Association Better Ball tournament on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

And, with one exception, practicality seemed to overrule the golfers’ fashion sense.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Ricky Hoke, of Briarwood Golf Clubs, putts his shot at the 18th green at the Bon Air Country Club golf course for the 2011 York County Amateur Golf Association Better Ball tournament on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

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High school track and field: York Suburban defeats Northeastern

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on April 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I shot another sport I’ve never covered before: Track and field.

Mostly girls’ track, though, since all the events were happening all at once and the reporter was focusing on the girls in track and I could only shoot one thing at a time so I might as well get the shots that would go with the article. </run-on sentence>

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Suburban's Tessa Stewart runs with the baton during the 3200-meter relay at Northeastern on Thursday, April 14, 2011. The York Suburban girls won that race with a time of 11:22.41. Northeastern High School hosted a track and field meet against York Suburban High School. York Suburban girls won 80-70; York Suburban boys won 92-57.

It was a little more difficult than I’d anticipated. For one, hand-offs in the relay races can happen anywhere in a range of 20 feet (guesstimation), so the range of potential exposure was huge. For another, these kids are fast. In basketball and soccer and other constant-motion sports, the athletes have to slow down a little bit before they shoot the basket or pass the ball — but for running sports? They’re running. And god help you if your autofocus isn’t up to speed.

So I tried for some peak action shots, and then I tried for feature shots. Feature shots, I think, won the day.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Northeastern's Katelyn Starner lies on the football field turf in exhaustion after completing her run in the 1600-meter relay on Thursday, April 14, 2011. The York Suburban girls won that event with a time of 4:29.78.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Northeastern's Misty Parshall covers her face after being told her winning time for the 800-meter run on Thursday, April 14, 2011. Parshall won the event with a time of 2:37.39.

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Spring high school sports: Lacrosse, soccer and volleyball

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on April 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The spring sports season has begun, which means I’m shooting a few sports I’ve either never covered before or only shot once.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. South Western's Jess Kopenhaver passes the ball against the defense of Dallastown's Amanda Brown and Madison Garrity at Dallastown Area High School on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. The Dallastown girls lacrosse team lost 18-5 at home to South Western on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

The first (and only) time I shot lacrosse was when I was a college freshman. It was a challenge then, but when I shot it late last month, it wasn’t as difficult as I remembered my first game to be.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. South Western's Jess Kopenhaver passes the ball against the defense of Dallastown's Amanda Brown and Madison Garrity at Dallastown Area High School on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. The Dallastown girls lacrosse team lost 18-5 at home to South Western on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

Next: Soccer.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. West York's Shyanne Kimbrough keeps the ball away from Susqehannock's Olivia Royer during the second half on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at West York. West York defeated Susquehannock 1-0 in girls soccer at home on Thursday, April 7, 2011.

That’s right — four years of photojournalism in Columbia, Mo., and I never actually shot soccer. I did, however, edit a lot of soccer photos in my 1.5 years of collegiate photo-editing experience.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Susquehannock's Danna Lehneis, center, fights West York's Jordan Seifarth and Savannah McCauley for the ball in the first half on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at West York.

And finally: Volleyball.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Central York's David Moler sets the ball against Red Lion at home during the third match on Thursday, April 7, 2011. Central York defeated Red Lion 3-0, 25-22, 25-18, 25-23 in boys volleyball at home on Thursday, April 7, 2011.

Volleyball, I knew, would be tricky. The pace of action is unlike that of football (predictable), baseball/softball/tennis (largely static) or soccer/lacrosse/basketball (constant movement). Shooting from the ground would mean I’d have to sort through layers of players to see the game action. Fortunately, this first volleyball game that I shot was in a gym that has a second-floor track running around the whole court. So I was able to photograph from above and get clear shots of the players.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Red Lion's Shane Zeller returns the ball to Central York home during the third match on Thursday, April 7, 2011.

The two running themes for me, in covering these spring sports?

  1. I can’t wait to shoot more.
  2. I really wish I had a 400mm lens.

Alas.

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Throwing season

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on March 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Suburban freshman pitcher Lewis Myers throws the ball under the tutelage of head coach Josh Leik during practice in the Luther Memorial Church parking lot on Monday, March 21, 2011. A few members of the York Suburban baseball team practiced in the parking lot because the morning rain had washed out the field. York Suburban plays its first game of the season on Friday, March 25.

I drove almost 50 miles in the immediate York area — a number I didn’t think was possible — yesterday in search of enterprise/feature photos. So when I pulled into the York Suburban High School parking lot and saw baseball players in the neighboring church’s parking lot, my interest was piqued.

Unfortunately, after I found out that a) yes, they were the home team and b) they were in the lot because their field was flooded out, I also found out that both my camera batteries were dead. So I raced home in rush-hour traffic, grabbed my old camera body (after checking that its battery still had juice) and raced back to the school. I was able to make pictures of just a few more pitches before they wrapped up practice.

That was a close call on my part, and that’s not happening again!

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High school tennis: Spring Grove defeats Northeastern 7-0

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on March 20, 2011| 2 Comments »

Shot tennis for the first time in over a year, on Thursday.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Spring Grove's Chris Mathews returns the ball to Northeastern's Lance Sanderson during a match at Spring Grove Area High School on Thursday, March 17, 2011.

One of the coaches was initially hesitant to let me inside the court to make pictures during the matches.

“Well, you can take pictures while they’re warming up,” she said. “It’s just that last time there was a photographer from [another newspaper], the shutter clicks really bothered the boys.”

I said I couldn’t run photos of practice — I had to get the matches themselves. I also didn’t want to get stuck taking photos from outside the fence.

“Did the other photographer just take photos incessantly? Was he or she just gunning the camera on motordrive?” I asked.

The coach said yes.

“Well, that’s not how I shoot tennis,” I said. “For me, I take one shot for every one of their shots. I don’t motordrive tennis. I’m a lot more selective, and it won’t be distracting to the boys.”

She let me go inside.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Spring Grove's John King returns the ball to Northeastern's Stuart Reilly during a match at Spring Grove Area High School on Thursday, March 17, 2011.

I’m not naming the other photographer nor where he/she worked, but I was surprised that someone would want to shoot tennis — or baseball, or softball — that way. In my experience, you either get the peak action, with the ball in the frame, or you don’t. Gunning your shutter is a futile and noisy waste of frames.

In my experience, at least. That said, my camera can only give me 3.9 frames per second in continuous mode. I guess if I had a faster frames-per-second rate, motordriving would be more appealing… but again, not in tennis, baseball or softball.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Northeastern's Lance Sanderson serves the ball to Spring Grove's Chris Mathews during a match at Spring Grove Area High School on Thursday, March 17, 2011.

Or maybe I’m just crazy.

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Rasslin’: PIAA Class AAA State Championship preliminaries

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on March 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I went back to Hershey tonight to cover the first round of the PIAA Class AAA State Wrestling Championships. Which meant I had to drive 80 miles — most of which was on the interstate — in the big rainstorm. Which meant, for the first time since Sunday, I had to drive in (very) wet conditions. Which is now a terrifying concept and made me really apprehensive and agitated.

But I survived and made it there and back without incident. And, between each 40-mile stretch of road, I covered each of the nine wrestlers that York County sent to the state preliminaries. Here are a few shots:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Spring Grove's Trey Duncan, top, wrestles Northampton's Cole Sheptock, in orange and black, in the 145-pound class during the first round of PIAA Class AAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Spring Grove's Neal Grudi, top, wrestles La Salle's Nick Burns in the 171-pound class during the first round of PIAA Class AAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Kennard-Dale's Chance Marsteller, bottom, wrestles Abington Heights' James Fruehan in the 152-pound class during the first round of PIAA Class AAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Central York's Jake English, in black, wrestles La Salle's Shane Springer in the 160-pound class during the first round of PIAA Class AAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Check out a lot more shots in the York Dispatch on-line gallery!

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High school basketball: Victory dance at District 3-AAAA title game

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on March 5, 2011| 4 Comments »

I shot the District 3-AAAA girls basketball title game last night in Hershey. It was the lowest-scoring game I’ve ever shot, but it was also the best game I’ve shot since I acquired this full-frame. So I’m happy.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Red Lion's Gisselle Truiett gets a mouthful of the basketball as Wilson's Ivory Bailey fouls her in the third period of the District 3-AAAA title game on Friday, March 4, 2011, at the Giant Center in Hershey.

And so are the Red Lion girls, who defeated Wilson 39-20 and won the District 3-AAAA title…

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Red Lion's girls varsity basketball head coach Don Dimoff joins the team and cheerleaders in a cheer and dance on the court after defeating Wilson 39-20 for the District 3-AAAA championship on Friday, March 4, 2011, at the Giant Center in Hershey.

…despite there being quite a few weird moments, as well as fouls, in the game.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Wilson's Carley Brew fouls Red Lion's Shanley Harlacker in the second period of the District 3-AAAA title game on Friday, March 4, 2011, at the Giant Center in Hershey.

(more…)

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High school basketball: Cheer and despondency at District 3 championships

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on March 4, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Last night in Hershey, I photographed victory…

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York Catholic's Morgan Klunk, Patrica McGann and Giana Lupinetti clap as their head coach Kevin Bankos awards them their District 3-AA title medals on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at the Giant Center in Hershey. Thursday's 61-45 victory over Delone Catholic marks the York Catholic girls' sixth consecutive district title.

…and defeat.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Eastern York boys basketball players stand wearing or holding their second-place medals as the Lancaster Catholic team receives its District 3-AAA title medals on Thursday, March 3, 2011.

As well as some game action:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Eastern York's Andrew Nicholas catches the ball against Lancaster Catholic in the District 3-AAA boys championship on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at the Giant Center in Hershey.

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