Haiti - Utah County

"Dave Beachem who works for Aspire, helps collect and sort medical supplies to take to Haiti at their Draper warehouse, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. The Utah Hospital Task Force, who is operating under the umbrella of Healing Hands for Haiti, will be flying 160 doctors, nurses, construction workers, and more to Haiti."

I don't really have much to say. I could say something like "this is as close as I'll ever get to Haiti" or "I wish I was there covering the local angle for Utah County" but I won't.

In this case, I'll let Scott Strazzante and Chip Litherland say what I am thinking or have thought. They covered the issue and thoughts of a lot of photojournalists impeccably.

What are you waiting for? Get over and read what they have to say, that is, if you haven't already done so.

Smushed

"UVU's Flint Ray crushes Boise State's Mark Bleuze into the mat in the 133-weight bout in the Shurian Family Activity Center at Utah Valley University, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. UVU upset No. Boise State."

Sometimes you should listen to you gut instinct. Other times you shouldn't. I don't know why, but I went for the latter the other night.

It wasn't anything major or even worth mentioning, but I should have brought in my 300mm to the wrestling match.

The setup was pretty horrible, not really allowing photographers anywhere but to two corners of the mat. The sides were either blocked by fans sitting right on the mat, huge advertisements and media table or the two team benches.

I've never seen a match so packed tight to the ring. Alas, making my far reaches of the corner a bit too far away for most of the matches.

Don't get me wrong, I had fun, but being pinned away in a corner, with horrible lighting isn't my idea of fun. Next time I'll bring the 300.

Monday Close Up: Innertube water polo

"BYU undergraduate Marcelo Gomez of Mikasa eyes up the goal before taking a shot against The Blue Team during a coed innertube water polo in the Richards Building on the campus of BYU, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010."

One would think finding a Monday Close-Up story would be easy, right? But when you're asked to pump out a second close up in the same month, then two other ideas, subjects cancel on you the week your story is due, it's time to fumble and rush to find something.

Last year, when looking for stories, I found this unique sport over at BYU called innertube water polo. Brilliant.

However, it wasn't being played until January. Luckily when I called over this month, they had a game Thursday night, and my story was due Friday. Talk about last minute!

My first thought was, and I think Melissa Lyttle coined the phrase, "WWSD?" As in, "What would Sol do?"

Sol is committed to traveling to the world to find the most unique and bizarre sports. This would have been perfect. Check him out at "The Wild Weird World of Sports."

Anyways, besides all of the "rules" that I had to follow, and their strict enforcement, I cranked out video and stills in a little over an hour, and then went back Friday to do my interview of a player and piece it all together.

While I hate the rush of putting together a trifecta package - stills, video and an article - I do love it. I love the rush of beating deadline.

You can read the article here or watch the multimedia here.

It's a sin

"A man walks through the red doors of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010."

It's a sin I didn't take more pictures while in Sin City, a la, Las Vegas last weekend.

I went down for a long weekend for the first time and enjoyed myself thoroughly. While I ventured around, and had my camera with me a majority of the time, I didn't take that many pictures.

For what reason, I don't know? Maybe it was all the money in my head? Nah, doubt that.

Whatever the case, I did walk away with a couple fun frames. But this trip, this time, I walked away with more memories than clicks on the camera.

I think that's important sometimes. To see the world, unobstructed by a camera.

Layup

"TCU guard Greg Hill (25) launches over BYU forward Noah Hartsock (34) in the second half during an NCAA basketball game at the Marriott Center on BYU campus, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, in Provo. BYU won, 76-56."

There is only one remote that I can really get away with at BYU...and that's on the basketball post itself.

Although, most nights I am rushing to get over there and don't have time to mount one, I thought I set one up the last night.

With remotes, things go wrong and they shouldn't be relied on, but they do provide a nice angle that's fresh. And when the sports desk tells you how much they love it, it must be good, right?

After setting up and getting the OK, I went back to the media room to eat some free grub (I am never there on pizza night!) and ready my computer for the game.

I walked out and sat on the court when I started having a mini panic attack. What was bugging me though?

The battery was fully charged, it was safely mounted, I had all the right safety cables, and the focus was checked multiple times. But I wasn't sure if I ever put a card in the camera.

I spent the entire first half firing the remote not knowing if I was even getting anything.

After the first half buzzer, I jumped up and had a sigh of relief - there had been a formatted card in the camera.

The only problem was that I had it set on low continuous shutter release, so I was only getting about four frames a second, rather than eight frames a second.

In the end, I got a couple usable frames and moved them, but then again, I kept forgetting I had a remote up most of the game. Hahaha.

Not to mention, I am super spoiled. My Nikon gear looks amazing at high ISO. So my company issued Canon 1D Mark II N is a night and day difference to my Nikon D3S.

Alas, too much complaining about actually getting some stuff worth transmitting from my remote despite my worries and minor issues. Until next time...

Pregame bump

"In the spotlight, BYU's Chris Miles and Lamont Morgan, Jr. are introduced before taking on Eastern New Mexico during an NCAA basketball game at the Marriott Center on BYU campus, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2010, in Provo, Utah. BYU won, 95-49."

Being a stones throw away from the campus of BYU it would be almost silly for us not to cover every home game of the big sports.

With that, I've shot a handful of BYU men's and women's basketball games this winter (can I say winter yet, Utah? Or does it get worse?).

Each men's game I always shoot the pregame intro. It's pretty standard.

They crank Justice, let the cheerleaders clap their hands and announce the players name in an exaggerated tone. You know what I am talking about: "Tylllllllllleeeeeeerrrr Hawwwwwwwwwssss...."

But every game there I am, laying on the floor, being told not to do that by the BYU cheerleaders, as I shoot the introductions.

I've finally found a good spot where the last player and "chest bump" makes for some pretty epic light. The other night (I totally forgot to post this!) I got one I finally liked the most...so far.

Until next game, I'll like this one the best.

Standing up Stanford

"BYU's Robb Stowell (13) shows his emotion after scoring a point in game three against Stanford at the Smith Fieldhouse, Friday, Jan. 22, 2010. The fifth-ranked Cougars rewarded the energetic, packed house with a huge win, dropping No. 3 Stanford 22-30, 34-32, 30-25, 32-30."

Yeah, this was my reaction when I hit big last night at MGM. Not... I am currently in Vegas (wishing I was looking like this) and having a blast.

So not much to write today since I'll be out exploring and winning losing more money. Although, I am still up right now.

Anyways, enjoy the weekend. I'll return next week when I am back in the cold, Salty Lake.

It's going to be hard to leave here. Free hotel, free flight, warm weather and lots of interesting people.

Jones

"Jones Lewis,6, of Spanish Fork stares into the camera before posing with his siblings as they showoff their mother's homemade donuts at his home, Monday, Jan.18, 2010. The foursome raised $500 by selling donuts and hot cocoa and will donate the proceeds to Haiti."

Sometimes all it takes is one person to brighten your day.

Last minute, I was sent down to Spanish Fork to take a portrait of a brother and sister foursome that raised $500 by selling donuts and hot cocoa. Who cares, right? Well they donated the proceeds to Haiti.

Pretty cool if you ask me.

Well, they were a fun bunch, but the youngest Jones, 6, was an absolute riot. There are some kids who just try too hard to be funny and get annoying very quick. But Jones was flat out silly to begin with.

While he didn't follow direction very well, he did help put a smile on my face with some of the stuff he said and did.

Thanks, Jones.

Making a splash

"Provo High School swimmer Rhett Prestwich started swimming to help with his cystic fibrosis and now competes. Prestwich launches out of the pool as he poses for a portrait at Provo High School, Wednesday, Jan.20, 2010."

Sportraits - sport plus portrait - simple enough.

To this day, I've only photographed one swim meet and exactly zero portraits of swimmers - until last week.

Every time I get sportrait, my first thought is, "F%&*, how would Roth blow this up?"

That's the good thing about having awesome, face melting photographers as friends - Continual inspiration.

Anyways, I wanted to do something with this swimmer that obviously included the water. I looked on archive at work to see if anyone had do anything like I was thinking and didn't see too much exciting.

So going into the shoot, I had an idea but then changed my mind last minute. And then
with that idea, I changed my lighting, too.

The above is what I ended up with. I felt a bit rushed and only fired 50 frames during the quick assignment.

I'll keep my original idea in my back-pocket for my next swimmer portrait. In addition, there is a lot I'd change about this image, but I then again, there is always something I wish I could change about all my pictures.

So tomorrow, I'll continue to chase the perfect picture.

BYU breakdown

"Brigham Young's Lamont Morgan, Jr. dances with teammates before taking on Wyoming in an NCAA basketball game at the Marriott Center, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Provo, Utah. BYU won, 81-66."

This month I've shot a lot of sports which I love. But I've been shooting a lot of the same teams at the same venues and I've been trying to keep my eye fresh.

Whether I am shooting from a new location or shooting at times I usually don't, they all keep me wanting to go back to try and top it.

The other night was typical night at BYU for the men's basketball game: get there early, setup, shoot the intro, sit on the baseline, shoot the game, transmit, and leave.

Although I've been shooting the same introductions all season, I've been trying to work two certain points of the pregame fun.

One being the game roundup...