Sizzle

"Linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to the sideline after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland."

I promise this isn't turning into a Ravens blog.

Was simply going through some second-edits and felt like posting this for my Ravens fan friends to enjoy.

Sports hair

"Linebacker Rey Maualuga #58 of the Cincinnati Bengals hair covers his jersey during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won, 31-24."

Despite the outcome, when a certain play occurs, the news line from a single sporting event can change.

Whether it's a player stomping on another of the opposing team, or much like in Baltimore, when wide receiver Torrey Smith of the Baltimore Ravens was pulled down by his hair by a Cincinnati Bengals defender, it's talked about.

While I was all over the latter play, my positioning wasn't the best. My image looked the same as everyone else ahead of the line. Those shooting from the backfield got better images of the pull-down, which showed faces.

But I knew that talk of hair would be in the sports world. So I started shooting some long hair dangling out of helmets to give readers an idea of how many players indeed risk the chance of having their hair pulled.

Not sure why I kept coming back to this image, but I did. Maybe I've been thinking of an NFL detail photo essay. Could be a fun challenge with the limited access we're given.

Roughing the ref

"In an act of protection, referee Ron Winter #14 covers his head after he is caught up in a fight for a fumbled ball between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won, 31-24."

Sometimes you get a half of second to capture a moment during a game.

During the third quarter of yesterday's Baltimore Ravens Vs. Cincinnati Bengals game, something odd happened.

An interception by the Ravens quickly turned into a fumble, a pile of players, and before I knew it, there was a Ravens playing celebrating that they retained possession.

The worst part of it all was I was totally tricked from the time the ball left the quarterback's hands. I was panning down field, so I had to rapidly pan back the other direction to catch up with the interception.

Once I caught up to the play, I was again searching for the ball as the 70,000-something crowd gasped at a now fumble. By the time I found it, mind you this is seconds in time, I wasn't focused on the ball anymore.

I saw referee Ron Winter flying into my frame and onto the ground. Usually, these pile-ups aren't very visual as one cannot see anything. But this time I was lucky to catch Winter covering for protection as players continually jumped on the pile.

Something I've never seen before and glad Winter was able to walk away from it. Hopefully this goes to show that the officials and referees are putting their bodies at risk, too.

edit: I found YouTube video of the incident.

Crime stopper

"Aquille Carr of Patterson High School poses for a portrait in the Belair-Edison neighborhood of East Baltimore, Md., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011."

Last month I got a call from GQ shoot Aquille Carr.

The name at first meant nothing to me. So I had to ask the question, "Who is he?"

According to superstar writer Corban Goble, "Tiny Aquille Carr is one the brightest young hoops prospects in the country, and admired by some of the NBA's brightest stars. But can he keep it together before hitting the big time?"

I met up with Aquille in his East Baltimore neighborhood and setup shop on a court where the locals play ball. Luckily I had some awesome subjects that let me test my lights on them; time and time again. Even sent them some hard copies to their school for being so helpful (I hope they got them).

Once Aquille arrived, it was a bit of a circus. Everyone wanted to take him on and everyone wanted to see him. It was tough for my assistants keeping people out of the background of my photo, so props to them on that.

We shot a couple different setups. But that didn't stop Aquille from being one of the most down to earth, charming athletes I've met in a long time. The kid has an amazing smile and went to great lengths to make the shoot go well. He is super-talented and I wish him the best.

You can learn more about him and read the article online here.

No Joe

"A fan pays respect to a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno before the Penn State against Nebraska football game at Beaver Stadium on November 12, 2011 in State College, Pennsylvania. Paterno was fired amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against a former assistant coach."

As mentioned previously, I spent the week in Harrisburg and State College, Pa., for Getty Images covering the emotional roller coaster that was, and is, the Penn State scandal.

I think I touched base on the psyche of Penn State in my previous post, so I won't echo that sentiment. While I never photographed Joe Paterno or Jerry Sandusky (others on our team did), it was a lot to process at the time, much like those in the community at State College.

Alas, after carefully looking over the batch of images I captured over the week, during long hours of hard work that was well worth it in the end, I think these above images best showcases the sensitive work I was able to document.

I hope these set of images make viewers feel the emotion to both sides of the story during what most are calling one of the top news stories related to college football.

Thanks for taking a look.

More than football

"Penn State student Tina Seklecki embraces Kyle Garcia as they and other students hold a candlelight vigil in support of the alleged victims of a child sex abuse scandal involving former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky on Old Main Lawn, November 11, 2011 in State College, Pennsylvania."

I am just returning home from after a week of Penn State scandal coverage in State College, Pa.

Once I decompress I'll be sure to share more and elaborate on the week. But I must preface, it was an amazing team performance by the folks involved at Getty. Very humbled to have been apart of it all week.

It was difficult week for Penn State.

As and outsider, it's difficult to say, as emotions were very mixed all week as the victims of sexual abuse allegedly carried out by longtime coach Joe Paterno's assistant Jerry Sandusky was on everyone's minds. The alleged allegations and developing stories lingered with everyone in town.

But as mixed as feelings were, and as difficult of a week as it was for all those covering the story and all those involved, whether directly or indirectly, the Friday night tribute to the alleged victims of sexual abuse was proper.

One of my favorite images from the week came from that vigil and I thought it showed the difficulty that students were dealing with and how they coped.

More to come.

Penn scandal

"A State Trooper covers his face as Penn State university vice president Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley (both not pictured) sit in the conference room at the Magisterial District Court before being arraigned on charges of perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania's child protective services law on November 7, 2011 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The two high-ranking Penn State administrators have resigned, and will face arraignment on charges they lied to a grand jury investigating suspected child abuse involving the university's former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky."

Not much time to write. On my way to State College to cover more of the Penn State scandal.

While this image doesn't really tell the story as much as this, or this, so far, I liked that the above shows the anticipation, anxiousness and chaos that is this story.

In a way, it does tell the story though. As the media and public patiently wait for answers, no one really knows what is, or has been, going on behind closed doors.

Eager to get to State College to see what I can find and document of the story as it continues to unfold further.

Whip my hair

"Washington Redskins cheerleaders dance during a timeout against the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on November 6, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. The San Francisco 49ers won, 19-11."

Being born and raised in Baltimore, I grew up with hip-hop musical influences. Still listen to a lot of it, too.

There is no denying that a little Kanye West and Jay-Z doesn't pump you up before an assignment.

With that in mind, after shooting some cheerleader frames during the Redskins game last weekend I couldn't get the hook of this song out of my head: "I whip my hair back-and-forth. I whip my hair back-and-forth."

Funny that pop culture always seems to get ingrained in our brains whether we want it to or not.

Tunnel of red

"Defensive end Stephen Bowen #72 of the Washington Redskins takes the field before playing the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on November 6, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. The San Francisco 49ers won, 19-11."

One of the best things about covering the Washington Redskins is that they are very lenient about photographers shooting pictures in the team tunnels.

I'm all about making pictures that have never been made before and that are different from game action. So when I get the chance to roam behind the scenes, so to speak, I work it for everything it's worth.

The funny thing is, last time I was down at FedEx Field, I made some nice pictures against the red wall that is the Washington Redskins tunnel. Not sure if it was coincidence or me just wanting to give friends a hard time, but every time I walked by, someone was camped on the red wall.

They all inspired me, so I had to try and one-up myself from the last game, too. Not sure if I like this better than my referee photo (read: I don't) but it still showcased some nice light and color.

Championship win ends season

"Despite defeating rival South Carroll, 39-6, to win the unofficial Carroll County championship, Dallas Dacote #21 of the Westminster Owls shows his emotion because his team lost an appeal which abruptly ended their season, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at South Carroll High School in Skyesville, Md."

That's an odd saying - Championship win ends season. Unfortunately for the Westminster Owls high school football team, that's exactly what happen.

On the field, the No. 12 Owls were perfect as they defeated rival South Carroll, 39-6, to win the unofficial Carroll County championship. Off the field was another story.

The Owls coach learned at 3:30 p.m. that he had lost his appeal to the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association to have a forfeit of a 57-7 win over Manchester Valley overturned. The Owls were penalized for using a quarterback for three plays in that week's varsity game after he played in a junior varsity game the same week.

Losing the appeal left no chance for the Owls to advance to next week's regional playoffs - ending their season after an amazing finish in the county championship.

What was honorable, was that the coach said his players did not want to know the outcome of the ruling, so he waited until after the game to tell them.

So in a matter of about five minutes, I saw nothing but joy as the game ended. Hugs, high-fives and pure happiness. To defeat a rival, one that was perfect against county opponents since 2009 I believe, in the county championship is speical.

But to watch as players and coaches broke down in tears minutes later after hearing the appeal result is heart-breaking. I cannot imagine the feeling of being punished and stripped of a playoff opportunity for a mistake that the team didn't intentionally commit.

My heart goes out to the team. If nothing else, they ended how I think any athlete would want to - with a win.

Color flash

"While in costume, Baltimoreans march lighted crafts during the Great Big Halloween Parade of Light & Luminaria at Patterson Park in Baltimore, Md., Sunday Oct. 30, 2011."

Always fun to cover an event you've heard about year after year, yet never attended.

That was the case with the great Big Halloween Parade at Patterson Park in Baltimore. I got a call from an editor to cover the event and was hyped that I'd finally have a reason to go witness the fun.

I am not one to use a flash on assignment - I'll stalk and milk ambient light for all it's worth. In addition, with higher ISO capabilities nowadays, even in darkness, files look marvelous.

So I am not sure what got into me. Maybe the need to change my routine and my seeing for the night. Whatever the case was, I broke out the small speed like and off-camera flash cord and blinded every I walked by.

While this image doesn't necessarily show the Halloween aspect of the event, it's fun to look at. And I look at holidays that way anyway. Not colorful, but once they're over...they're over.

Time to move on.