Drenched After Rain

"Steven Souza Jr. #20 of the Tampa Bay Rays (center) is doused by teammate Chris Archer #22 (left) and David DeJesus #7 (back right) after defeating the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 17, 2015 in Washington, DC."

Weather usually makes great pictures - that is if you're in the weather to begin with.

Venturing down to Nationals Park for a regular game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals I blanked on needing rain gear.

Something I typically keep with me, yet a busy morning loading and unloading the car for home improvements, I totally forgot it.

So as the rest of the photographers weathered the downpour, I documented from a distance shooting the game from the concourse staying dry.

While I was being different, the entire duration of the rain I kept thinking I should just get wet and brave it out. But as hard as the rain fell, I thought it wouldn't be wise to leave gear exposed to the elements.

A brief delay in play gave me the chance to get back tp where I started field level - just in time for the final pictch and a little gatorade celebration for Steven Souza Jr., of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Between his little league style in the park home run to an overall great performance, his teammates thought it was deserving of getting wet again after the rain.

Bicycle Speed

"BMX riders race during the East Coast Nationals at Chesapeake BMX on June 13, 2015 in Severn, Maryland."

Each season there are major sports that need coverage - summer is to baseball as fall is to football.

Changing seasons means changing sports and it's easy to feel like you're only shooting one sport, even though many are happening around you.

So it's always refreshing to break away from the normal realm of sports assignments.

When I saw that the East Coast Nationals BMX races were happening close to home I knew it would be a lot of fun. It's been quite some time since I documented bicycle racing in any form, too.

I was hoping this would be a great feature as the Olympic near and BMX racing is now an official sport.

Since a lot of the racing was of those younger than the Olympics typically allows (though some could compete in other Olympic sports), I had fun shooting a majority of the races are very slow shutter speeds to create an universal feel.

This was one of my favorite pans from the many, many races.

Same Team

"Starting pitcher Michael Pineda #35 of the New York Yankees collides with teammate third baseman Chase Headley #12 as he tries to throw out Jimmy Paredes #38 of the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland."

Baseball is a game odds.

To start, there are at any given time ten players on diamond - nine defensive players and a batter. Add a couple base runners and there can be up to thirteen.

The problem with that, is one can only focus one place at any given time. To shoot the pitcher throwing, then the batter hitting and then the diving catch at shortstop all in one play is near impossible.

One must decide where to focus the lens during each at bat - rolling the dice - playing the odds.

The game is also one of solidarity. Lots of action of one player doing one thing - throwing, hitting, pitching, catching, sliding, or reacting to a play.

So when there are two or more players in any given rectangle of space, where a photographer is correctly gambling to be, it's a nice surprise.

When pitcher Michael Pineda #35 of the New York Yankees collided with a teammate after a bunt, I knew it would be a compelling picture and glad I had decided to stick with the pitcher as three players merged on the ball.

Indy

"Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 Energizer Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 6, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas."

Whenever I hear IndyCar, I automatically think of famous Indianapolis 500.

So when I got the opportunity to join the Getty Images team for the weekend in Texas for the IndyCar Series Firestone 600 - I was beyond excited.

At Texas Motor Speedway, we documented three days of action. A new style of racing, I enjoyed every second at a track I love.

Open-wheeled racing isn't anything I've ever documented - and it's always a great feeling to capture a something fresh.

There is nothing like race cars screaming past at more than 200mph, and there is nothing like feeling an athlete's energy and joy after winning a big race.

Try Seven

"Garrett Smith #7 of Navy scores a try on Benjamin Burmester #12 of Air Force during Day 1 of the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championships at PPL Park on May 30, 2015 in Chester, Pennsylvania."

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I love trying something new - and rugby certainly wasn't something I thought I'd ever try. 

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to document the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championships.

Until the matches begun, the only thing I knew of rugby was playing it on a Sega Genesis as a kid - with zero understanding of what I was doing while glued to the television.

As any other assignment, I spent the days leading up to the weekend doing my homework and learning the rules. The only issue was that I hadn't looked closely that it was sevens rugby - only seven men aside with seven minute halves.

Otherwise the same game, I shot matches from sun up to sun down as 20 teams battled for the top spot.

I couldn't have had a better venue to work, as access was limitless. Locker rooms, tunnels, catwalks and more.

After lots of action and witnessing the blood and bruises first hand, I now have a new found respect and love for the fast paced, physical sport.