Soccer Players Need Rest, Too

From a quick shoot at Rio Mesa High School, during boys' soccer practice.

Bounce Flash

I took a page out of Gary's book (A Little News) to shoot this two weeks ago, in the Rio Mesa gym. It was just a simple basketball practice with one featured player, and normally I would just throw a 580 on the camera and bang out a few action shots, but I've really been trying to improve my lighting. The shots are decent now, but my lighting is technically awful. So I took his advice to bounce off the ceiling in small gyms (Rio Mesa's is TINY with a pure white ceiling) and I think it turned out well. I don't know why this didn't occur to me before. I suppose it was just lack of inspiration.




I only shot about 30 frames - a super quick shoot - and these were the nicest of the bunch. I'm still learning. But I do like these. Neat trick, Gary. Thanks!

Water Polo Under Stormy Skies

Shot some water polo last week just before the rain started. Two shots ran, but the group shot was cropped horizontally and ran in b&w. I was disappointed - I like the vertical so, so much better. Camarillo practicing at the rival school, Rio Mesa High, since cam doesn't have a pool.












Also - happy inauguration day! What an incredible time to be alive. I'm especially encouraged by Obama's actions in this first week. We didn't send a photog out for the moment of inauguration - and though I watched it alone, by the end of his speech I was rather glad to be sharing such an emotional moment with just my cat Max.