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January 29, 2010
November 27, 2009
Portrait Session: Los Alamitos HS water polo, 11/25/09
Los Alamitos High School girls water polo players, from left, Savanna Smith, Kaley Dodson, Rachel Fattal, and Cory Dodson pose for a photo at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009.
The night before this assignment, I was trying to envision something fresh for a four-person water polo portrait. It was partly inspired by a portrait of Michael Phelps I’ve seen taken by AP photographer Mark Terrill. Lit with a single large softbox over the side of the pool (hoping like crazy the 15 lb sand bag would do it’s job and nobody would get electrocuted and die), the shoot was done and over with in five minutes.
Whittier Christian vs Upland Christian volleyball, 11/24/09
(Left) Whittier Christian High School girls volleyball players celebrate after defeating Upland Christian Academy, 3-1, during a CIF State regional girls volleyball playoff match between Whittier Christian High School and Upland Christian High School at Whittier Christian in La Habra, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (Right) Whittier Christian High School’s Stephanie Sinohui lunges for a dig.
It surprised me recently when I shot two different playoff volleyball matches in two consecutive nights. The first night was a Long Beach State game and the second was the high school game above. Usually, it’s the college game that is played at a higher level with great action, but not this time. I barely made a photo at the college game. These high school girls were all over the place, though. Diving, screaming, and crawling. They had way better jube. Great volleyball.
Shadow Tennis, 11/19/09
Dana Hills High School’s Alyssa Smith serves the ball during CIF girls tennis semifinals between Dana Hills High School and Corona Del Mar High School at Laguna Niguel Racquet Club in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009.
You have to love sweet late afternoon sunlight that cuts through a tennis court like a knife. I find it important to get the “action away from the action” photo sometimes. After getting tons of shots of the girls I needed to get for the paper, I had plenty of time to get creative. I worked the hell out of the long shadows, and it was worth it!
November 17, 2009
Paddleout for 80’s Pro Surfer Gary Edgar, 11/15/09
(Clockwise) Ron Edgar, twin brother of Gary Edgar, a pro surfer from the 80s who died of lung cancer at age 45, center holding wreath, leads a paddleout memorial for his late brother in Newport Beach, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Karry Edgar writes a farewell note to her late husband Gary Edgar as their children Matthew, 13, and Liana, 10, watch. Matthew Edgar, 13, left, walks out to the water with a rose in his mouth for his father.
This was the first time I covered a paddleout for a surfer who died. Being born in 1985 and not much of a surfer, I never heard of Gary Edgar. But listening to his twin brother, wife and close friends share stories, laugh and remember him made me think I knew the man a little. What an awesome way to be remembered. Bob Marley playing as doves are released by loved ones, friends from 30 years ago coming together in the water, and just an all out sweet tribute to a man that meant a lot to a lot of people.
Check out the article and slideshow in the OC Register for more photos:
November 14, 2009
Portrait Session: Young Gymnasts, 11/11/09
Gymnasts, from left, Kiana Cavanaugh, 11, Lauren Tucker, 13, Lucia Zhang, 12, and Sage Overoye, 15, all of Claremont, Calif., pose for a photo at Baldy View Gymnastics in Upland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.
This assignment for the Claremont Courier was fun because it was the first time that I actually used the “ESPN lighting technique” on an athlete for a publication. The same look you see on Lebron James on the cover of magazines, you see here on some cooperative young gymnasts. It was a simple setup with three Nikon SB-800 strobes; one in a small softbox for the main light, and two in snoots on each side and behind them. The group photo was lit with a Photogenic monoblock light in a large softbox. It was nice that the gym had an interesting visual element in the wall.
October 30, 2009
Portrait Session: Oscar De La Hoya, 10/29/09
Oscar De La Hoya poses for a photo at Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High School in Los Angeles, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
Ok, so technically, this wasn’t a portrait session. I was sent to cover the ribbon cutting ceremonies at the new high school for Golden Boy, De La Hoya’s promotion company. I had to shoot all the “genuine” moments that a PR gig entails. Not all the ribbon cutting ceremonies that I’ve shot have been the most exciting. But whenever there’s someone famous involved, I try my hardest to get some alone time for some portraits… even if it’s for a few seconds.
Luckily for me, I had free reign. It was amusing to see the cluster of “photographers” with their pop-up flashes behind me trying to get the same shots as me for the two photos above… especially the photo on the right, which was shot with Oscar standing in front of a window overlooking Boyle Heights and downtown Los Angeles. Poor guys. Learn how to use off-camera flash.
Oscar seems like a really down to earth guy. His money built a high school on the land where his first boxing gym used to be, and he didn’t mind being swarmed by hundreds of high school students trying to get an autograph. Free tamales, rice, beans, and pan dulce was a plus.
October 18, 2009
Portrait Session: Pro tailgater Jay DiEugenio, 10/17/09
Jay DiEugenio, who quit his day job five years ago to become a professional tailgater, poses for a photo in front of a custom-built tailgate mobile in the parking lot of Mikey’s Sports Bar in Fullerton, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. DiEugenio travels around the country promoting tailgating, selling cookbooks, and trying to eventually develop his life into a TV show on tailgating.
You have to love this guy’s dedication to the art of tailgating. This assignment was on the tail end of a three assignment day, so by the time I got to this bar and smelled meat sizzling on the grill and saw this monstrosity of a tailgate mobile, I was ready to take a seat, watch the game and have a beer. It was a quick one light setup with a grid to narrow the focus of the light, a chair to stand on, and a couple “Hail Mary” shots to shoot down as much as possible, trying to avoid the busiest background ever. The end-of-the-day beer was nice and cold.
Anaheim vs Valley High School football, 10/17/09
Anaheim High School quarterback Phillip Marquez, left, evades the tackle by Santa Ana Valley High School’s Omar Cruz in the second half during a football game between Santa Ana Valley High School and Anaheim High School at Santa Ana Stadium’s Eddie West Field in Santa Ana, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.
It’s not often that I shoot a high school football game in the day time. Usually, Friday night lights suck, so shooting my first football game this year under the sun was a nice break. While I’m thinking of my friends who are shooting pro and Div 1 football, it’s nice to be the only photographer on the field with empty sidelines. Just looking at the cluster f*ck that is USC football sidelines, I sometimes take for granted the access that high school ball allows. However, I have to deal with sloppy running for the most part and a slower, less intense level of football. It’s a trade-off.
Lindsey Lohan probation hearing, 10/16/09
Lindsay Lohan walks into Beverly Hills Superior Court for a probation hearing in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009.
Dear Lindsay Lohan: You make me rush to the courthouse after my alarm clock inexplicably doesn’t go off, no time for breakfast or a shower, thinking I’m going to barely make it on time to catch you walking in, only to wait around two hours because you show up late. You make me wait hungry in the sun with musty paparazzi pressed up against the window and an annoying E! News audio guy who cries that his boss is telling him what to do and not saying please.
P.S. Ease up on the lip injections and the cocaine.
