SPORTRAITS - "These are not your parent's high school team photos."

I've always said, "Gone are the days of kneeling with your helmet." I may have been premature with that comment when I initially made it a few years ago, but I am seeing this gaining momentum more and more as time goes on. Players are wanting more "edgy" photos and to have them look more and more like the drastic images they see in publications like ESPN Magazine.

Interestingly enough, getting a "SPORTRAIT" in this style is only slightly more expensive than a traditionally posed photo. The main difference is that each one is a custom individual photo shoot. This usually takes a little more time since the shot has to be exact in order to achieve the effect that is desired. Here's one example of a recent shot.

If an entire team wants the exact same "look", then we simply set the shot up and block 3 or 4 hours in order to accommodate each player. If you're interested in discussing something like this, contact me. There are endless possibilities in this type of shot. These can be produced in huge poster format with the team logo (top corner) and player name and number (across the bottom) - similar to a professionally produced sports poster of a pro athlete.

Penn Trafford vs McKeesport

Photos from the Penn Trafford/McKeesport football game are now available.


McKeesport defeated Penn Trafford 31-28 in overtime after Penn Trafford tied the game in the final minutes with a 95yd kickoff return for TD, then recovering the onside kick and tying the game with a FG as time expired.

Any questions, contact me via email (jason@heffran.com). Email is sent to me in realtime, no matter where I am so you'll get a response very quickly.

Rams Youth Football - MUD PRACTICE

Photos from tonight's "mud practice drills" are online. Absolutely priceless shots!

MSASports Network - Week 5

This week's match-up features Upper St. Clair versus Baldwin-Whitehall on the MSA Sports Network.

* Live, "in-game" photos will be posted throughout the contest.

9/26/10 - Gallery Updates

The following image galleries will be uploaded within the next 48 hours...

• Woodland Hills "Woverines" at Pittsburgh Central Catholic "Vikings"
  - If you would like to view the images that were posted LIVE during the game, please visit MSA SPORTS NETWORK. (When we say LIVE, we mean "as it happens" - not "the first chance we get").
  
  We even had the image from the opening Vikings' TD posted online BEFORE the extra point was kicked. How's THAT for LIVE?
   
• Rams Youth Football Organization - Saturday vs Butler "Lil Tornadoes"
  
  - Action photos and sideline candids, as well as the "Tigers" cheerleading squad's halftime performance will be included. You can visit the RYFOPICS.COM website for more detailed information, special announcements and some sample images late Sunday afternoon.

If you have any questions, please use the CONTACT US link above. You'll receive a response within 12-24 hours MAXIMUM. In most cases, you will hear back from a member of the staff within an hour or so.

MSASports Network - Week 4

As the WPIAL high school football season enters week four, HSI and MSA Sports will once again be teaming up to bring you live, in-game images on their website: MSA Sports Network Live Photo Gallery

This "as-it-happens" capability can lend itself to so many situations. Think about covering a late-breaking news event... still images can be transmit on the fly, providing an almost "live look" as the event unfolds. It seems that it's not only sporting events that can gain a valuable advantage from this.

If you have any questions or comments regarding live, on location transmission of images without being tethered to a laptop or using any special software, contact us.

If you're a WPIAL high school football fan and would like to listen to the live broadcast online, CLICK HERE.

Live "In-Game" Transmission

Tonight, through a new content partnership with MSA Sports, Live "in-game" images will be posted to their website without ever leaving the sidelines. When timing is crucial and you have to have the images "15 minutes ago", this capability is a never-ending project to meet the client's need before they know they even have one.

If you'd like to see this in action, it will be during the feature game of the MSA Sports Network on 93.7FM "The Fan". North Allegheny takes on Upper St. Clair in a WPIAL Quad-A (AAAA) battle of two perennial powerhouses.

North Allegheny vs Upper St Clair - Photo Gallery

Complete image gallery will be available (usually within 24 hours) online. You can order high quality prints, download a digital file and purchase merchandise (mugs, mousepads, etc) with any image you choose.

SteelCity Mafia Annual Banquet

The annual SteelCity Mafia had their annual banquet on Friday night. It was a great time had by all. I took a ton of pictures throughout the night.

As specially negotiation by the SCM, pricing for prints is ABSOLUTELY the lowest I have ever offered. This pricing, because of the effort the SCM puts into everything it does, is for the members only. It was negotiated so that everyone can afford to purchase prints from the night. A lot of times, we get engrossed in the actual event that we don't take all the pictures that we'd like.

Take a look at the gallery here: SteelCity Mafia Galleries

4x6 - $1.00 (almost like an iTunes purchase, less than a Coke machine)
5x7 - $3.00 (normally $7.50)
8x10 - $5.00 (normally $15.00)

Better still, you can download the digital image, perfect for online photo galleries or your Facebook page... just $1.00. All SCM event photos will follow this pricing in perpetuity. The SCM is by the members, for the members. As a member myself, I am happy to provide this severely discounted pricing. 


It was great seeing you all Friday. - Jason

SENIOR PICTURES

First off, I absolutely HATED my own senior pictures from 1992. It looked like a portrait that you would put on an easel at a funeral. Not to mention... if I NEVER wore a tie up until that point, was an athlete and in theater... why would I want the "shirt and tie" picture?

Oh yeah, Highlands required one. Too bad we didn't have the flexibility that these kids today have. God only knows how many of us would have shown up in our "Just Do It" t-shirts, acid washed jeans and untied high-top shoes? Ouch... the Vanilla Ice Age.

I was just on a morning shoot this week with a friend of mine and her daughter. She wanted shots that were unique, not like any of her friends and definitely not the "lean against the tree", "golden hour portrait" or the "stand here next to these big foam numbers" type that seem to prevalent in this area.

In approximately two hours, we came up with some shots that we all liked. The thing is... you don't have to like them, the client and the student need to LOVE them. So fat, so good. Here are some samples.

TAKEN IN COMPLETE DARKNESS w/ REMOTE FLASH BEHIND

SHOT WIDE ANGLE, THEN DESATURATED AND COLORIZED

SIMPLE SHOT BY THE CREEK. ENHANCE THE GREEN, SHALLOW DOF

SHOT UNDER AN ABANDONED MILL. 80 DEGREE REMOTE FLASH 

SOMETIMES CANDID PORTRAITS MAKE THE CUT

Let me say this, the more flexible and willing to experiment the "model" is... the more fun it can be. As a rule, for any new photographers reading this, ALWAYS, with ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS... HAVE A PARENT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.


It's a shame that it has to be that way in today's society, but the last thing you want is for your "client" - usually a minor - to be upset with a photo and since your contract didn't allow for "re-sitting" them unless an additional fee was paid and then they accuse you of being inappropriate. I've seen it happen with other photographers I know. In ever case, there was no wrong-doing (after all, we're all members of organizations that would terminate us in a heartbeat) and it was just the fact that the student - in a fit of immaturity - decided to lash out.

So, do what I do... make sure a PARENT or a LEGAL GUARDIAN is with them. Their brother, sister or best friend doesn't count. Plus, the person writing the check can see what goes into creating a good image. I even have them participate on occasion by holding my reflector - HA!

So, if you are interested in SENIOR PORTRAITS, FAMILY PORTRAITS, HOLIDAY PICTURES FOR CHRISTMAS CARDS, ANNUAL BABY PICTURES, FALL "FOLIAGE" PHOTOS, THE ANNUAL "DRESS THE KIDS/FAMILY IN STEELERS STUFF" PHOTO or simply want someone to come take pictures at a party, event, etc for a couple hours... 


NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTACT ME. THE WEEKENDS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY BOOKED AND WEEKDAYS I AM ABLE TO WORK AROUND YOUR SCHEDULE. I HAVE SPECIAL PACKAGES PUT TOGETHER SO IT SAVES YOU SOME $$$. THE ECONOMY SUCKS AND THEREFORE, I AM TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND MAKING THINGS AS AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE.

"RALLY AT THE WOLVERENA"

A four-game high school football showcase featuring schools from the WPIAL, OH and FL. Played at the home field of the Woodland Hills Wolverines, the event expects to draw more than 5,000 visitors.

HSI & MSASports.net (the WPIAL's official broadcasting partner) have teamed up to bring you in-game photos as well as full post-game photo galleries. Check out the featured galleries - you'll see action images from every game this afternoon. If you have any questions, please ask.

* The galleries will feature the top images at first, and then have the remaining images added over a 24-36 hour period.

HSI High School Galleries

Tonight HSI travels to Springdale high school for an evening game featuring one of the top RB in the WPIAL.

Photos from the game will be posted live on MSASports.com and full image galleries here (MSA Image Vault category in the Image Galleries section) within 24-48 hours.

More information on the content agreement between HSI and MSA Sports will be posted as it progresses. MSA Sports is the official broadcasting partner of the WPIAL.

The MSA High School sports radio show can be heard weekly on 93.7 The Fan, hosted by Don Rebel.

Additionally, complete image galleries from Satuday's "Rally at the Wolverina" will be available sometime Sunday evening. MSASports.com will have live images throughout the day online.

The "Rally" is a 4-team football showcase featuring top teams from PA, OH & FL - held at Woodland Hills High School. Games start at approximately 10am Saturday.

FATHEADS - GET THEM IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

FATHEADS are available!


The clock is ticking... order ASAP so that  you will have your custom FATHEAD in time for Christmas. Here are some examples of how they look when applied in real life...

You can use an EXISTING photo, or have me shoot one. Having me shoot one will allow me to guarantee the best quality possible. But, using an existing photo is possible. Contact me for details.

RYFO - Photo Day (Team, Individual & Game) Photos Posted

UPDATE: Photos from the Rams Youth Football Organization Photo Day are online for viewing and ordering. You may order additional ones to supplement your package/original order, or grab an action shot or two of your son or daughter.

* Packages should be in no later than next Friday - September 3rd.

There are NOT action shots from the last game. Time and weather did not permit me oto stay for that one. But, I will be attending one of the next home games for the sole purpose of getting some "on-field" action shots of everyone. If you're a parent and have any special request, please email me at jason@heffran.com.

http://www.RYFOpics.com - View the photo galleries here...

Shooting College Football Practice

After covering the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, I sort of got lazy with the whole concept of what a practice is actually like. The NFL teams are so structured and they know where to go, when to go there and what they are doing.

In college, University of Pittsburgh for example, the practices are organized at a much more feverish pace. More stations, more drills, more groupings, etc. After about 15 minutes of wandering around, I realized that the practice "pace" was at least twice that of what I had just experienced with the Steelers.

For example, I'm there with my "one-two punch weapons". I've got my 1D Mark II w/ Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 USM L IS attached and my Canon 1D Mark III attached to my Canon 300mm f/2.8 USM L NON-IS. Once I realized that they practiced on a "partial" field, the 1.4x TC II stayed in the pocket.

Just like at PNC Park, the 300mm was almost TOO much lens. The 70-200mm was not nearly enough for much of anything except headshots up close and anytime the ball is thrown my way, I realized that the 300mm covers an easy 50yds on the 1.3x sensor of the Mark III. I have been saying all along that the TC II had no affect on the IQ but, let me tell you, the shots were tack sharp with it off. Here's an example image below shot at 300mm, about 15yds away.

I don't think I can take a better photo than that. Maybe a better moment, different player, game uniforms... all the things that are ancillary to my main goal - grab the moment and get it 110% tack sharp and see the eyes and the ball simultaneously.

I'm going to see if CPS will loan me a 400mm prime lens for the "Friends of Coal" football showcase on 9.4.10. Seeing how that performs will be great. Maybe even the 500 f/4 during an NFL weekend. I think that might be overkill - the 400mm seems to be the staple on the sidelines of the NFL.

One thing I have noticed a lot is that I am rarely shooting at f/2.8 (wide open) unless I have a specific reason. With the high ISO performance of 1600 (very minimal noise), I am able to get a more crisp DOF at f/4.

Off to training camp tomorrow with a Mike Tomlin press conference at noon - after the morning session - it should be a good end to the training camp experience. Now to see if Emily and Dave will give me credentials for the Lions pre-season game.

Galleries Expiring - Highlands LL All Stars

The image galleries from the Highlands Little League All-Star teams will be expiring on 7/31/10. This means that on August 1st, a 5x7 print will cost $10 instead of $5.

Regardless, a large portion of the proceeds will benefit the league in perpetuity.

If you are having any problems ordering, or are interested in something that you do not see on the site, please contact me. If you contact me before the expiration date, the regular pricing will apply.

Thank you.

Freeport International - Images Available

Images from tonight's two games are online and ready for viewing. Gallery expires on 8/22/10. Any questions, let me know.

Click here: FREEPORT INTERNATIONAL IMAGES

Sports Sequences

I've always been fascinated by sequential shots of a play that are in focus. Why? Because, more often than not, one or two important frames will be blurry. Today, I got my BEST sequence to date. I thought I'd share. Now, I've gotten 1-3 frame collections, but this one is such a "storytelling sequence" that it has become my favorite.

I have to give #14 credit. He seems pretty aware of himself after that tumble. All-in-all, I think it's a pretty good sequence. Hopefully, I can get these more often.

Camera Settings: Av @ f/4.0 - ISO 800 (shutter speeds varied between 2500 and 8000 all game) w/ Canon 300mm f/2.8 lens.

Highlands vs. Burrell (Championship)

A quick note to let you know that the images from Tuesday's game between Highlands and Burrell for the DIstrict 26 Championship are online.

* Remember, the gallery expires 8/20/10 (prices double at this point)

Click Here: HIGHLANDS vs BURRELL IMAGE GALLERY

If you have any questions, or would like to buy digital versions in bulk, contact me.

Where Photo Alteration is Bad

I said before, "I do NOT condone editing of newsworthy images." But, in some cases, like the instance I mentioned a few days ago, I think it was taken to an extreme.

Here, however, is an article where the "watchdogs" are serving their purpose... to PROTECT the public from misleading information - NOT to save from the national security breach of removing a golf caddy's head from an image.

Please read this: BP Alters Phots & Admits The "Lie"

My question is this? Why hasn't the mainstream media picked this up and mentioned it? Somebody should tell Anderson Cooper...

Update... I sent this in to the CNN, HLN and FOX NEWS offices. This morning, they did a piece on how BP has done this again! They have now released a THIRD poorly "photoshopped" image. Amazing!!

Highlands Little League - Game Action Photos (Lower Burrell)

The images from Sunday's game versus Lower Burrell are online. You can view them by clicking the link below.

A portion of the proceeds benefits Highlands Little League.


CLICK HERE FOR IMAGES


If you have any questions, or wish to purchase more than 25 images, contact me.

Gallery expires 8/18/10 - pricing will double at that point.

It Boggles the Mind - Photographer Fired

This is more of a commentary or editorial opinion that a post about photography. I might be more liberal when it comes to what IS and IS NOT acceptable in the world of journalism. If a photo is altered and it doesn't CHANGE the effect/meaning/intent of the article/photo - then I don't see any harm. To me, it falls under the same creative license we have when we enhance colors, increase sharpness, touch up a blemish... you know what I mean.

Read this article: Getty Photographer Fired Over Altered Image

Now, if you remember the problem in the O.J. Simpson saga where a magazine overly "darkened" the mugshot of O.J. to make it seem more ominous? Well, THAT is a problem to me... NOT this. I can't see how simply removing a caddie's head from a golf photo is detrimental to the industry - OR changes the intent of the image.

The sad thing is, this was all put into motion (the firing, that is) by a photo editor (who shall remain nameless) who felt that (for some reason) he needed to make a phone call to Getty to point out this "travesty". Honestly, kudos to the guy for being a "hardliner" on this issue. The sad thing is, it cost someone his job. Even more disturbing, the fired photographer had been working with Getty for 26 years.

But, I appear to be in the minority - or at least more liberal in my stance on the subject. I also don't think that those with a more conservative viewpoint are wrong, I just don't get the point of being so steadfast that it comes to the brink of getting someone fired. In all honesty, I'm not sure that this editor was really affected by this photographer's actions. But, if they are an editor who deems it their job to police the industry - I guess there has to be "someone".

My heart goes out to Marc Feldman. It's a shame to lose a client or working relationship in an already fragmented industry during an economy like the one we are in. I've seen your work. Hopefully, I'll continue to see it. You were actually one of the photographers I researched before covering my first pro golf event (USGA Women's Open) this past week. Best of luck.



Sometimes, this business leaves me speechless...

Mark IV - ISO Examples

Here are some sample images taken with a Tamron 28-75 (f/2.8) at 28mm focal length, open wide at f/2.8 with varying ISO settings using the Mark IV. In my opinion, there could be some very usable images at the higher end of the spectrum. A little noise-reduction and even the 102,400 could have a place in certain circumstances.

ISO 200

ISO 400

ISO 800

ISO 1600

ISO 3200

ISO 6400

ISO 8000

ISO 10000

ISO 12800

ISO 25600

ISO 51200

ISO 102400

In my humble opinion, although the argument can be made that the Nikon outperforms the Canon Mark IV in this area - how much better does the average photographer need? I do this for a living and this performance far exceeded my expectations and I can see the immediate impact that this ISO performance will have on my images - especially the ones shot at night and/or under poor lighting (high school football, basketball, wrestling, etc).

We'll see how it performs covering the Pirates game this evening.

Mark II vs Mark IV

Canon Professional Services (CPS) sent me, on loan, a new Mark IV camera body to test out. I will have it through the 25th and am going to carefully compare it to my current Mark II bodies. I'll post my results and personal opinions here.

I came across these and thought I should DEFINITELY post them. They have helped me - not only with getting the right settings on my 1D Mark II for sports, but Peter Read Miller from Sports Illustrated went and posted his settings for the 1D Mark IV on Sportsshooter.

Here are the two (2) CSD files that you simply put onto a memory card, insert into your camera and "Load Camera Settings". Then, you're ready to go.

Canon 1D Mark II  - Camera Settings File

Canon 1D Mark IV - Camera Settings File

7/15/10 - Day One

Didn't really have much chance to test anything today but I have a few "first impressions" of the camera...

First of all, it seems lighter. The battery size probably is the difference. It is approximately 1/2 the size of the batter that the 1D Mark II uses.

Writing different formats to different cards. This is a pretty cool fact. I never owned a Mark III, so I am not sure if this is available on that model, but the camera allows you to write a RAW (.CR2) file to the CF card and a JPEG (.jpg) version to the SDHC card that is also inserted.

This is pretty cool for a couple of reasons. With me, I use a Eye-Fi card a lot. So, I can now write a RAW file to the CF slot and a small JPEG to the Eye-Fi card in the SD slot. Then, the JPEG gets transferred wirelessly for a real-time slideshow (Photo Mechanic) and I still have the RAW format for later editing.

I can also see this being useful if you have to get JPEG versions of your "take" to an editor immediately and have time to fully edit your images later.

The sutter is as fast as the Mark II but doesn't seem to vibrate the camera as much. This may not be very noticeable to some photographers, but I am constantly firing off 10-20 frames in a burst and maxing out the 10 frames-per-second. This much shutter action does cause some vibrations that are more annoying than anything that affects the image quality. I am sure that, over an entire day of shooting, this lack of vibration could help lessen the fatigue that we all go through.

ISO Performance seems to be pretty impressive. I only took a few shots in a dark, poorly lit room with the ISO set to auto and it was grabbing a lot of ambient light at 1/60 and the shots were coming out amazingly bright. It'll be interesting to crank it up tomorrow at the Pittsburgh Pirates game and see where the ISO starts to get noisy.

Wrong Lens, Wrong Everything... Right Photo? How can that be??

It's amazing how sometimes when you think you've gotten everything wrong, something turns out a lot more "right" than you expected. On the 4th of July I had this happen to me. There was a very unfortunate and tragic house fire that was apparently caused by fireworks. This is all still under investigation, so I'll skip any more details.

After hearing the 3rd alarm, I thought I might want to take a look. I didn't have the scanner on, so when I launched my iPhone Scanner app - I heard quite a bit of chatter about an engulfed house fire just a few blocks from where I lived.

I jumped in the car and went to take a look. Figured I might get a few decent shots and see what was going on. Well, I had just shot a Pirates game that day and guess what? All I had was my Canon 1D Mark II with my 300mm f/2.8 lens. Not bad if I was going to be kept 500 feet away. But, this IS my hometown and I am usually allowed pretty close to these types of events.

So... I had WAY TOO MUCH lens. I only had one choice, try and get a lot of "in your face" shots of the firemen. In fact, I was too close to the fire to even get any shots with the actual fire. I posted a few of them on Facebook and I got a pretty surprising response. Turns out that most people thought they gave a very different perspective on the event.

I guess this goes to show that sometimes having the wrong equipment just might make us think differently about what we're shooting and we'll end up with a decent outcome if we just go with it. Trust me, I could have easily just put the camera back in the car and became a "sidewalk-watcher" like everyone else.

Here are a few shots to show you what I was restricted to. These are not cropped. They are full frame. That's what makes them interesting, I think.

 

 

 

 

So, I'm not longer one to complain when I forget to take my long lens off my camera (or forget to put it on, for that matter) - I am just going to interpret what I see and I might just be surprised with the outcome. 

* Yes, I know these are crappy photos - technically. They are noisy, maybe not the absolute correct white balance... but that's NOT the point. The point is to not let the obvious obstacles (no/low light, wrong camera body, wrong lens, people in your way, etc) get in your way of shooting. You never know what you will end up with at the end of the day.

Highlands All-Stars

Just a quick note to inform you that team & individual photos, as well as action shots from Thursday's game vs Lower Valley for the 9 & 10 year old team are online and available for purchase. Gallery expires 7/31/10.

Game action photos from the game Wednesday vs Somerset for the 11 & 12 year olds are online as well. Gallery also expires 7/31/10.

* A substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of photos, "fathead" vinyl wall graphics and other items through HSI will be donated to Highlands Little League to help in their efforts. Please keep this in mind if you are ordering prints. You're helping your own league when you do so.

During this time period ending 7/31/10, you will receive free shipping ($15 value) when ordering a Vinyl Action Cut-Out for your wall - using any image you choose at no additional cost. This offer applies to all potential customers, just not members of the Highlands Little League.

PHOTO GALLERIES - Expiration Dates

Due to space limitations and in an effort to not have my online galleries be overwhelmingly large, all image galleries that are for sale will expire 30 days after the event.

Please make any purchases before that time to ensure that you can purchase at the pricing indicated.

After a gallery expires, the images may only be purchased under an "ARCHIVE LICENSE" which is at a higher price level. Images from an expired gallery will be at least TWICE the original cost - depending on event.

So, if you have a gallery (Highlands Little League), please make all purchases before 7/31/10. After that date, the images will no longer be available for purchase at the current rate. More than 4,700 photos were viewed in the first 24 hours of the gallery being available. If you were one of those people browsing, please don't hesitate to purchase photos or other items.

To recap general pricing, here is what you will pay for standard print sizes and downloadable versions within the first 30 days. If it is a public event (sports, etc), the amount will double when the gallery expires. If it is a private event (graduation, communion, portrait, wedding, party, etc), the amount will triple when the gallery expires. This is referred to as "ARCHIVE LICENSING".

4x6 (glossy, matte)  -  $3.00 per photo  ($6 or $9 after gallery expiration)
5x7 (glossy, matte)  -  $5.00 per photo  ($10 or $15 after gallery expiration)
8x10 (glossy, matte)  -  $10.00 per photo  ($20 or $30 after gallery expiration)
11x14 (glossy, matte)  -  $20.00 per photo ($40 or $60 after gallery expiration)
16x20 (glossy, matte)  -  $35.00 per photo ($70 or $115 after gallery expiration)
Wallets (set of 4)  -  $5.00 per set ($10 or $15 after gallery expiration)
Download (low-resolution for online, email)  - $2.00 per download ($4 or $6 after gallery expiration)
Original Digital File (high-resolution)  -  $50 per image ($100 or $150 after gallery expiration)

I hope this helps clear up any confusion and explains the price increase when a gallery expire. If you have any questions, please email me ASAP.

Highlands Little League - Team & Game Action Photos

I'd like to thank the parents of the 9 & 10 year old team who purchased either a team or individual photo last night. If you weren't aware, a significant portion of the proceeds is returned to the league in the form of a donation by Heffran Sports Imaging. This donation signals our commitment to helping Little League and youth sports succeed. The more photos, Action Cut-Outs (Fatheads) and gift items you purchase, the more the league you participate in will benefit.

For the parents of the 9 & 10 year old Highlands Little League All-Stars, coached by Justin Sadowski, your team and individual prints are complete and will be delivered tonight before your game. Also, anyone who wishes to purchase additional photos or downloadable images - you may do so by following the link below.

NOTE: There is an additional INDIVIDUAL pose which was taken. It is different than the pose chosen for individual pictures. Also, there is a humorous TEAM photo where the kids are acting like they are celebrating a World Championship.


Click here: Highlands Little League 2010 All-Star Photo Galleries (Team & Individual Photos)

For the parents of the 11 & 12 year old team... I have not taken any team or individual "posed" pictured for your age group. I am not sure if that is the plan, but I did take several (200+) action images at last night's game versus Somerset.

They are shots similar to what I do for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball when I work as a photographer at PNC Park. They are unique and something you cannot capture with a regular camera. So, browse the photo gallery and you might find something you like of your ballplayer.

Click here: Highlands Little League 2010 All-Star Photo Galleries (Game Action Photos)


Parents from Somerset (visiting team)... you weren't forgotten. I made sure to capture several shots of your players in action. You can follow the same link to view the images of the Somerset players in ACTION.

Click here: Highlands Little League 2010 All-Star Photo Galleries (Game Action Photos)


If you have any questions, please let me know. For those who asked last night... YES, these ACTION photos are perfect for an ACTION CUT-OUT wall decal (Fathead). You can view a brochure by clicking HERE.

This is the type of image that is needed. and you will receive the image at no additional cost with the purchase of a ACTION CUT-OUT wall decal (Fathead). If you have not seen one, there is one on display at the concession stand.

I'll be there again tonight shooting the 9 & 10 year olds' game to get more action shots. If you have any special requests, please let me know. A "special request" outside the normal action coverage is just $10 plus the cost of the print ($3 - $10). You pay the $10 at the time of the request and either order the print from me or you can do it online. But, you'll have a shipping cost.

I'm easy to find... I have the BIG WHITE LENS.

Team & Player Packages

Team and Player photos are something we are constantly called upon to do. We take pride in creating a superior photograph that is designed to last 100 years without fading! We also offer a variety of gift items (mugs, coasters, buttons, mousepads, fatheads, stickers, etc) for parents and friends to order online. The sky's the limit... if you can think of it, we can print it!

Our 2010 Team & Player Photo Day Pricing is as follows:

Standard Package: Team Photo (5x7) + Player Photo (5x7) = $8.00
Enhanced Package: Team Photo (5x7) + Player Photo (5x7) + (8) Player Wallets = $18.00

Team Photo (5x7): $5.00
Team Photo (8x10): $10.00
Team Photo (11x14): $20.00

Player Photo (5x7): $5.00

Player Photo (8x10): $10.00

Player Photo (11x14): $20.00

Player Wallets (4): $5.00

You can download our standard flyer here (PDF). Please be sure that each player receives one. You should print a few extras for those unique situations where a player may need more than one.

* Fatheads are available at a discount on Photo Day. You receive FREE SHIPPING and 10% off if ordered on your team's Photo Day. A flyer for these vinyl wall graphics can be downloaded here.

"Fatheads" - Removable Wall Graphics

The first company to start mass-marketing these "larger than life" wall decals was Fathead. They licensed with the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA and basically took over the marketplace with these very unique vinyl wall graphics that could be used over and over again - without causing wall damage.

Well, it wasn't long until someone got the bright idea to make this service available to professional photographers. After all, the average person may actually want to have one of these decals for their gameroom, office, den, bedroom, etc. Moreso, they may not want a professional athlete.

They might just want a 7-foot picture of their son or daughter to adorn their walls.


So, I began creating these about two years ago. They are probably the coolest and most talked about item I provide. Everything from pets, to athletes, to company logos have been reproduced in a larger than life manner. Anything is possible. I can work from an image you already have, or I can shoot an action shot or portrait and use that image as the basis for the decal.

I can tell you, and parents need to read this sentence... YOUR KIDS WILL GO CRAZY WHEN THEY SEE A SIX OR SEVEN FOOT VERSION OF THEMSELVES ON THE WALL. How do I know? Because I get emails all the time about these one-of-a-kind items.

They can be anywhere from 2-foot, up to 7-foot and a maximum of 4-foot wide. The cost ranges from around $58 up to $138. Not bad considering the custom aspect of this item. I've created a brochure for those interested. It can be downloaded here.

Here are a few examples of the decals "in action". Let me know if you have any questions.

"Diving Fielder" Shots - Advice?

Someone asked me recently. How did you get that shot? I guess I never thought about "how" to get it, but when to "focus" on getting it. Basically, we can all get the shot of the guy hitting the ball. It's predictable, right? But how do we get the shortstop diving in the hole - just missing it, or the third-baseman snagging the screaming line drive?

Well, if you were looking for a concrete answer - there isn't one. But, as a former baseball player at a high level - and a catcher which helped - there are certain tendencies that will make it a "little" easier to be "lucky".

Okay, now here are MY general rules for getting lucky with these types of shots.

- Most hitters, minus a few specific situations or weird tendencies, PULL the ball. That means that a right-hand batter will usually hit the ball to the left side (SS, 3B) of the infield unless he catches it and hits a long fly ball or line drive. But, remember, we are looking for that "diving" play which really only applies to ground balls.

- Batters will hit the ball the OTHER way when there are less than two outs and a runner on second. This is more apparent the higher the level of play, but the idea is to hit a ground ball to the right side (2B, 1B) makes it easier to get the runner to third.

Get lucky. Seriously, either you have the focus reflexes of a superhero or you just pick a place to focus on. You'll eventually learn the differences in what a wood bat sounds like when it's coming your direction. I learned from playing - you may learn from just being there.

These shots were in totally different situations with completely different lens/camera setups. BUT, they followed those two simple rules.

The shot of Pedro Alvarez (R) was shot with a 70-200mm fixed on him since I was in the third base pit and there was a right-hand batter (who needs a shot of the back of the hitter). I got lucky. I heard the bat and my reflex was to hit the shutter. I was shooting a Canon 1D Mark II AI Servo, 10fps. 

The shot of the high school player was shot with a Canon 300mm, plus a Canon 1.4x TC II from the middle deck. I saw the hitter in batting practice and EVERYTHING was at the shortstop. I focused on him and, again, got lucky.

I will say, however, that hitting the shutter at the right time is important. If you have a certain FPS - it'll affect your timing. I only use the 1D Mark II. I can't justify the Mark IV and have had issues with the Mark III when I had one. At 10fps, I can wait a split second and start firing. With a Canon 50D - it'll be a lot harder to capture the right "moment". 

But, like I said... you can get LUCKY.

Highlands Alumni Baseball Game 2010

Bringing back players from the very first year of the merger (1969) up until recent graduates, the 3rd Annual Highlands Baseball Alumni Game was played with no injuries and a lot of fun was had by all.

If you're an alumni of the Highlands high school baseball team - whether you were a star or benchwarmer... none of that matters now. Over 40 players participated and the camaraderie and new friendships that were formed makes this a great annual event.

This year, I was lucky enough to participate for the 2nd year and had my best "staff photographer" (good 'ole Dad) there to document the afternoon in pictures. Take a look at the gallery to see images.

SEE A PICTURE YOU LIKE? THERE ARE PACKAGES AVAILABLE AND YOU CAN EVEN ORDER INDIVIDUAL PRINTS, MOUSEPADS, ETC.

SUPPORT YOUR RAMS BASEBALL PROGRAM...


* 20% OF ALL SALES WILL BE DONATED TO THE HIGHLANDS BASEBALL DIAMOND CLUB *


CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE 2010 GALLERY

SI.com - 2nd time in 2 weeks?

Again, I realize that this is just their website and NOT the magazine. But, it's still pretty cool when your photos get picked up by them. Of all the choices they have, seeing yours is rewarding. It keeps you going in this business.

Now, if I can only get one in the magazine, I can scratch THAT off my "goal" list for this season.

ESPN the Magazine

I got another piece of good news lately.

A fellow photographer, Jeanine Leech (http://www.doubleplaydesigns.com) let me know that I had a photo in ESPN the Magazine. How cool? She is an awesome photographer who has been shooting the Pittsburgh Penguins for years. Maybe she'll let me have a game or two this upcoming season?

Now, the magazine isn't like Sports Illustrated. They don't have large photo after large photo. Normally, they just have 1x1 or 1x3 images that go along with the story. They selected an image I took that was an emotional one of Lastings Milledge of the Pittsburgh Pirates showing his disgust after striking out.

Anyway, I've now made it on SI.com (Sports Illustrated) and into ESPN the Magazine. And for anyone who is interested, both images were licensed through my new relationship with Icon.

I also had my first assignment with the local newspaper in town. I think I will be doing a bit of freelance work for them shortly. Here's the shot from the newspaper. I'll tell the story of it, too. It's a great "Murphy's Law" story.

Okay, so this is supposed to be a quick, get a shot that sums up the graduation ceremony and you're done. Wasn't even required to stay the entire time. The photo editor seems like a cool guy.

So, I go there early (20 minute drive through winding country roads) and start taking some shots. Got a few, but really none to brag about. The commencement starts and I get the Valedictorian speaking with a nice, clean background. I get a few more that are keepers. Ones that will be fine for the paper. So, I leave. The ceremony started at 6pm and there are only 150 students. It's not going to be a long graduation.

I leave, drive the twenty minutes home and pop the CF card in the PC. Nothing. Yep, the card was blank. Well, the Canon 1D Mark II also has an SDHC card slot you can use, so maybe they're on that card. Nope. I sat and stared at the screen for about 10 minutes. This was the first assignment I was sent on and I have ziltch, nada, nothing. Perfect!

Well, I jump in the car and speed back to the high school (It's 7:15pm at this point). Let's just say it took 11 minutes this time. I get there just as they are starting to walk off the field. Shit... I missed the ceremony. Now what? I can't go home empty-handed.

I immediately looked for an attractive subject (tattoos, piecings, although I have nothing against them - they just wouldn't really apply in this scenario) who was having fun. People having fun is good - especially ones that are easy on the eyes. 

From 75 yards away (estimate), with the 300mm lens and 1.4x TC still on the camera, I shoot about 15 frames of these two young ladies cheering, throwing up the peace sign - celebrating the end of high school. They were about 5 feet from exiting the field and I'd be in a tougher spot.

I milled around the crowd, got some shots of parents and their kids - some even played it up with kisses & hugs, etc. I just wanted to send more than this one shot with the beautiful railing going right across the middle to the editor.

Well, to end the story, I drove home in 12 minutes and did the fastest editing I could. The images beat the deadline by 5 minutes. Little did I know that the non-traditional, non-posed, "fun" shot would be the one chosen. It just proves, you never know which photo an editor is going to like. That's why we're not editors.

Moral of the story...

IF YOUR CAMERA HAS A FEATURE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO WRITE THE IMAGES TO BOTH CARDS AND CALLS IT "BACKUP" - USE IT! HAD I USED IT, I WOULD HAVE NOT HAD TO RUN BACK TO GET SOME LAST MINUTE SHOTS.


Funny, too... another photographer (who shall remain nameless) had the audacity to ask me "Why would you leave before the diplomas were handed out? And, why in the world would you get the parents involved in your pictures?"

How dare I be so unprofessional?? :-) If I wouldn't have left, I would have really been screwed. At least I had time to get back there to salvage at least that picture.

I'm thinking in my head, although I just ignore that stuff is, "You have no idea what the editor wanted. You don't know that he said 'Shoot something and get out of there', you basically are talking out of the southern-most point of your body".

Eventually all this type of person  people will just go away if you ignore them. It does no good to TRY and be respectful and be-friend them, thinking that they will be mentors - they won't. Don't waste your time. You'll eventually find one that will be helpful and not wear iPod headphones that aren't attached to anything, just jammed in their pocket (yes, they do that) so they don't get asked questions. For some reason, when a photographer (some, not all) become successful, the already huge ego gets out of control. Everyone is beneath them. I just don't get it. Do they forget what it was like when they started out?

* DISCLAIMER: If any of the people I am quoting as pompous, arrogant or rude are reading this, feel free to contact me and let me know that you weren't being that way and I simply misunderstood. Then, I'll write a post saying how humble and nice of a person you are. 

Shooting Baseball - "What Cameras and Lenses do I use?"

As you may have read, I recently signed on with my first agency. First off, an agency it a group that can get you credentialed in return for you submitting them the images for them to market via an online searchable database. Think of Getty Images for example. Some of the world's best photographers submit their photos into their online database. Why? Because when a newspaper, magazine, website or any other publisher needs an image - chance are they are just going to go to these types of sites. It's simple for an editor/publisher to search for "Ben Roethlisberger motorcycle accident" or "G-20 riot pittsburgh" and get a selection of images for them to choose from.

The good news from the photographer's point of view is that they can go back to shooting. Getty Images will market for them and possibly be a great outlet for licensing (not selling - the photographer keeps the copyright) their images. The more licensing that it is done, the more money we make. Simple.

Now, the words "news agency", "photo agency", "wire service" and similar words are all interchangeable. You'll hear them and they all refer to places like Getty Images. Basically, they are gargantuan image archives with every possible photo you can think of. In order to be successful, you need a big archive of your images. The more images you have, the higher the probability of an editor choosing yours. It also helps to shoot pictures of the Yankees as opposed to the Pittsburgh Pirates - which is my team.

So, I just sign on with Icon Sports Media, or Icon for short. I had emailed them months ago and, at the time, they had enough photographers in the Pittsburgh area. No luck.

About a month ago, I get a call from their Content Manager asking me if I would be interested in covering the Pirates and Pitt football. He told me their coverage needs drastically changed and they needed someone. I was the guy.

Lesson... Don't be afraid to ask. Don't be afraid to put your name out there. I learned a saying from a very successful entrepreneur... "PERSISTENCE either PAYS OFF or PISSES OFF". The ones you "piss off" probably never had to hustle and make their own way in the world. Most people, though, will appreciate you staying on top of it. You just have to walk that fine line. They are busy people - all they need is to be reminded every so often that you're available and interested.

I shoot my first couple of games. I asked a very well-known photographer for some general advice before my first game. Instead of a couple simple answers like "you can move around between innings", "look for markers so you don't stand in a spot that a person has occupied for years"... I got, "I can't teach you how to shoot baseball in an email." WTF? Anyhow...

I do pretty well, only shooting from the "on-deck circle" pits at PNC Park. Truthfully, I was a little nervous and apprehensive about moving around. I just watched what the other photographers were doing and now I feel comfortable doing just about anything.

You have to remember that this opportunity came out of nowhere. I had been shooting Pitt basketball for a few months, so I had only purchased the Canon 70-200.mm f/2.8 IS so far. Let's just say that I was hindered by the distance I could reach. I used my Canon 50D when I wanted to get a little more reach since it is a 1.6x cropped sensor and helps.

After the first game, I ordered a Canon 2x TC II Extender/Teleconverter thinking that I will now have a 140-400 lens. WRONG! The TC made the images soft and it did not help one bit. In fact, I returned it the next day. So, here's ADVICE, don't buy the Canon 2x TC II. It will not help. At least not if you want your images to be tack sharp.

I realized that I needed to take a chance on a bigger lens. A friend of mine had a Canon 300mm f/2.8 for sale and gave me a good deal with a few extras. I think it was around $2,000 - not bad. So, now I have the following "sports shooter gear":

- Canon 1D Mark II
- Canon 1D Mark II
- Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Canon 300mm f/2.8 USM
- Canon 1.4x TC II (extends my 300mm to a 420mm without affecting IQ)
- Benro Monopod (composite and strong)

I put the 70-200mm on the 50D (thought the little extra reach wouldn't hurt) - the 50D shoots around 5-6 frames per second (RAW). Slow if you ask me, but the resolution is around 15 mega-pixels. That would be the setup I started using in the on-deck pits and anything that was up in my face.

FYI, even though there are newer versions of the Canon 1D, the improvements aren't important enough to me to make that financial commitment. IS the 8.2 mega-pixels a hindrance? Not really when you consider I am trying to fill the frame anyway by shooting tight. And it shoots a ridiculous 10+ frames per second. Priceless when shooting sports.

Another "dumb" question that got an answer that was pretty much useless. I asked the same "guy" if a Canon 1.4x TC II (which would make the 300mm f/2.8 a pure 420mm f/4) would help since I really wasn't in a position to invest in a Canon 400mm f/2.8 just yet. The response was one for the ages: "They suck. You need a 400. If you are going to shoot the big leaguers then you have to start acting like one."

Okay, for those that don't know... I was a scholarship Division I baseball player, selected to the 1994 Team USA squad and played in the Cape Cod League. I "played" with the people that he is "shooting". So, with all due respect - I think I can handle acting line one. For some reason I would guess this fellow was the one who got picked last in gym class. I digress... these pompous, arrogant, holier-than-thou photographers get under my skin, sorry.

Well, I heard from some other guys at the park that with the 1D Mark II and the 300mm f/2.8... I should give it a shot. They all had good things to say about the image quality (IQ) and couldn't figure out why I got the response I did. Maybe he had a 400mm he wanted to sell? Who knows.

I purchase the Canon 1.4x TC II and attach it to the Canon 300mm f/2.8 - paired with my Canon 1D Mark II. I have to tell you, it takes tack sharp images, gets me filling the frame more and I'm shooting at f/4 which is where I'd like to be anyway. As an example, here is a shot of Tim Lincecum - Cy Young Award winner from the San Francisco Giants.

I don't know about you, but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that image (above). Here's a shot (below) from the same game where I had to quickly switch to my 70-200/50D setup when a play was coming right at me.

Again, you can see where both setups work well in different situations. Just for comparison, here's an image shot WITHOUT the 1.4x attached.

A similar picture from the same distance away from home plate WITH the 1.4x attached. You can see how much closer I can get.

So, I feel like letting certain people know that, in the real world of buying your own equipment, the combination of the Canon 1.4x TC II and the Canon 300mm f/2.8 works just fine. Until I am a big shot like the aforementioned fellow, it is a great workaround to not having the Canon 400mm f/2.8.

The only issue is when the sun goes down. Since I like my shutter speeds to be at least 1/1250, it has to come off or the ISO has to be pushed into the stratosphere. If  you have any questions about my setup, shoot me an email message.