On to the Photo of The Week. Since I only shot some gymnastics this past week thats what get posted!! Finished the weekend with just around 20000 shots if not more tough to tell when I had to use 2 cameras.

You may notice the ISO of the shots this week. Yes that is not a typo and I shot at 10000iso. The lighting was very tough to work with at the event. More so than many other place I have shot at. Of course these are just some of the shots from the last night as generally I dump my images every rotation and with that I write over the previous shots. Since I was shooting for a company I do not get to keep my images as they paid me for the work I did for them These were rescued using the Sandisk RescuePRO software so I could have a few images to show this week!!

Hope you enjoyed! I have some interesting work for next weeks POTW, also have another long gymnastics weekend!!

Onto the Photo of the Week

I’ve always pictured something like this while covering the games, but was never in the right location to make it work. This time it just panned out!

22 February 2010: Connecticut Huskies fans during a free throw by Connecticut’s Gavin Edwards (33) in the first half. Connecticut leads West Virginia 37 – 28 at the half held at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

Always love it when you can get the fans included in the game. They helped decide this one as they really had a good time on national TV and taunting West Virginia.

22 February 2010: Connecticut Head Coach Jim Calhoun. Connecticut defeated #7 West Virginia 73 – 62  at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

Jim Calhoun was very animated this game, although his counterpart Bob Huggins was even more.

Onto some action, it was a pretty rough game, but there was still some areas of decent defense and quality offensive play.

22 February 2010: West Virginia’s Kevin Jones (5) defends Connecticut’s Jerome Dyson (11) during game action in the first half. Connecticut leads West Virginia 37 – 28 at the half held at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

22 February 2010: West Virginia’s Danny Jennings (30) blocks Connecticut guard Kemba Walker’s (15) shot during game action in the first half. Connecticut defeated #7 West Virginia 73 – 62  at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

It was a great game to cover, there were a lot more interest in the game one because it was an ESPN game, as well there were some up and coming players where there were a lot of scouts there. Even brought in Danny Ainge from the Boston Celtics. Also in attendance was Andy Katz an ESPN writer.

A lot of fun too bad it was my last UConn game of the year. Might have a chance to shoot some more basketball with the Men’s March Madness opening round in Providence, nothing for sure yet, but we shall see.

A pretty interesting hockey game. Short bench on one side and a good sized one on the other. Teams played pretty evenly though!

Had a pretty decent week this week, granted there is still time left, but I feel I might have a few photos contending for the best of the week!! Hope you enjoyed.

It was a week of opportunity as well as I was published online at the Home of High School Indoor Track and Field, www.dyestat.com, hopefully this will lead to some more work with them. Considering they are partnered and funded by ESPN RISE it could be quite the opportunity.

This weeks photos come from a sport I don’t photograph often but really love to cover, alpine skiing! There isn’t much for High School races my way let alone it is really easy to catch all of the schools at once in the championships. Considering I pretty much grab all skiers, every school will be covered. Enjoy this weeks photos!!!

This was early in the day, I set up at the next gate down the course and shot up toward this gate trying to get some nice light to the back of the skier. Was a good day over all playing with light.

I really enjoyed the light coming from where I was shooting from, for one it was a challenge as I had the sun pretty much in my eyes all morning long, but it led to some really nice images to be made.

This one has been named the chicken wing by many. He was on his way to shift skis when I made this, as I mentioned before I really love the backlighting from the sun. Really makes the images pop.

Granted for most of the day I was disappointed with the quality of the skiers, even the ones in the top 30. But there were still a few really good ones. I am hoping there will be a lot more quality skiers at the MIAA State Championships at Wachusett Mountain next week. There should be they are all out to win a championship!!

As you can see I changed locations for the women’s event, the sun was facing pretty much into my shooting area of the boys event. So I decided on trying to use the light to my advantage and shoot from the opposite side. It was a little tougher as I had to deal with some shadows as well as the boys racing right in front of me in the Slalom event.  Also I switched cameras to my D700 as I felt my D300 was focusing a little weird. After looking back at the images I’d say it was just fine, I just haven’t used it in a long while!!

Hope you all enjoyed this weeks images! I will continue with the sports related images for now. Should have some other photo assignments coming up, if I am able to post about them I will! Until next week!! Enjoy the Olympics!!

As I stated the week was relatively slow, I had 2 team days for the week and a full weekend of gymnastics. I would be posting some of the gymnastics shots but I don’t get to keep them, let alone considering I took roughly 18000+ shots over the whole weekend I wouldn’t want to go through them all and try to pick a favorite.

Here are a few of my favorite team shots from this past week. Next week I will have some more sports action, I promise!!

The Hudson High School Gymnastics team. A very large group for gymnastics. Had a fun time trying to set them up where it would work out. Of course if I had an apparatus to work with I would have done so but all shots were to be done by the trophy cases, otherwise I would have tried to incorporate the balance beam into the shot.

Two simple basketball team shots. Would love to be able to be creative but we need the basic team shot. Sooner or later I am going to try and have some fun with these team days and come up with some really interesting and fun shoots!!! Time to break away from the norm!

Hope you enjoyed, next week should be on time and with some more sports action, although with this snow storm I might be able to find something else as well!!!

Here are a few photos from the week of January 25th to Jan 31st.

Of course as always first is the POTW

A panning shot done during an indoor track meet that I was not scheduled to be at so I ended up practicing on some panning and other types of photography I don’t generally get to do while on assignment.

Here are a few more from that meet.

Also shot the Rutgers vs UConn womens basketball game at the XL Center in Hartford. Here are 2 shots from the game.

26 January 2010: Connecticut’s Kalana Greene (32) tries to get through Rutgers’s Brittany Ray (35) and Kadijah Rushdan (1) an inbounds play during game action in the first half. Connecticut leads Rutgers 40 – 15 at the half held at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

26 January 2010: Rutgers’s Kadijah Rushdan (1) shoots through Connecticut’s Maya Moore (23) and Kelly Faris (34) during game action in the second half. Connecticut defeated Rutgers 73 – 36 at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

It was a fun but little slow week, but I know the next week was even a little slower even if I got to travel a little bit.

23 January 2010: Connecticut’s Stanley Robinson (21) hugs Kemba Walker (15) after Walker hit a huge three pointer late in the second half. #21 UConn upset #1 Texas 88 – 74 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

I really kept going back to that shot as it showed the emotion from the game! Here are a few more shots from the #21 UConn upset over #1 Texas.

23 January 2010: Texas’s Avery Bradley (0) is stuffed by Connecticut’s Alex Oriakhi (34) during game action in the first half. #21 UConn upset #1 Texas 88 – 74 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

23 January 2010: Texas’s Jordan Hamilton (23) jumps over Connecticut’s Ater Majok (5) and teammate Matt Hill (21) for the rebound but was called for the foul during game action in the first half. #21 UConn upset #1 Texas 88 – 74 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

Earlier in the week I covered the Spalding Hoophall classic which featured many top ranked teams from around the country as well as many Top 100 players in the country, many that have all signed letter of intents with major college programs. There was some great action that started off for me with a few local games on Sunday capped off with a skills competition. I was amazed at how the few local kids hung in there with the Top HS athletes in the Nation, great job locals!! On Monday I covered three major games Westchester (CA) vs St. Anthony (NJ), #3 Findlay Prep (NV) vs #1 St. Patrick (NJ) which was my first upset of the week, and DeMatha Catholic (MD) vs Mater Dei (CA). There was some great action from all games but the upset from #3 Findlay prep over #1 St Patrick was heartbreaking for #1 St. Patrick, as they could have tied it if they hit both free throws to end the 4th quarter. Unfortunatley it came upon the last shot and it bounced around the rim and didn’t fall through!

Anyways on to some of the action! This was going to be the POTW….

18 January 2010: Findlay Prep’s Marko Petrovic (3) is fouled by St. Patrick’s Kyrie Irving (11) during game action in the second half. #3 Findlay Prep defeated #1 St. Patrick 71 – 70 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic held at Blake Arena in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

18 January 2010: Findlay Prep’s Nick Johnson (11) holds down St. Patrick’s Michael Gilchrest (31) while going up for the shot during game action in the second half. #3 Findlay Prep defeated #1 St. Patrick 71 – 70 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic held at Blake Arena in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

It was a great week and I look forward to many more in 2010!

Had to shoot some panning shots after my job was done as I want to get better for my upcoming ski races as well as NASCAR in the summer.
One more skiing and some indoor track after the break!

Earlier in the week I was scheduled to cover Indoor Track, one of my favorites to shoot since I was a hurdler in High School. It was an interesting event as I ended up heading to the school it was being held, walked into the gym and noticed basketball was going on, ended up finding some track guys and followed them to a hallway where kids were warming up. All in all they were running the meet in the hallways!! Enjoy the following photos!!

An interesting event! Glad I never had to run a meet in a hallway, although I can say it is probably one of the only 400 meter indoor tracks in the country!!!

Interesting seeing the janitor in the background, really shows the school atmosphere!!

After the game I had to make sure all my gear was packed and ready for a flight, thats right I was on the move for a little bit. Anyways the next morning I found myself in sunny but somewhat cold Miami Florida. I was there to cover the FedEx Orange Bowl, there are a few shots from the game that will be in this post. Came home on Thursday and went right back to work, had some HS gymnastics. On Friday was a once in a lifetime event, the SunLife Frozen Fenway games. Thats right Hockey was being played at fabled Fenway Park. It was set up as a double header by Hockey East, the first ever womens game outdoors between New Hampshire and Northeastern followed by cross town rivals on the mens side, Boston University and Boston College.

This weeks photo of the week is from the signing of the National Anthem, showing the difference in Fenway Park in the winter as well as an ice rink.

08 January 2010: The SunLife Frozen Fenway NCAA hockey game held at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

There was some great action from the game although I was shooting from a non-ice level position so I needed to make the most of where I was. I primarily shot from the Green Monster as it game pretty good site lines as well as a good view of about 3/4 of the ice.

08 January 2010: Northeastern goalie Florence Schelling (41) makes the stop before getting scored on the rebound in the third period. The New Hampshire Wildcats defeated the Northeastern Huskies 4 – 3 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

08 January 2010: Boston College’s Brian Gibbons’ (17) stick bends against Boston University’s Alex Chiasson (9) leg for control of the puck. The Boston University Terriers lead the Boston College Eagles 3 – 1 after the second period at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

Onto a few shots from the 79th FedEx Orange Bowl held at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens Florida. It was a great game between Iowa and Georgia Tech, and the better team prevailed with Iowa winning 24-14. Here are 2 shots from the game although there are many worthy shots from it.

05 January 2010: Iowa’s Brandon Wegher (3) stiff arms Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan (91) at the FedEx Orange Bowl between #10 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes and the #9 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets being played at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Iowa leads Georgia Tech 14 – 7 at the half.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

05 January 2010: Georgia Tech’s Anthony Allen (18) looks toward the endzone and Iowa’s Jason White (42) during the FedEx Orange Bowl second half between the #10 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes and the #9 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets being played at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Iowa defeated Georgia Tech 24 – 14.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

Hope you all enjoyed this weeks post, looking forward to the next week and the rest of this year!!

On to the Photo of the Week, as I said one of my favorites of the year.

As I mentioned it was a pretty busy week, covered HS swimming twice, HS basketball twice, HS indoor track, HS hockey, a winter choral concert and 2 UConn basketball games. A couple more photos after the break.

20 December 2009: Connecticut’s Jerome Dyson (11) takes a jump shot over Central Florida’s Taylor Young (12) during game action in the second half. Connecticut defeated Central Florida 60 – 51  held at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

20 December 2009: Connecticut Head Coach Jim Calhoun argues with referee Bryan Kersey about the double dribble call on Connecticut’s Jerome Dyson (11) during game action in the first half. Connecticut defeated Central Florida 60 – 51 held at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

20 December 2009: Connecticut’s Kaili McLaren (41,r) blocks Iona’s Milica Paligoric (1,l) shot during game action in the first half. Connecticut leads Iona 45 – 18 at the half held at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Bolte / Southcreek Global

Looking forward to the holiday and the New Year!! Hope you all have a great holiday and can’t wait for 2010!!! Before that though you might be able to see me at the #1 UConn Huskies vs the #2 Stanford Cardinal Women’s basketball game on Wednesday December 23rd. I’ll be on the floor covering the action! Also have a few more things up my sleeve but will leave that till after the Christmas Holiday.