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Best of - Sports
January 8, 2009Without a doubt, my favorite thing in the world to photograph is sports. It has been and always will be the greatest thrill of this job for me.
I love being on the sidelines capturing the moments that make and break the games and then being able to show them to the masses (well... the "masses that read our paper".
So.. here are five of my top sports photos of the year.
Jason Palmer/Times Record News
Henrietta's Jessica Rogers (17) kills a shot over Nocona's Elaine Coffman (10) during their volleyball match against Tuesday night in Henrietta.
Andy Newberry requested that I get something kind feature-y for the Henrietta Bearcats volleyball team as they were heading into the volleyball playoffs on top of shooting the regular game action.
I immeadiately knew that I wanted something super wide-angle and really low to the ground. Once I got there, it was just a matter of time before I got all of my regular action photos and could concentrate on the fun feature stuff.
I sat really low and right next to the umpires' chair and used the seldom sports seen 17-55mm lens from my kit. Shooting as wide-angled as possible meant that I would have to bide my time until the perfect play was in front of me.
It also meant that I would have to pay attention and wait for a cross-court set to the player on the near side. It took about 1/2 a game to get the right shot but this one was a major highlight of my volleyball year for sure.
Jason Palmer/Times Record News
Holliday shortstop Brayden Little (15) tries to leap over Palmer baserunner Jarrett Stone (21) on a failed double-play attempt in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Eagles fell 3-1 to the Bulldogs and were swept from the Region II 2A Semifinal and in Mineral Wells Friday night.
When shooting baseball, you only have a few chances to catch something really special. Usually, it's the pitcher, batter perhaps a fielding play and if you're lucky, a slide into second or home.
Every once and a while, you'll get the fraction of a second to get something really really awesome. This was one of those chances. It was a bang-bang attempt at a double play except the baserunner didn't quite slide to the ground and left the Holliday shortstop to kinda jump over him.
You really have to be on point to get this kind of stuff and that's why I love baseball so much. You have to see a play setting up in front of you and anticipate the action before it gets there... or it's too late.
Jason Palmer/Times Record News
Craig Alvarez (10) of Wichita Falls slides into home just ahead of the ball and tag from Vernon catcher Austen White (10) Monday afternoon at Hoskins Field.
This one was a bit easier to get but only out of luck. I saw the play setting up as the baserunner was rounding third. It was good timing to get his sliding into home like that... but having the ball perfectly placed in the from was simple pure lucky.
I'll take it...
Jason Palmer/Times Record News
Rider forward Megan Barnhart (9) is fouled from behind by Wichita Falls defender Brianne Bates (2) on a header in the box during the second half Thursday night at Memorial Stadium. The Lady Raiders scored on the ensuing penalty kick and won 4-0 securing the district championship.
Soccer is by far and away my fave. thing to shoot in sports. Guys or girls... high school it doesn't really matter to me.
I have always loved soccer the most. I know that a big part of it is that I played and one of my sisters plays soccer. But also it's the awesome expressions and body movement.
Other contact sports like hockey and football you have helmets that mask their faces and pads that cover their bodies. You don't have that in soccer.
Combine those with the grace of two players in a midair collision, with the ball... in a story-tellign moment like a foul in the box (although I don't really think it was that hard of a hit)... and you've got a great shot.
lastly...
Jason Palmer/Times Record News
Rider wideout Reid Barnett (14) hauls in a 33-yard touchdown pass ahead of Little Elm defender Joey Merlene (27) during the first quarter Thursday night.
It was a lean year for really dramatic football photos without the great passing attack of Rider all year. Most of the area schools were run run run. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it doesn't always make for the best shot.
One of the only real deep passes in a game that I was in position for turned out to be one of the best of the year. Reid Barnett hit a sideline pattern that the young QB connected on.
It was one of those play action things where I found the reciever and had time to focus properly and wait for the jump and catch.
Lucky me got both players in the air and a great shot to boot.
Posted by Jason Palmer at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Comments
Hey Jason, these are great! The baseball one with Brayden in the air is cool. I have shot a couple like that of him, he seems to always be in the air!!
