Overhead Pt2....

Just a quick update. I can't believe I got it in focus.

Self criticism drill later. The remote worked for a change.

The View from Above

Before we start the "Dennis Felton Death Watch" (2009 Version), I'm finding myself trying to find new and creative remote angles for basketball.

Cliche` angles seem to be backboard, overhead and hassleblad on a floorplate. At Stegeman Coliseum, there is no direct overhead over the basket. But after Georgia's 19 point first half showing against Kentucky, i felt reaosnably safe in going up in the catwalks, beyond dealing with panic attacks. I found a spot, ONE spot, that looks down over the basket and is reasonably clean - have to shoot through grating but i can get a shot of the lane. So thats what's up for next time. If i can get ahold of another camera, I'm going to do the backboard bit again.




A word on backboard remotes..... %@#$^. I'm determined to get it right - I'm determined to get these cliche` angles right just to prove that i can get the cliche's down before moving on to something a bit more bizarre. This past adveture involved 45 minutes of trying to find the ladder. I finally found an 8 foot, rickety ladder that resulted in the camera not getting up as high as it was needed. Would have had one or two pictures from it if it weren't for one thing - focus. Focus jumped on me; i forgot to tape it down.

Of course if we had strobes ... then i could shoot at f/9 or f/10. Instead, I'm at 2.8 and using whatever equipment i can find.

I'd kill for another D700 or 3 just for remote bodies.

Legislative Fun

State represantive Barbara Sims shakes hands with a fellow Respresenative during the opening of the 2009 session of the Georgia State Legislature at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Monday, January 12, 2009.

Its the start of the 2009 Georgia Legislative Session.

I've had better days shooting. I had a laundry list of people to get. There were plots and subplots that i had no idea about because the reporter never showed or wasn't sent.



State Senator Lee Hawkins walks with his family before the opening of the 2009 session of the Georgia State Legislature at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Monday, January 12, 2009.




Anthony Hines, left, talks with lobbist Kevin Perry before the opening of the 2009 session of the Georgia State Legislature at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Monday, January 12, 2009. Hines has worked for 5 legislative sessions as a shoe shiner between the House and Senate chambers.



Lobbists watch a closed-circuit feed of the Senate proceedings during the opening of the 2009 session of the Georgia State Legislature at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Monday, January 12, 2009.

Goodbye Bulldogs!

Running back Knowshon Moreno catches the final touchdown over Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones in the fourth quarter as the No 15 15 Georgia Bulldogs beat the No 18 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.

Knowshon's last touchdown as a Bulldog. Second shot of the sequence, definetly started it way too early. Ball wasn't where i needed it in either the first or second shot.



Coach Mark Richt is surrounded by the Georgia team before the start of the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.

I played around with a polecam with a fisheye pregame and this is the best i got.


Here's some outtakes from the Capital One (nee Florida Citrus) Bowl game of players that are leaving. Can't say i wouldn't do the same for a few million dollars of guaranteed cash.



Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford is tackled by Michigan State linebacker Trevor Anderson during a quarterback draw in the first quarter as the No 16 Georgia Bulldogs beat the as the No 19 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.



Running back Knowshon Moreno sits atop a ladder in front of the Georgia Redcoat Band as the No 16 Georgia Bulldogs beat the No 19 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.



Georgia cornerback Asher Allen tackles Michigan State receiver Keyshawn Martin as the No 16 Georgia Bulldogs beat No 19 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.

I really like this tackle. I was expecting a penalty to be called but it wasn't a horsecollar. Really.

Don't Work For Free!

I feel compelled to pass this on.

It sums up my feelings exactly on this whole "Work for Free" movement.

Harlan Ellison, my hat off to you.

Features from Monday

Children with Briarlake Elementary School's signing choir sign the song "America the Beautiful" inside the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Monday, January 12, 2009.

Last Monday I had to shoot at the State Capitol for the Legislative Opening. Found a couple of features as i was coming and going. Saw the steam on my way to and from the parking garage. Looking back, it looked better from the other side. Should have stayed in the sub-30 degree weather for 5 more minutes and I'd have gotten a nicer photo.

As i was leaving, i saw this choir that performed in sign language. Looked neat. I liked all the hands.



A man walks through the steam outside the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Monday, January 12, 2009.



Children with Briarlake Elementary School's signing choir sign the song "America the Beautiful" inside the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Monday, January 12, 2009.

IPod? Ipod!

One of our designers approached me with wanting to do an iPod-esque thingy about for a story with whats on your iPod.

Its not super creative, but it looks just like it....

Panorama Fun

The Downtown Athens skyline at sunset in a multiple exposure panorama as seen on Thursday, January 8, 2009.

So i was commissioned to do a panorama of the downtown skyline. This was one of my test shots and one of the better results IMO. It was created through photostitch and works well. Probably better then what i ended up shooting from in the first place.

Some of my problems that i ran into:

- Size of buildings in the shot. Do we want them small or big?

- Horizon line & lens curvature at varying focal lengths. Due to the inherent curvature of camera lenses, it made it difficult to create a straight horizon at 24mm and still line up the buildings correctly.

- Swarms of mosquitos. Apparently Mosquitos love to live on the rooftops of 10+ story buildings.

So overall, you have to think about your end product as well as time of day. I went out and did this test shot at a good time because i had the time. Where does the sun hit the buildings, etc.

I'll probably do some more in the future but its very aggravating at times.