Wright State 8, Georgia 5

Georgia shortstop Levi Hyams fouls off a pitch as Wright State beat #1 Georgia 8-5 at Foley Field on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 in Athens, Ga. (Photographed with a special-effect lens)

Georgia jumped out to a 2-0 lead and then gave up SEVEN (?!?!) to Wright State in the top of the fourth on a walk, an error, and several misplayed bunts.

I continued my tilt-shift kick. I like the look; i think its very reminiscent of photos from the 1950s. Its really a different perspective on how you view the action and the sport.

Shot from the outfield mainly to get Rich Poythress who rewarded my nice, hard effort by blasting a two-run HR. Again I left too soon and missed Bryce Massanari hitting one out. (Second game in a row)



Georgia first baseman Rich Poythress hits a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning as Wright State beat #1 Georgia 8-5 at Foley Field on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 in Athens, Ga.




Wright State outfielder Tony Scott (17) congratulates shortstop R.J. Gundolff (9) after he scored in the top of the fourth inning as Wright State beat #1 Georgia 8-5 at Foley Field on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Georgia 4, Mississippi State 1

Georgia pitcher Trevor Holder narrowly misses a line drive in the top of the third inning as the #4 Georgia Bulldogs beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 5-3 at Foley Field on Friday March 20, 2009 in Athens, Ga. (Shot with a special effect lens)

Last Friday's baseball game. Georgia 4, Mississippi State 1.


Strong outing from Trevor Holder. Center fielder Matt Cerione had a HR and 3 RBIs. Dean Weaver came in for the save. Bryce Massanari threw out two one at the plate. (Other guy looked out to me)

Good outing and good sweep from the #1 team in the land.

(Yes i am on a black-and-white kick and yes, i am on a tilt/shift kick. I have to return it in a week or so)

The way i shoot baseball, or a night game, goes like this:

- Shoot the pitcher warming up before the first.

- First base side for the top of the first.

- Bottom 1 and maybe 2, outfield looking in on the plate. I want that tight shot on the plate and based on where we are in the lineup i will stay out there for an extra inning as light permits.

- 4-5th innings, in the stands behind the plate, moving as i need to depending on game situations, where we are in the lineup, etc. I know who Georgia's base stealers are, i know who has what tenancies. Luck helps, as i was playing with a tilt shift when Cerione hit the HR and i changed to an 80-200 by the time he crossed the plate for the jube. Want good jube photos? Focus on him.

8:30 - Transmit 3 photos, fast. I only copy off locked photos, and i tag them as i go. Our way of sending is ridiculously slow. Missed a diving catch by Cerione because of this.

6th - 8th Roam between field level and stands looking for cool shots depending on the situation.

9th - Shoot the closer, either from stands or field level and shoot the jube/deject.



Catcher Joey Lewis, center, warms up before the #4 Georgia Bulldogs take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Foley Field on Friday March 20, 2009 in Athens, Ga. (Shot with a special effect lens)



Catcher Joey Lewis, center, warms up before the #4 Georgia Bulldogs take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Foley Field on Friday March 20, 2009 in Athens, Ga. (Shot with a special effect lens)

(I did not mean to shoot Lewis twice like this, just kinda happened)



Georgia center fielder Matt Cerione celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning as the #4 Georgia Bulldogs lead the Mississippi State Bulldogs 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning at Foley Field on Friday March 20, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Mississippi State shortstop Ryan Powers tries to turn a double-play while Georgia shortstop Levi Hyams slides as the #4 Georgia Bulldogs beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 5-3 at Foley Field on Friday March 20, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

NCAA Women's Tournament: #11 Georgia vs #6 ASU

Georgia guard Ashley Houts (1) guards Arizona State guard Briann January in the first half as the #6 Arizona State Sun Devils beat the #11 Georgia Lady Bulldogs 58-47 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship at The Arena at Gwinett Center on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Duluth, Ga. (Shot with a special effect lens)

On paper, this seemed an odd matchup. #6 Arizona State flying and changing time zones to play Georgia in front of a home-town crowd (sorta) at Gwinnett Arena in Duluth, about 45 minutes from campus.

Georgia came out flat and sluggish and looked like they were playing in a totally different time zone. I approached it almost as if i would have any other game, except for remotes. No need, I assumed (correctly) that it would be one-and-done based on the up-and-down play of the team down the stretch. I went for using a 400 some and a tilt-shift for some. Did my usual "not sitting around" bit.

Made some nice photos. Mark Johnson jokingly asked me if i was trying to be David Burnett since i was shooting sports with a tilt/shift as Burnett shot the Olympics with a 4x5 and has done stuff like that.

Shooting basketball on manual focus was a bit of a challenge especially with the focus being such a narrow point.



Georgia guard Ashley Houts (1) dives for a loose ball in the first half as the #6 Arizona State Sun Devils beat the #11 Georgia Lady Bulldogs 58-47 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship at The Arena at Gwinett Center on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Duluth, Ga. (Shot with a special effect lens)



Georgia forward Angel Robinson (33) and Arizona State center Sybil Dosty (33) vie for the opening tip as the #6 Arizona State Sun Devils beat the #11 Georgia Lady Bulldogs 58-47 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship at The Arena at Gwinett Center on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Duluth, Ga.



Arizona State cheerleaders practice a routine in a hallway before the #6 Arizona State Sun Devils beat the #11 Georgia Lady Bulldogs 58-47 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship at The Arena at Gwinett Center on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Duluth, Ga.



Arizona State guard Briann January (20) is surrounded by her teammates after drawing a foul in the first half as the #6 Arizona State Sun Devils beat the #11 Georgia Lady Bulldogs 58-47 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship at The Arena at Gwinett Center on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Duluth, Ga.



Dance dawg Holly King dances as the #6 Arizona State Sun Devils beat the #11 Georgia Lady Bulldogs 58-47 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship at The Arena at Gwinett Center on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Duluth, Ga. (Shot with a special effect lens)



Georgia forward Christy Marshall (22) fights for a loose ball with Arizona State guard Gabby Fage (30) as the #6 Arizona State Sun Devils beat the #11 Georgia Lady Bulldogs 58-47 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Championship at The Arena at Gwinett Center on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Duluth, Ga.

The Matthew Stafford Olympics (.... or Georgia's Pro Day)

Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford stands on the field before he works out in front of over 40 NFL scouts during the University of Georgia's Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Let me preface this by saying that my primary job was to create a video piece for our website on this event. In order to keep my sanity (as well as how often do you get to photograph the touted #1 draft pick) I decided to go with the 20/f11 for making shots at pro day.

This wasn't my first pro-day. I did one before at FSU a few years back. This one was all that you could imagine. There were upwards of 50 NFL scouts and front office people as well as countless Georgia people, media, friends, family and anyone else that could get in to see Matthew Stafford throw 50 passes. To call it a circus would be a disrespect to tent-carrying elephants everywhere. This was an entirely new level of hype and hoopla that you just don't see every day.









Stafford wasn't the only show in town.



Former Georgia linebacker Dannell Ellerbe runs the fourty-yard-dash in front of over 40 NFL scouts during the University of Georgia's Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Athens, Ga.




Former Georgia wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi dives for a pylon during an agility drill in front of over 40 NFL scouts during the University of Georgia's Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Johnathan Taylor, Left Fielder.

Georgia Bulldogs left fielder Johnathan Taylor at Foley Field on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Athens, Ga.


My first attempt at a tilt/shift portrait. It gives me that old time, classic baseball feel.

Dancing with the Stars, Athens Edition

Fausto Sarmiento, left, dances with Chelsea Rovinelli during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

That was our A1 image for today. We received exactly ONE phone call on it at 7:58 AM from a grumpy old man asking why we were putting porn in the newspaper and suggesting that the gentleman was "doing her from behind."

The 2nd Annual Dancing with the Athens Stars was held Monday night as part of a fundraiser to benefit the local ProjectSafe. I drew the straw this time and I got to work it.

Nicely lit but 250/3200 ISO for a stage show.... eh. I would have expected more powerful lights. Also tried out the MB-D10 battery grip for the first time and experience a real 8 frames a second. Its really overkill but for baseball later this week, it should help even more.



Athens-Clarke County Police Sgt. Courtney Gale dances with Ron Putman during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

The highlight of the show was the stage debut of ACCPD Sgt. Courtney Gale, whom is still rehabbing from injuries from a brutal attack she received while in uniform in December 2007.

All in all, a good time had by all. I tried the catwalk shots and they didn't work - people never looked up.



John Keane flips overtop of Genie Wiggins during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Jim Moore and Cheryle Gerde rehearse their routine backstage during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.


Chelsea Rovinelli pulls on Fausto Sarmiento's tie during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Chris Garmon waits to go onstage during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Chris Garmon and Tammy Gilland dance during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Cheryl Gerde dances during Dancing with the Athens Stars at the Classic Center on Monday, March 16, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Swimming and Diving

Swimmers from the Athens Bulldog Swim Club work out at the Ramsey Center Natatorium in Athens, Ga., on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

I really regret not being able to photograph any of the University of Georgia's swim meets this year. They're pretty good.

But i did get a chance to shoot a little bit of diving after i finished doing an underwater shoot with a high school swimmer.



Olympic diver Chris Colwill at the Ramsey Center Natatorium in Athens, Ga., on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

$200 dollar weather feature.

Noah Welch, 15 leads his sister Hannah, 11, near the falls at Watson Mill State Park on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 in Comer, Ga. Tuesday's high of 82 at Athens-Ben Epps' Airport fell short of the record of 88 in 1974. The warm weather is expected to last until Thursday, which calls for high temeperatures to drop into the 60s with rain.

I went out to photograph a weather feature; its been nice of late with there being 4 seasons in 10 days. I headed out to Watson Mill State Park where there's an old covered bridge and a small waterfall. Hoped there would be some people there.

The last time i went out there it was dry as a bone. This time, quite the opposite. Came home with some nice shots and a handwritten welcome from the Madison County Sheriff's Office. The speed limit changed and i didn't notice until it was too late.

So this photo lead A1 the next day.



Nathan Welch, left, along with his siblings Hannah, center, and Noah, right, play in the water of the South Fork of the Broad River at Watson Mill State Park on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 in Comer, Ga.

Equestrian Fun....

Haylie Jayne, left, stretches before riding during an Equestrian competition between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at the University of Georgia's new equestrian center in Bishop, Ga., on Saturday Feb. 28, 2009.

A week ago Saturday, i was asked to shoot a feature for UGA's new Equestrian Center in Bishop, Ga. (Posting this got lost in with the snow) Georgia has an insane equestrian team; i really don't understand the scoring but it was pretty amidst all the crappy weather.



Erin Helmholz is nuzzled by Zach during a warm-up period during an Equestrian competition between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at the University of Georgia's new equestrian center in Bishop, Ga., on Saturday Feb. 28, 2009.



Georgia rider Katie Hagerty jumps with Nan over a fence during the Equitation over Fences event during an Equestrian competition between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at the University of Georgia's new equestrian center in Bishop, Ga., on Saturday Feb. 28, 2009.



Shannon Larsen picks up a western saddle in between events during an Equestrian competition between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at the University of Georgia's new equestrian center in Bishop, Ga., on Saturday Feb. 28, 2009.



Georgia riders Hailey Jane, left, Daisy Whelan and Emma Lipman, right, wait before the start of the Equitation event during an Equestrian competition between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers at the University of Georgia's new equestrian center in Bishop, Ga., on Saturday Feb. 28, 2009.


Since we're on horses for a second here, I'll plug the Equine Rescue League in Leesburg, Va. Good people that do good work.

Downtown.....

Thats Lucy and her owner Sarah, left, on College Ave in Athens.


Last night I went walking around with a 14mm on my D700. (Sigma f/3.5 for those who care) It gives an interesting vignette but just doesn't seem super sharp and flares like nobody's business. Still, i really liked the super wide look it gives.



Downtown was dead; it's Spring Break.




And then i shot the moon with a 400 & a 1.4 on a D2x on crop mode. I tried to put the branches of a tree around the moon but it just falls short. Darn noisy too.

Georgia Baseball

Matt Cerione makes a catch in the top of the first.

Thank god its baseball season. It was time to see what the d700 could do at night.


Apparently it could so a lot better than Quinnepac did, whom got pasted 7-0 in a two-hitter by Georgia.




Trevor Holder sticks out his tongue after a close pitch misses in the top of the second inning. Holder pitched a no-hitter over seven innings while walking three.




Freshman Colby May tears into a pitch to hit a home-run. I got the ball - landed right in front of me - only to have a four year old run over looking for it. I'm not that heartless, i gave the ball to the kid.

Snow. Snow? SNOW!!!!!!!!

Kim Rockmore throws a snowball at Anna Martin, bottom while Chris Avino looks on while on College Avenue as snow falls on Athens, Ga., on Sunday March 1, 2009.

Six and one half inches of snow fell in Athens Sunday.

The first inch was amusing.

The novelty wore off as the sun set on my cold and dark house.

It really got annoying when the shoveling out started. Never again i vow, never again.



Sophomore student Jonas Hopkins, left, pushes Sarah Belcher as she uses a laundry basket as an improptu sled down Sanford Drive as snow falls on Athens, Ga., on Sunday March 1, 2009.



Athens' city hall is covered in snow on Sunday March 1, 2009.



Cars are stopped at a traffic light as snow falls on Athens, Ga., on Sunday March 1, 2009.



Jason Corrigan throws snow after he cleaned off part of his windshield as snow falls on Athens, Ga., on Sunday March 1, 2009.



Sanford Stadium is covered with snow in Athens, Ga., on Sunday March 1, 2009.



People walk across a field near Madison County High School in Danielsville as residents clean up from more than 6 of snow on Monday, March 2, 2009.



Two Georgia Bulldog style snowmen sit outside a house on Main Street in Winterville, Ga., on Monday, March 2, 2009.