Twilight Criterium Preview

2008 Athens Twilight women's criterium winner Rebecca Larson on Thursday, April 23, 2009 in Athens, Ga. Larson is the first woman to be sponsored by the Jittery Joe's cycling team.

Needed to do a portrait previewing the Athens Twilight Criterium cycling race. Its a big deal here in Athens. (I did not get to photograph it last year as i shot video) The big thing that i wanted to convey was the speed. You really don't understand how fast they are going until you feel the wind rush by you as 150 people blow past you at 30+ MPH.

So i popped the front wheel off her bike and taped on the battery-powered LEDs. Dual softboxes. 4 second exposure.

Nationwide Golf

Nationwide Tour money leader Michael Sim grimaces after narrowly missing an eagle before sinking a birdie putt on the 18th green to tie a course record 9-under par at the final round of the Nationwide Tour's Athens Regional Foundation Classic at Jennings Mill Country Club on Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Bogart, Ga.

Any photographer worth their salt can make a decent golf photo. Its all about being quiet, positioning, being quiet, pushing the button and being quiet and a little luck on 18.

So after 5 days of this earlier this month, fighting fire ants and the sarlac monster and sunburn, i made some nice-ish photos. Nothing amazing in my book, but it was interesting being the only person shooting the tournament from my paper.



Patrick Sheehan celebrates on the 18th green after sinking a birdie putt to win a sudden-death playoff to win the Nationwide Tour's Athens Regional Foundation Classic at Jennings Mill Country Club on Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Bogart, Ga. Sheehan birdied two of the final three holes to force a playoff with Australian Michael Sim.



Bob Burns chips from the slope of the ninth green at the final round of the Nationwide Tour's Athens Regional Foundation Classic at Jennings Mill Country Club on Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Bogart, Ga.



Robin Freeman tees off on the 9th hole during the second round of the Nationwide Tour's Athens Regional Foundation Classic at Jennings Mills Country Club on Thursday April 17, 2009 in Bogart, Ga.



Nationwide Tour money leader Michael Sim fights the sarlac monster hits out of a sand trap while practicing for the Athens Regional Foundation Classic at Jennings Mills Country Club on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in Bogart, Ga.



Staffers sort out bibs for Thursday's start of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic at Jennings Mills Country Club on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in Bogart, Ga.



Ryan Lavener putts on the 18th green during the Athens Regional Foundation Classic's Pro-Am Tournament at Jennings Mills Country Club on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in Bogart, Ga.



Jeff Gove tees off on the fifth green during the Athens Regional Foundation Classic's Pro-Am Tournament at Jennings Mills Country Club on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in Bogart, Ga.

Really really busy.....

Okay, we'll play catch-up tomorrow or wednesday. Its been an insane month.

G-Day 2009

Quarterback Joe Cox walks during warmups before Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (Image shot with a special-effect lens)

Georgia held their annual Spring Scrimmage football game which they call G-Day. It was broadcast on ESPN and was fairly entertaining. Sidelines seemed thinner than usual. Got tangled up with a cheerleader while laying down to shoot with a tilt/shift.

All in all, a good time had by all as i had a game picture from the first play (yee old flee-flicker for a 40-yard-pass) but that really didn't tell the story of a defensive struggle. I had fun.



Running back Fred Munzenmaier (48) runs the ball as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (Image shot with a special-effect lens)



Wide receiver A.J. Green (8) hauls in a Joe Cox pass in front of cornerback Prince Miller (23) as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Tailback Dontavius Jackson fumbles the ball in the second half as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford wears as headset as he works the sidelines as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

G-Day Preview

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Joe Cox on Monday April 6, 2009 in Athens, Ga. (Image shot with a special-effect lens)

Today is Georgia's annual Spring Football game and is commonly referred to as G-Day. Earlier in the week, i shot some portraits for our "Gameday" section which comes out for every Georgia football game.

All of these were taken in the "Buttes/Mehre Photo Studio" otherwise known as the racquetball court. All of the players were super great to work with. I feel I'm in a photographic rut when its coming to sportraits seeing as I do somewhere between 40-50 a year.



Georgia Bulldogs running back Carlton Thomas on Monday April 6, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Brandon Boykin on Monday April 6, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Split Twin Bill

Georgia shortstop Levi Hyams makes a diving catch as the Winthrop Eagles beat the #3 Georgia Bulldogs 7-4 in the first game of a double-header on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 in Athens, Ga.


Georgia played a twin bill against Big South opponent Winthrop and i stayed for most of it.

I tried a remote camera behind the plate. Partial FAIL; too much metal around the pocket wizard for it be picked up correctly from more than 5 feet away.

Kinda a blah game in the first. I missed more action that I'm used to and what i did pick up, i was late on. Around the 6th when Georgia finally showed up, so did I. I don't like missing things and I missed something on a routine bunt that turned into something else. And the others, i was late on.



Georgia second baseman Michael Demperio hits in as #3 Georgia falls to Winthrop 7-4 in the first game of a double-header on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 in Athens, Ga.






Georgia left fielder Lyle Allen has the ball hit off his glove in foul territory during as #3 Georgia falls to Winthrop 7-4 in the first game of a double-header on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Georgia pitcher Jason Leaver watches the his throw go wide of first base in the top of the third inning as the #3 Georgia Bulldogs fall to the Winthrop Eagles 7-4 in the first game of a double-header on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 in Athens, Ga. Leaver gave up three unearned runs after the error.

Baseball vs LSU

Georgia pitcher Will Harvil flips a baseball during warmups as the #5 LSU Tigers beat the #1 Georgia Bulldogs 7-5 at Foley Field in on Sunday April 5, 2009 in Athens, Ga. (Image shot with a special-effect lens)

Just some more weekly baseball highlights. Sunday was #5 LSU and #1 Georgia and they didn't disappoint. Good game. Great action. Bad umpires. (I've watched baseball my entire life and I've never seen the strike zone bottom out that low before) I think these two teams will face each other again in the NCAA playoffs.

Matt Cerione never disappoints. Some players just attract the camera. He's fiery and plays the game with a sense of passion and reckless abandon.



Georgia center-fielder Matt Cerione leaps to rob LSU left fielder Jared Mitchell of a home run to end the top of the eigth inning as the #5 LSU Tigers beat the #1 Georgia Bulldogs 7-5 at Foley Field in on Sunday April 5, 2009 in Athens, Ga. Cerione finshed 2-for-3 with a three-run home run.



Georgia third baseman Colby May shoves LSU catcher Micah Gibbs as Gibbs tags May out at the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning as the #5 LSU Tigers beat the #1 Georgia Bulldogs 7-5 at Foley Field in on Sunday April 5, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

(I was caught switching cameras and screwed up this picture. I wish it was lower and showed more of the catcher)


I've seen managers in baseball argue. I've seen them go out and fire up their team and go out and fight for a player before. I've seen Tommy Lasorda and Earl Weaver go ridiculously insane (Thank you 'This week in Baseball' circa 1982) but I've never seen a manager have a justified meltdown at an umpire until David Perno. He was legitimately P.O.'d at the home plate umpire, came out and made his points and was headed back to the dugout when the third-base umpire tossed Perno. He didn't quite reach the level of a Billy Martin or Crash Davis type spectacle but I've still never seen anyone jaw at an umpire like that before in person.



Coach David Perno yells at third base umpire Fred Cannon after Perno was ejected in the bottom of the ninth inning after a shortstop Levi Hyams struck out on a called third strike as the #5 LSU Tigers beat the #1 Georgia Bulldogs 7-5 at Foley Field in on Sunday April 5, 2009 in Athens, Ga.


Missed one major thing because i had gone out to the outfield to get a name of a fan making a catch earlier and missed a dropped fly ball that lead to the game winning HR.



UGA Alumni Blake Keith reaches up to try and catch Georgia catcher Bryce Massanari's home run in the bottom of the first inning while LSU right fielder Mikie Mahtook walks away as the #5 LSU Tigers beat the #1 Georgia Bulldogs 7-5 at Foley Field in on Sunday April 5, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



LSU pitcher Matty Ott warms up for the ninth inning as the #5 LSU Tigers beat the #1 Georgia Bulldogs 7-5 at Foley Field in on Sunday April 5, 2009 in Athens, Ga. Ott struck out the side in the ninth inning despite allowing the tying run to reach first.