January 27, 2011 • Snow and car problems

Today we woke up to another 8 - 12 inches of snow, school delays and moved mid-term exams.

I went out early to clear the driveway and the cars. Went to start my car and 'thump' the belt popped off... again! Not a good feeling when you rely on the car to get you from job to job, sometimes late at night, 60 - 75 miles away from home.

This is a part you are normally not supposed to see!

I now have to limp my car down to the service station, with out having it over heat, and with out power steering, and have a new belt out on. Last time I had to speed up to 50, put it in neutral and coast for a while, put it in drive, speed up to 50, neutral, coast... repeat until I reached the service station! I need my car to be reliable and as of right now it has a rattle that is driving me nuts... I think it's the motor mount that is failing. Great, another thing I have to have replaced. I may be able to do this one myself.

Friday evening I have a basketball game to shoot in Minisink, then I have to re-set my equipment in the same gym, for a cheerleading competition the next day. 9 hours of very loud music and kids being tossed around in the air.

City of Newburgh votes on resolution 11-2011 • 10 January 2011

Assignment: photograph the City Council of Newburgh voting on a resolution (#11-2011) which is to enter into a combined bargaining agreement with Local 589 of the International Assoc. of Fire Fighters, (which is the local that covers the City of Newburgh Fire Fighters). Not a super exciting assignment, but one which poses some challenges. The room is large and not lit very well. I use a combination of on-camera strobe and available light. Two cameras and a variety of lenses.

The agreement is a multi year contract with issues that were highly contested at this meeting. Overtime, No Lay-offs, work schedules and health care are some of the issues. Many residents took the microphone, some for and some against a Lieutenant with the Fire Department took the microphone to give the viewpoint from the fireman, how they came up with the plan and why it works for the fireman and the city. With Fire Fighters lining the room, the Council voted to pass the resolution but not before the residents were given a small show when Councilwomen Bell and Mayor Valentine 'discussed' the resolution and the factors leading up to the vote.

Army Black Knights Mens Basketball • 3 Jan 2011

It's nice to get a call and be asked to shoot an assignment at a local college. It's even nicer when that college is the Unites States Military Academy at West Point.

I was assigned to shoot the mens basketball game Monday night. The Black Knights took on the Big Green of Dartmouth in a Patriot League game at the Christl Arena on the campus of West Point.

Since I am a freelance photographer, I don't have media credentials for the paper. I usually show up to an event and check to see if my name is on the list, and if it's not, keep my fingers crossed that I can persuade the folks to let me in anyway and that I really am working for the paper. Who is going to turn away a guy with a bag full of cameras, lenses and a laptop? My name was not on the list, however a pass was left for a Staff Photographer from the paper to shoot the 4:00 pm women's game, I guess she didn't make the assignment, so I asked if it was OK for me to use it... They said... 'no problem! the press room is over there, there's food, and there is internet in the press area on the floor.' 2 seconds ago, I was a nobody with a bag full of gear, now I am all set! Boy, that was easy!

For this game I had both my camera bodies, so I decided, for the first half, to mount one body on the backboard stanchion about 6 feet high, on the far side of the court with a wide angle zoom. I set the zoom and focused on a spot just past the basket to get action shots of the players jumping at the rim. With the lens taped so it would not shift, I was ready to fire it from across the gym with a 'pocketwizard.'

I ended up with a few good images from this body. I mounded it high enough and far enough back behind the padding that it would not get hit by a ball or player. This is a concern, since it is all my own gear.

Working like this with a remote body, you never know what you have until you pull the card at half time and load them on the laptop and start the editing process.

With this body on one side, I was on the other side of the gym under the basket where Army was on offense. I had a 24 -70, a 70-200 and my 300mm. With only one body, I had to pick a lens and use it for the possession, long lens for defense on the other side, 70-200 for mid-court to foul line and 24 - 70 under the basket, then switch to another. This gets frustrating after a while. You also have to deal with a referee standing in front of you. It seemed like every time I moves sides, he moved...

For the second half, I had both bodies with me on the floor. 70-200 on one and 24-70 on the other.

Army wins 67-47, Game shot, now it's time to edit, caption and hope the internet connection will let me send out the images. Last e-mail sent right at 9:30pm, deadline made.