Fun Photography from 2012

I had a fun 2012 as a sports photographer. I got to shoot all my favorite sports, baseball and softball in the spring, kids basketball in the winter, track and tennis in the spring, girls volleyball, football and girls swimming in the fall. Enjoy the following images all were made while on assignment for the Jamestown Post Journal Sports department.

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Baseball players are fun to photograph. Many people think that baseball is slow and it can be at times.

You have to wait for the opportunities to come. This catcher from Pine Valley was giving his teammates

some razzing before the start of a playoff game in May.

Andrea Marsh an all-round athlete from Panama Central school has her eye on the ball during softball

action this April. Andrea also lettered on the boy's football team where she was a tailback. She was always

easy to photograph because she was always around the ball.

I love to photograph Saturday afternoon high school football. To work in great daylight makes the job so

much more fun. Ellicottville's Lorenzo Smith returns a punt during second quarter action against Clymer

early in September.

I decided after photographing many girls volleyball matches this fall that I needed something a little

different. So when I went to the Falconer/Southwestern match in October, I was planning on locating

one girl that showed great emotion. I noticed Falconer's Kalee Halladay eye's as soon as I start watching

and it didn't take long to get this shot.

I have been covering the Stroups Gymnastics completition at Jamestown Community College every

March for the past four years.  Danielle Baker competes in vault.

In our area we have youth baseball leagues for all ages I spent many of my Saturday mornings covering

youth basketball. Nolan Brink playing for the Green Celtics in the Y basketball league goes up for

lay-up.

Photographing swimming can be a challenge. Many pools have pour lighting and harsh reflections.

The new pool at Panama has great light, it provides the ability to use faster shutter speeds and it creates

good color and detail. Panama's AnnaTurcotte during the breatstroke leg of the 200 IM.

When I photograph I am always looking for the great face that tells the story. Maple Grove's Sarah

Pardue watches the ball during soccer against Southwestern in September.

Having fun is, Jamestown's Red Raiders Olivia Zabrodsky leading the pack during the 1500 meters

race against West Sencea at Strider Field in Jamestown during May.

Tennis is always a challenge a fast shutter spead and a good angle helps as Southwestern's Matt Johnson

returns a volley from Falconer's Cooper Miller during first singles action in April.

Amy King Memorial 5k Run/Walk

The  Amy King Memorial 5K Run/Walk was held in the village of Lakewood New York Saturday 11-24-12. It was the 12th annual run honoring the memory of Amy King, who was killed while working as a flight attendant aboard Flight 175 in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This was the fourth year that I have covered this event for the Jamestown Post Journal Sports department. The weather was cold, the wind was blowing and it was snowing just as it has been in the past years. Hundreds of runners and walkers came out. My favorite part of the day was the custume contest a $300 prize is given for the best costume.  

The start of the race

The overall winner! 

Hops

Fred Pegram owner of Blanketcreek Nursery in North Carolina sold me some hops when I was visiting during the spring of 2011. I brought the hops home to Lakewood, New York and planted them along the fence that encloses my backyard. The first summer they didn't grow much. Worried about how they would winter over here in the north. I called Fred and asked him how to prepare the hops for the winter. He told me to cut them back to ground level cover them with compost and about 6" of leaves. This is what I got this year.

Fred with the Hops!

Thunder in the Streets Jamestown, New York

Team FMX preforming during the 9th annual Thunder In The Streets in downtown Jamestown NY

Team FMX preforming during the 9th annual Thunder In The Streets in downtown Jamestown NY

Chris Rammacher of the Band The Bogarts performs during the 9th annual Thunder In The Streets in downtown Jamestown NY

Shawn McKane of the Band The Bogarts performs during the 9th annual Thunder In The Streets in downtown Jamestown NY

Maple Grove's Track Team

Spring sports are always a challenge to photograph here in Chautauqua County because of our Western New York weather. One day the sun could be shinning and the temperature is 75. The next day it could be 40 and raining or worse, heavy wet heavy snow. I photographed many High School sporting events this 2012 spring with my favorite being the county track meet which was held for the first time at Southwestern High School.  

Maple Grove's Christina Walter warms up before the start of the Girls 100 meters. Christina not only the won the county meet but went on to take the New York State Section 6 title in the 100 meters.

Maple Grove's girls 3200 relay team.

Lean off runner Caroline Benson hands off to Taylor Norris.

Megan Marsh during the first lap of the anchor leg.

The Boys 3200 relay also won.

Corey Wefing heads down final stretch of the first lap during the first leg of the 3200 meter relay.