The Excitement of Overtime at a Rival Basketball Game

The crowd is roaring and you can feel the excitement in the air! The game has ended its 4th quarter but the score is tied… everyone prepares for OVERTIME!

There is a buzz in throughout the gymnasium… “Who is going to win?” Someone shoots… misses then a rebound… Now someone is at the free throw line.  The crowd comes to a low roar but then as the shot is about to be made there is a frantic cry for a miss!

The score goes up for one team and then the score goes up for the other team.  There is a break away and a block… the clock is counting down the seconds… and then buzzer goes off.  The score is still tied. OVERTIME once again!

There is finally a  break through and one team takes a lead.  With the sound of this final and third buzzer Athens wins with a final score of Athens 77 Union City 71.

It was once again another game for the record books! It was about 4 – 5 years ago that the boys Varsity Basketball Game between Athens and Union City went into multiple overtimes.  The ironic thing is… the game was played at Athens and Union City won the game.  This year the game was played at Union City and Athens won.

But I remember that game at Athens all too well.  I was not photographing it but instead I was a parent of a Union City Junior Varsity basketball player.  We were watching the Varsity game to support his school team and fellow athletes.  However, a part of me was also supporting the Athens team… you see, I am an Athens Graduate (1986).

It is amazing now going to these games and photographing them.  I’m not rooting for one or the other teams any more… but instead I am thrilled to be a part of documenting such a great rivalry between schools.  Click here to see more photos from last nights game between Athens and Union City.

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Daily Prompt: When you think of RED… What comes to mind FIRST?

During the month of February many of us would probably think of roses, hearts, Valentines Day…  the cinnamon red hots I have sitting on my desk when asked “What do you think of when you think of the color Red?”  Another thought might be red birds of sorts like this House Finch…  

To be honest, I have been thinking about this post all day (we receive our daily prompts for WordPress in the morning) and I finally decided to write about something that I really do think of the majority of the time when I think of the colors Red & White.

Now mind you, I am suppose to “Show you Red” another words with these daily prompts for a photographer, I am suppose to show you something… so tonight I am going to show you Red & White, but I am also going to tell you a little bit about the Tekonsha Indians.

Last night I spent the evening at the Tekonsha Senior High School in Southern Michigan photographing the Indians during 3 basketball games.  It was a fun night with the JV & Varsity Boys winning their games and the Varsity Girls really put up a good fight against the Will Carleton Academy Cougars.

At the end of an evening, when I am leaving any sporting event, I am always thinking about something that stood out as in a player’s outstanding athleticism, a spectator’s spectacle or an official’s call… but last night not only was I thinking of the wins that I had just photographed, I kept thinking back to 1985 when Tekonsha went all the way to the State Quarterfinals in basketball.

Now Tekonsha hasn’t been the only school in the area to go a long ways in a sporting season.  1985 was however the first time that I had followed a team when they had gone as far as Tekonsha did.

I never dreamed back then I would be a Sports Photographer now, but I remember the excitement and the thrill of the crowd as the team took the floor back in 1985.  It wasn’t too long ago I was able to not only follow but photograph the Athens Indians Varsity Girls Basketball team go all the way to the State Finals in 2012 and the Semi Finals in 2013.

You see, I was actually an Athens Indian (purple and white) but I had some really good friends who were Tekonsha Indians.  I knew quite a few of the 1984 – 1985 graduating classes and then some.  I had spent quite a bit of time attending Tekonsha Senior High School events from the Cabaret, sporting events, dances… to attending school on an occasion as a guest student (something that most schools do not allow anymore).  I was purple and white thru and thru but there was a bit of red and white in me too!

Now I am photographing for several schools all different colors including the Athens Indians, Tekonsha Indians… the school that my children graduated from, the Union City Chargers (maroon and grey) and schools in the surrounding area.

You can find more information and my photographs on Facebook and my Website.

Daily Prompt: Red

Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition @ a Basketball Game

Sometimes while photographing a sports game, I will get a little sidetracked and photograph something other than the game!  I usually try to make it something challenging like a juxtaposition which is “the act of placing things side by side, especially for the purpose of comparison or contrast.”

One way I have found to capture a juxtaposition during a basketball game (actually during warm ups) is to capture the basketball as it comes thru the hoop and net.  For me it is more of a comparison of technique, focus, position and timing.  The shear timing alone can be extremely tricky but always such a delight when I capture that perfect moment in time!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition

 

Does your Athletic Director or School contract a Sports Photographer or is it up to the individual Coaches?

I am a Freelance Sports Photographer in Southern Michigan.  I have come across some schools where the Athletic Director will make the decision and contract a photographer to do all of the Athlete & Team Portrait shoots for all of their Sports Team for the year.  I have also come across some schools who make recommendations but ultimately leave the decision up to the individual Sports Coaches.

I am curious as to how your school handles this?

     I am going to share with you some information on how I go about an Athlete & Team Photo Shoot

Location:

I shoot Athlete & Team Portraits on your home field and natural setting of your sport.

The Athlete Portrait:  

I encourage the athletes to do what they would like for their portrait.  This includes their particular area of expertise and contribution to the team and sport.  Examples would be: the pitcher having their portrait done on the pitching mound; a solid hitter having their portrait done up to bat; a discus throwing having their portrait done in the discus circle with the discus; a pole vaulter having their portrait done in the pole vaulting pit with the pole; or a good putter having their portrait done on the green with their putter & flag.

 It has been surprisingly amazing that when an athlete has the opportunity to do what they want for a portrait, they really like their portraits more and are more willing to have their portraits done.  A photo shoot also tends to go a little bit faster!  Track may be the only exception to this considering there is such a large range of events that could be involved.  However, I always attempt to limit the amount of time I take an athlete from practicing their sport.

My Objective as a Sports Photographer:

Throughout many years of being a parent of an athlete, I have learned what parents and athletes are looking for in a good Athlete & Team Portrait and Memory Mate.  In my opinion, one of the main objectives a portrait photographer should have is to capture the true contribution, dedication and expertise an athlete brings to a team and sport.  An Athlete & Team Photo Shoot should not be about me and what I perceive as the perfect pose but instead what the athlete, team and coach perceives as the perfect pose.

I will bring suggestions and guidelines to help an athlete and team portray what they are aiming for.

It is my belief that the athletes and teams should have ownership in their portraits.  This would be the foundation of Photography by Char.  It would be a great pleasure to be able to photograph your school’s athletes and teams.

You can see more of my work on Facebook or on my Website.