Sina's Sports Photography Blog

May 15, 1012: Amgen Tour of California race cycled from San Jose from started at 11 am and ended in Livermore approximately around 4 pm.I was lucky enough to catch them with my cameras. They flew right through in less than 10 seconds and it was just awesome to watch them!I was disappointed with the spots where I shot them. There were better spots but there were a lot of roads block and I was running against time. I didn’t want to miss them. I did a lot better last year which I have published in this blog. Next year, I will do better. My adrenaline was pumping as they were approaching but luckily, I was very confidence when shooting.

I am a sucker for Amgen Tour of CA Race!

May 12, 1012: MVAL Track and Field Championships at Tak Stadium on Washington High School campus in Fremont, CA. The competitions were from Washington, Irvington, Logan, American, Kennedy, Mission San Jose & Newark Memorial both boys and girls. I downloaded 140 images to MaxPreps. The weather was a bit hot but luckily I didn’t get too burned. I got a chance to talk to a coach from Logan High School and some of the photographers on site, they were friendly! One photographer recognized me from another site.

May 5, 1012: EBAL Diving Championships both boys and girls at Amador Valley High School aquatic pool in Pleasanton, CA. For more photos viewing, please go to MaxPreps and type EBAL Diving Championships. Enjoy viewing!

February 23, 2012: California Women’s Lacrosse vs Stanford in Berkeley, California. Stanford defeated CAL, 8-9.

Megan McGinnis # 24 of California greets the crowd before the game begins.

California meet before the game begins.

Michaela Guerrera # 27 of California runs after the ball during the game against Stanford.

Michaela Guerrera # 27 of California defeats the ball during the game against Stanford.

Haley Olson # 7 of California looks for the team player to pass the ball to.

Melissa Humphrey # 20 runs with the ball during the game against Stanford.

February 23, 2012: California Women’s Basketball vs Utah at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California. California defeated Utah, 60-46.

Michelle Plouffe #15 of Utah tries to catch a loose ball during the game against Afure Jemerigbe #2 of California.

Taryn Wicjowski #11 of Utah shoots the ball during the game against California.

Michelle Plouffe #13 of Utah dribbles the ball during the game against California.

Taryn Wicjowski #11 of Utah makes the jump to shoot the ball during the game against California.

Brittany Boyd, #15 of California dribbles the ball during the game against Utah.

January 21, 2012: CAL Swimming & Diving vs ASU at Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley, California. The swimmers and divers poured their hearts during the competition and it was fun to watch. Enjoy the photos! For more photos viewing, please go to this website at Sina McCarthy.

My first experience photo-shoot football at California School for the Deaf-Fremont’s homecoming against its “sister” school, California School for the Deaf-Riverside on October 22, 2011 had taught me some valuable lessons. Things that I have learned:

1. I need to practice some more get good photos of the football games, this was my first time photo-shooting football.

2. I realized that with bigger lens can almost guarantee getting better images compared to what I had. The biggest lens that I have  is like driving a VW Bug. I need a Porsche to be able to drive faster if I want a thrill.

3. The result of my first football photos was a huge disappointment for me. It is either that I give up and move on to another sports venues or I take up for a challenge. I’ll take the second option, I don’t give up that easily.

4. I was told to stay in one area if possible and the teams will come closer to me. When they do, I can only get shots of their backs. The closer they are at the end of the field, they look at the open field to pass the ball. Only if I was a bird flying in the air taking pictures from the center of the field then I will get what I want. If I had a bigger lens, I can get better shots of the players even if they’re miles away, okay I know… I’m exaggerating.

5. I wiped out one of my 8GB by mistake and I was ill for a few days until I learned that other professional photographers at least had the same experiences so it was nice to know that I was not alone. Lesson learned the hard way!

6. I am determined to improve my photo skill in football games. I uploaded ones (below here) I took from October 2011 and one in the future to see the “before & after” images. It is nothing like you see football photos from the Sports Illustrated magazines but I can do better than this one.

CSD made a touchdown at CSD, Fremont, CA. CSD Fremont defeated CSD Riverside, 60-0.

Here is a couple of more photos:

January 15, 2012: The women’s gymnastics competition between CAL and UCLA at the University of Berkeley, CA, starts at 2 pm. I am intriguing with their kinesesthic movements. Gymnastics is one of the top most popular sports in the US. Gymnastic is different from other sports, they don’t have to sit on the bench. Every gymnast on the team get the same amount of the game time. Whether they are weaker or stronger than the other gymnast but they get to compete on all the events regardless. I love how they move gracefully.

CAL gymnast prepares to do a forward roll.

UCLA gymnast jumps on the beam.

UCLA gymnast makes a backward roll on the beam.

CAL gymnast makes a jump to the floor from the beam.

CAL gymnast flips turn on the bar.

CAL gymnast dances on the floor.

UCLA gymnast makes a twist in the air from the floor.

CAL gymnast makes her impression on the mat.

October 17, 2011: The women’s field hockey game between CAL and Stanford on Maxwell Field at the University of California, Berkeley, started at 1 pm and ended about an hour and a half later. This was my first field hockey visit and it was a fun filling game. I had a soft spot for both CAL and Stanford but because I was at CAL so I rooted for CAL. By the end of the game, Stanford defeated CAL by 3-2.

Deanna Kennedy #4 of California defeats her ball from her opponents Alex McCawley #14 and Courtney Haldenman #5 during the game against Stanford.

Lara Kruggel #15 of California runs after the ball during the game against Stanford.

Kelsey Harbin #13 of Stanford slides to hit the ball during the game against Stanford.

Lara Kruggel #16 of California stumbles while Hannah Thiemann #23 of Stanford focusses on the ball during the game against Stanford.

The Caifornia team players defend their net at the second quarter during the game against Stanford.

Kelsey Lloyd #18 of Stanford has her eyes on the ball while Lara Kruggel #16 of California looks away during the game against Stanford. I am intrigued by this image, it is a self-explanatory.

Stanford teammates celebrate after winning the game by 2-1.