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 my website at Sina McCarthy.
January 22, 2012: CAL Women’s Basketball vs Washington State University at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California. CAL defeated WSU, 60-55.
I had an opportunity to use a strobe light at the second half of the game and I can’t explain how much I fell in love with using the strobe at the basketball hoops. During the game, my mentor corrected me how I was hand-holding the camera. Not because I was doing it all wrong but I can get better images depends on how I hold the camera. It was awkward at first holding the camera in vertical opposite from what I normally used to before. It took some time for me to get used to it then I realized what difference it does make in the photos.
WSU’s Jazmine Perkins, 11, bounced the ball looking to pass onto other player.
Fans rooted for their team.
WSU prevented CAL to score in the hoop.
WSU meet during break.
CAL Brittany Boyd, 15, made a jump to score in the hoop.
Both teams tangled to get the ball.
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 am 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, started at 2 pm. I was 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, so gracefully.
CAL gymnast prepared to do a forward roll.
UCLA gymnast jumped on beam.
Gymnast made a backward roll on beam…. beautiful jump!
She made a jump to the floor from the beam.
A flip turn on bar.
A dance from the floor.
A twist in the air from the floor.
Gymnast made her impression on the mat.
October 17, 2011: The women’s field hockey game between CAL and Stanford 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 I did not realize how fast they moved the ball. 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.
CAL’s Deanna Kennedy #4 defeats her ball from her opponents Alex McCawley #14 and Courtney Haldenman #5 during the game against Stanford at Maxwell Field on October 17, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
CAL’s Lara Kruggel #15 runs after the ball during the game against Stanford at Maxwell Field on October 17, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
Kelsey Harbin #13 from Stanford slides to hit the ball during the game against Stanford at Maxwell Field on October 17, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
CAL’s Lara Kruggel #16 stumbles while Hannah Thiemann #23 of Stanford focusses on the ball during the game against Stanford at Maxwell Field on October 17, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
The CAL team players defend their net at the second quarter during the game against Stanford at Maxwell Field on October 17, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
Kelsey Lloyd #18 of Stanford, has her eyes on the ball while CAL’s Lara Kruggel #16 from CAL looks away during the game against Stanford at Maxwell Field on October 17, 2011 in Berkeley, California. I am intrigued by this image, it is a self-explanatory.
Stanford teammates celebrate after winning the game by 2-1 at Maxwell Field on October 17, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
October 15, 2011: I was invited to photo shoot water polo with a friend who is a team professional sports photographer for CAL. I had fun, thanks Mike! There was a full house in Spieker Aquatics Complex, Berkeley, CA on Saturday fans rooting and screaming for both teams, CAL and USC. Both teams were competing against each other, they had overtime twice. Finally USC defeated CAL by 9 – 8.
Through this game was on a cloudy day, the sunlight shines through the streak of water made this photo look interesting. Blake Kelley #17, the defender of CAL, pass the ball to his teammate during the game against USC at Spieker Aquatics Complex on October 15, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
Ivan Rakov #6, the attacker of CAL, makes a throw to the opponent’s net during the game against USC at Spieker Aquatics Complex on October 15, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
USC player tries to steal the ball from Zach Greenwood #8, the CAL Utility, during the game against USC at Spieker Aquatics Complex on October 15, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
I just learned that Zach’s mother competed in 1976 Montreal Olympics. His father was a member of four-straight NCAA championship swim teams at USC. His sisters also played water polo at another Universities. Must be really cool for the whole family live their lives around the water.
The goalie of CAL blocks a shot from USC to score the goal during the game against USC at Spieker Aquatics Complex on October 15, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
CAL’s attacker, Cory Nasoff #3 tries to defend the opponent from scoring the goal during the game against USC at Spieker Aquatics Complex on October 15, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
The mixture of fans from both CAL and USC cheering on for their team during the game at Spieker Aquatics Complex on October 15, 2011 in Berkeley, California.
I am four months behind on posting this blog… I have been sidetracked with the wedding photography this summer. I know a wedding photography pays well but I have decided that sports photography is really my niche. As a photographer, I love to capture the intense moments of excitement. Those moment is a life that we allow it to be and they are irreplaceable. This is art! This is something that I look for everyday when I am behind the glass.
I now work as a free lance sports photographer for MaxPreps that operates by CBS shooting HS sports in nationwide. After searching seasonal sports in Bay Area, water polo is in the season as well as football, softball, volleyball and soccer. I decided to shoot water polo. Maybe it is because I love water sports. I am exhilarated that I am going to be paid for my photo work. Life is a journey and some things are worth waiting for… it pays off.
Enjoy viewing!
September 29, 2011: Washington HS Girls’ water polo moments of the excitement during scrimmage at American HS Aquatic in Fremont, CA. (Photo by Sina McCarthy for MaxPreps).
September 29, 2011: The coach prepare the boys right before the game starts. Washington HS Boys Water Polo vs Irvington HS at American HS Aquatic, Fremont, CA. (Photo by Sina McCarthy for MaxPreps).
September 29, 2011: The players rustled for the ball. Washington HS Boys Water Polo vs Irvington HS at American HS Aquatic, Fremont, CA. (Photo by Sina McCarthy for MaxPreps).
September 29, 2011: The goalie jumped to stop the ball from hitting the net. Washington HS Boys Water Polo vs Irvington HS at American HS Aquatic, Fremont, CA. (Photo by Sina McCarthy for MaxPreps).
May 18, 2011: The Amgen Tour of California stage 4 began with cyclists starting race in Livermore, CA at 11:45 am and ended in San Jose at 3:45 pm. The cyclists have made the 81.8 mile route through Mount Hamilton through periods of rain and overcast skies. I waited for two hours for this race to pass by the area where I was sitting. When they did, the whole cyclists went pass by in less than 20 seconds. They were so fast!!
These photos were taken on Mines Road in the backside of Mount Hamilton.
May 18, 2011: CHP leaded the cyclists in the beginning of the race on road. Played around with slow shutter speed.
May 18, 2011: Amgen Tour of California on Mines Road, Livermore.
May 18, 2011: The second group of the race on Mines Road after strenuous climbs against the hills.
May 18, 2011: The cyclists makes a sharp turn on Mines Road, Livermore.
May 18, 2011: Very colorful cyclists on Mines Road, Livermore!
May 18, 2011: Back-up bicycles on top of rack, Mines Road, Livermore.
May 18, 2011: Amgen Tour of California array of cyclists, Mines Road, Livermore.
The Amgen Tour of California (18 teams) is part of competitive cycling tour which began this past Sunday at South Lake Tahoe but was detoured because of the snowstorm. The USA’s largest Cycling Race teams are cycling more than 800 miles through California and they will finish in Thousand Oaks on Sunday, May 22nd.
