How I shot that - LAX WI Blue Bridges over the Mississippi

How I shot that - LAX WI Blue Bridges over the Mississippi

Shot with Sony 50mm f/1.8 - http://amzn.to/2FmZ82E
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr
Similar aluminum Camera Tripod - http://amzn.to/2opfBw3
Purchase this photo

La Crosse, WI (#laxwi in my tags) sits on the shores of the Mississippi River running between western Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.  Between the two states (and in the middle of the river) sits Pettibon Park.  Pettibone Park was an island originally governed by Minnesota but was given to Wisconsin at the start of the 20th century.  

Originally, this island was mostly owned by a sole investor who's idea was to make a magnificent city on the river.  To say the least, that idea didn't pan out.  The river flooded so high and so often, that any structures would have to withstand such high water levels that would never allow for year round living.  But eventually it was realized that open structures open to a surrounding of water from the river would work out nicely as a park.

Given that the island would be part of La Crosse, WI that meant building a bridge over this mighty river wouldn't be a problem as you have one less jurisdiction to worry about (one less state).  

Fast forward almost 100 years, LAXWI is a thriving city with good river traffic sitting between the bluffs of WI and MN.  As it happens, I found that it was almost the time of a 'super moon', but the Upper Midwest has a lot of weather.  So, sometimes weather looks good in the afternoon, but clouds all up at night... and then there is the reverse.  July 19, 2016 was a long day on top of that, as my wife and I were driving all over the area.

But driving home, this park was on the way.  The river had relaxed to an almost normal stage. And not only did I have my a6000, but also my tripod too.  On my camera, I had the 50mm f1.8 lens and I took nearly 28 photos to stitch this together.  I was thinking, everything is farther away, but I didn't want to leave it at 1.8, and so I changed the aperture to 5.6.  I had a 1/45 shutter speed and 1000 iso.  

I came away with the tops of the bridges and the buildings on the other side of the river being a little distorted, but to me that was fine.  The river is larger than life.  Oh, heck, this river IS life to most of the country.  So if you need to make buildings to challenge it, they too need to behave this way.

Business of My Photography

New focus on my business of my photography.

Something I have had people inform me about is that my photography reminds them of product photography.  Not the original thought I had when pressing the shutter.

Youth Football Cleats
Shot with Sony 20mm F2.8 wide-angle http://amzn.to/2GFfmn9
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

But after time, I thought it over.  It wasn't easy, because I have dreams that take me far beyond product shots.  But dreams don't pay the bills.  And people that you want as clients (People with a huge sum of money) may want to see that what you do actually can pull some weight.

Charmant Hotel, Hotel .com gift card - http://amzn.to/2BMnAe0
Shot with Minolta 70-210 F4 Lens - http://amzn.to/2sNQSGy
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

So if much of what I have is like product photography, I will get some use of it somehow.  A friend at work mentioned Amazon and their affiliate program.  I read it over, and it seems good.  Descent returns, and rewards you get even beyond the initial item you linked to.

Similar Edea Skates - http://amzn.to/2GFvllt
Shot with Sony 70-200 F4 OSS G - http://amzn.to/2sRzSPM
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

So here is to a growing economy that they say is booming.  You know all I need are a few sheckles.  I want the photos to speak for themselves, but if there is something about the photo that can drive a persons to Amazon and pick something up, all the better!

GGOOLLD Band http://amzn.to/2CCw2cM
Shot with Sony 50mm f/1.8 - http://amzn.to/2FmZ82E
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

SGA2017 Only Waiting the Upload

What a trip!

I didn't get to do other sports like I originally thought I was going to do.  However, thanks to a proper lens I rented from LensRentals.com, all I had to do was a series of mass edits in light room.  I even posted one section of photos right off from the camera (Opening Ceremony).

So, right now, I'm posting everything to my LifeExposure.smugmug.com account.  I did have some priorities for certain western Wisconsin area competitors, and the photos are sorted according to the time of day I shot them.  So I can't say I got everyone, but I usually got entire competing groups.  However, after they are uploaded, I will be going through and removing the ones that aren't in focus or don't have a promising crop that you can do when you select a photo for purchase.

In short, I will thin it out.

But what is different about my photos versus the ones of the main photographers that were there?  The photographers selected by the figure skating organization hosting the competition have a primary style required by such a position.  First, they will have mostly full body shots.  And that will be about it.  And that is what you have to do when doing photos for a competition.  Those can be good photos.

I, however, wasn't there on behalf of the figure skating competition.  I'm there as a freelance photographer with permission on behalf of State Games of America.  A copy of all my photos at SGA events are going to SGA and Michigan State Games.  So this means I could be free to try somethings out.  Free to wonder the area, and get something interesting.

You will find some photos where I zoom in a lot.  On of the points of interest are the feet.  For figure skating athletes, you can find the feet in very interesting positions, helping them move, jump, and glide around the surface.

Attempted head shots.  The expressions fascinate me.  From determination, concentration, to out right enjoyment, everyone will have their own look.

Even challenging circumstances.  A fall, or unseen injury, and for figure skaters... failure of your music.  Like in the following photo, the music stopped playing, but you never knew it by just looking at her.  Julia Iovino continued on with a fantastic skate, along with a display of fantastic sportsmanship.

So take a look!  Some photos are still uploading (I really need a faster upload speed).  I so far have August 2nd through 4th up.  Opening Ceremony is already up. Then the 5th and 6th will be much faster.  If you are looking for the ISI events, I have photos from August 3rd, South Side arena up there too.

SGA2017 Update 7-30-2017

State Games of America update, 7-30-2017

This week, photos are going to start rolling in.  While I will try to talk about some of them here, please visit my Smugmug - State Games of America page.  You can browse by sport and event.  I'm not going to be able to everything, I'll be based in Grand Rapids during this week.

News organizations, please contact me about rights in your media - LEphotobytony@gmail.com

Please visit my Twitter Account @lephotosbytony to see what I'm photographing during #SGA2017.

Media Credentials

I've been told that I'll be able to get my credentials for #SGA2017.

Follow me on Twitter...
https://twitter.com/lephotosbytony/status/888180162776494080

SGA2017 Prep. 16 days to go

State Games of America

Hosted in Grand Rapids, MI

and with State Games of Michigan

Getting ready for this, it is interesting for me.  My wife has gone as a coach 2 times now, and this will be my first... primarily to support her and her students.  But also to do some photography.  

I'm going to be competing as well.  Although, not as an athlete, but as a photographer.  I've entered my request for credentials, and to be a part of their photo contest.  

So I'm getting my schedule put together, web site and digital operations prepped for presentation.  Even considering clothing options.  It's exciting.  But this kind of preparation doesn't end with these things.  

Enter scouting.

Like how some athletes will research their competition, I'm reviewing the venues... as much as I can from 400+ miles away.  I need to search out my best vantage points and then I need to keep in mind the personal opportunity and the stories.

Will I just be taking pics reflecting my area's participants?  No, but they will be a focus, as I intend to contact western Wisconsin media, centering around La Crosse, WI and including athletes from here, Sparta, Tomah, and Onalaska.  But I can't wait to find out what athletes from other sports are participating as well.

Also, I'm hoping I get a chance to photograph sports to get myself out of the comfort zone a little bit.

Can't wait!

Renting a lens, SGA2017, and Photo

This time I'm prepared. Figure skaters from this area (La Crosse,  WI) are showing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

An event known as State Games of America is hosting youth athletes from all over the country in an Olympic style week long event.  Grand Rapids will host most of the events.  And from what I can tell, they almost any sport I can think of... save alpine skiing (cause, August). 

Now, figure skating will be my priority in photography. My wife has 4 students she is putting on the ice. One of them left La Crosse just as I was getting into Photography and I've been hoping to capture him ever since.  And now he is able to do triple jumps. Nicole is going to get him on the ice as his coach from Connecticut couldn't make the trip.

Now for the photo geeky stuff.  

Up till now, I've been using a 50mm f1.8 lens on my Sony a6000.  But, now I'm renting the Sony 70-200 f4 G  from LensRentals.com.  While most sports, 70-200 isn't long enough, it is perfect for basketball and ice rink sized locations. And, since my sensor is APS-C it really goes out an effective 300 mm.  While I would like a better f2.8, it will get the job done.

Just waiting to hear back on my press credentials to cover the events. Can't wait!