Posts Tagged ‘high school’

*My 2013 POY. (Pictures of the Year)

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Where does the time go? Even though my tenure as a staff photographer at the newspaper was abruptly cut short in November due to layoffs that eliminated our entire photo staff, it was still a very gratifying year for making images. Boarded a few airplanes for out of town personal assignments, utilized remote cameras, strobes, […]


“Some Thoughts on Making the Same Picture…” May 2013 & June 2011.

Goshen shortstop Tyler Eisenbacher (#2) dives but is unable to stop a base hit by Burke batter Stephen Cushing during their Boys Varsity baseball game against Burke in Goshen, NY on Tuesday, May 14, 2013.  CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Baseball is a wonderful game. It really is. Just sometimes, it’s boring as hell. Doesn’t matter if it’s MLB (Major League Baseball) or LL (Little Leaguers). As a photographer (and former player) I pay attention to the flow of a game, and anticipate good plays or game changing moments, and like to work to make these […]


“March Madness… Hoops du Jour… Bring Your a-Game… Game-Face… I (Still) Love This Game…” March 1 – 3, 2013.

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Kingston head coach Ron Kelder (left) embraces starting guard Justin Robinson (#12) late in the fourth quarter of their Section 9 Boys Class AA Championship game against FDR at SUNY New Paltz in New Paltz, NY on Sunday, March 3, 2013. Robinson had 13 points as Kingston defeated FDR 80 – 52.  © CHET GORDON/Times […]


“On Being Hardcor(e)…” October 2012

NFA linebacker / tight end Hardcor Coleman during practice at Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY on Thursday, October 4, 2012.  CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Last week I had an assignment to photograph a local high school football player who’s first name is Hardcor. As in “Hardcore…” The young man, Hardcor Coleman is a senior linebacker and tight end at Newburgh Free Academy, known for his hard-nosed style of play, and bone crushing hits. Since the weather wasn’t too cooperative, […]


“Play Like You Practice…” 31•Aug.•12

Brittany Friese of NFA swims underwater during practice at the high school in Newburgh, NY on Friday, August 31, 2012.  © CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Brittany Friese of NFA swims underwater during practice at the high school in Newburgh, NY on Friday, August 31, 2012. She is the two-time defending NY State champion in the 200 and 500 freestyle.  © CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record Yesterday I had an assignment to photograph the Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) Girls Swimming team. At 7:30AM. […]


High School State Championship Basketball. Glens Falls, NY March 2012

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“Hoop Dreams Shattered in a Game of Inches Played 200 Miles from Home…”  My thoughts on covering the New York State HS Basketball Championship Tournament last weekend, March 15 – 17, 2012. Finally getting around to recapping my weekend (albeit shortened) up in Glens Falls, NY for the state basketball championship tournament. We had two […]


“Own the Night…” *(particularly for basketball) March 2012

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A long time ago when I was just starting out in the business, and while attending a professional level weekend workshop ~ a colleague told me one of his basic philosophies for shooting big time sports: “You’re basically just in a big room (stadium, arena, etc.) and still have to make pictures…” I never forgot […]


"Pomp…" Graduation Week. June 2011.

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It’s graduation week here in my newspaper’s coverage area. After the college ceremonies from last month have become almost a distant memory, we’re still faced with the one of the busiest weeks of the year documenting numerous commencement ceremonies during this next to last weekend in June. I’ll post more of my select images from […]


"What a Week for Pictures…!" Feb. 22 – 26, 2011.

Amanda Horvers (#33) of Mount Saint Mary College reacts after the Knights defeated Farmingdale State 71 - 50 in their Skyline Conference Championship game at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY on Saturday, February 26, 2011. Mount Saint Mary College

I haven’t uttered these words for quite a while it seems, but while closely examining last week’s work, it truly was “A Week for (Good) Pictures…” A couple of extra-early wakeup calls – I’m talking the 4:30AM kind on Thursday to get moving on the coverage for the slain Poughkeepsie police officer’s funeral across the […]


"More Summer Football…" Aug. 2010

Kingston High School junior varsity running back Jerred Beniquez (center) runs wind sprints with the varsity players during football practice at Ascot Park in Kingston, NY on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record Mid-August, and it’s still hot. Which means more football practice still to cover for the upcoming seasons, daily and preview sports […]


*"Back on Track…" (or why I still get juiced shooting sports.) June•2010

There’s still something sweet about arriving early to a venue, knowing you’re there working a big game, no matter what the sport. Throw in some of these newer stadiums and arenas where even local high school games are contested nowadays, and when weather conditions are favorable – it’s just about nirvana for me. I’ve written […]


"Hoops du Jour 2009-2010"

Welcome to the beginning of the 2009 – 2010 High School (and college) basketball season. I’ve been waiting for a long time to get back into the local gyms in our coverage area for games and practices. Well, maybe some of them. Others are just plain nightmares and challenges to work in for photographers. Probably […]


"Mr. Scalo…" HS Football POY. Dec. 2009

Monroe-Woodbury quarterback Dan Scalo is the Times Herald-Record’s 2009 Varsity Football Player of the Year. (Middletown, NY). He’s seen photographed in his bedroom of the family’s Chester, NY home on Tuesday, December 8, 2009. Scalo ran for 1,569 yards & 20 TD’s and threw for 1,143 yards & 13 TD’s. Scalo was also the paper’s […]


"All Good Things…" 14•Nov.•09

(You know the rest…) Covered Monroe-Woodbury vs. New Rochelle Class AA State Quarterfinal game at Dietz Satdium up in Kingston, NY on Saturday night. Kingston. Dietz. In the dark. Rain. The state’s two top schools in Class AA football squaring off in the mist and on the rain soaked turf. This too was a game […]


HS Football Championship – The Road to Syracuse. (starts now…) 7•Nov.•09

It sometimes starts a week earlier for me. The continual over-thinking on how I’d cover a game like this past Saturday’s Section 9 Class AA Championship matchup between undefeated Monroe-Woodbury and Warwick High Schools. It was a repeat of their game a few weeks ago at Monroe-Woodbury HS, when both teams were 6-0. This time […]


HS Football Semifinal Playoffs. 30, 31•Oct.•09

“2 Nights. Four games. 150+ Miles. Rain, Turf & Bad Light…” Welcome to the beginning of Section 9 HS Playoff post-season football here in New York’s Hudson Valley. One good thing about covering games in Kingston in the antiquated Dietz Stadium, is that I’m completely familiar with the operation there. Nice turf. Good parking. Bad […]


*(More) Friday Night Lights… 16•Oct.•09

Worked the big game Friday night between two undefeated teams, Monroe-Woodbury and Warwick High Schools. Monroe (MW) has won something like 47 straight games against sectional opponents, and they’re the team I’ve followed through the playoffs and ultimately to the Syracuse University Dome for state finals championship games the past two years. They’re ranked again […]


*"It’s Official. Spring is Here…!" 09 April 2009

Brian Ditoto (#3, right) of Port Jervis steals second base as James I. O’Neill second baseman Jimmy Doonan (#10, left) misses the throw during their game at Roe Park in Highland Falls, NY on Thursday, April 9, 2009. Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON “Spring is (finally) Here…” OK, I know it’s cliched and all that, but while […]


"2009 POTY…" (Player of the Year)

Got the assignment earlier this week to photograph our newspaper’s HS Player of the Year again. Cory Quimby (left) is a repeat winner of the award – and he had the numbers to prove it. I think he averaged something like 27 points / 17 rebounds per night. No way would his Minisink Valley HS […]


"Heartbreak in Glens Falls, NY." 03•29•09

The Newburgh Free Academy boys basketball team almost did it tonight. Took Rice HS of NYC into overtime, and lost by two. This team really, really showed a lot of heart and pure guts. It was a pleasure to photograph a lot of their games this season, and be around kids who to the man […]


"STATE CHAMPIONS…!!!" NFA defeats Niagara Falls HS 62 – 42 in Glens Falls, NY.

*Is this what they mean by MARCH MADNESS…??? Well, It’s taken a little longer than expected to recover from my coverage of NFA’s semifinal game on Saturday and championship game on Sunday up in Glens Falls, NY. When I say recover – I mean just that. Physically, mentally and even for a few moments, emotionally. […]


Newburgh’s Last Second Win over Mt. Vernon. 03•13•09

My paper put together a piece for the web where sportswriter Kevin Gleason and I talk about covering Newburgh Free Academy’s State Quarterfinal upset on Will Bouton’s dramatic last second three-point shot beyond half court, to defeat Mt. Vernon 71 – 70 last week. “I Love This Game…!” -cg.


MARCH MADNESS! – Slideshow.

Here’s a take on some of my favorite images (and outtakes at the end) from the 10 games I’ve covered in various venues so far this month in the HS Section IX Playoffs here in our coverage area. I will update with a shorter version and clean up some of the captioning as well. Enjoy. […]


HS Football Championship Game. Carrier Dome – Syracuse University. 11•30•08

“Road trip….” In the previous post below this one, I kind of laid out everything I packed for the Monroe-Woodbury vs. Orchard Park Class AA State Championship game in the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University on Sunday. Let’s just say it was a lot of gear and support items. No need to list it all […]