“Own the Night…” *(particularly for basketball) March 2012
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 […]
“No Dance…” Newburgh, NY 1•March•12
Jason McAllister (#42) of NFA falls to his knees after their 64 – 53 loss to Middletown in their Section 9 Class AA Semifinal game at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Middletown will face Kingston for the Class AA Championship on Saturday at SUNY New Paltz. For as […]
“It’s Officially Here…” 1•March•12
I’m talking about the March Playoff Basketball post season, known as “March Madness.” (certainly not yesterday’s snowy & rainy weather.) Later today I will install four Dyna-Lite strobes in one of my favorite venues in the area; the Wellness Center gym up at SUNY New Paltz. I then have the big Section IX Semi-Finals game […]
Army – Navy Basketball (again). West Point, NY 11•Feb.•12
I’ve been quietly waiting a year to get back into Christl Arena at the United States Military Academy in West Point to work another Army – Navy basketball rivalry. Since I didn’t have to opportunity to cover what would’ve been my fifth Army – Navy football game in FedEx Field last December in Washington, DC, […]
"They’re just ‘Hammers & Nails’, man…" (Part 2) 24•Jan.•12
Packing up the hardware for a junior college basketball game between two local rivals tonight: Here’s a few favorites from the night, which included working with four cameras (one as a remote installed in the bleachers & aimed down toward a basket), two Dyna-Lite Uni-Jr. strobes clamped high in the stands in either corner of […]
"They’re just ‘Hammers & Nails’, man…" Jan. 2012
My gear used to cover Boys HS Varsity swimming between Monroe-Woodbury & Kingston High Schools at Monroe-Woodbury Middle School in Central Valley, NY on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. © www.chetgordon.com/blog Now that covering the indoor sports seasons are finally in full swing for me again, here’s a brief look at what I go through as […]
"No NBA…? No Problem." Basketball coverage has begun for the 2011 / 2012 season for me. Newburgh, NY 15•Nov.•11
The game ball rolls to a stop at court side after the Mount Saint Mary College – SUNY New Paltz women’s basketball game in Newburgh, NY on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Mount Saint Mary College defeated SUNY New Paltz 62 – 47. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record For those of you already missing your “Lebron and / […]
"Another Winner…" NPPA 2nd. Place Sports for June 2011
Well, a second place ain’t too bad in the National Press Photographer’s Association Monthly News Clip Contest for June 2011. I wrote a bit about how I made this image back during the high school baseball playoffs in an earlier post here on the blog, and have re-posted it below (so you don’t have to […]
In Praise of "Long Glass…" 22•Oct.•11
I am working on a new post highlighting my use of long telephoto lenses (or what’s commonly labeled “super-telephotos” in the camera manufacturer’s jargon). For photographing sports and an occasional news assignment with “Joe-subject” at a distant podium, while we’re positioned on those annoying press risers – there’s no substitute for me, as my main […]
"Sometimes the Dog Wins…" 14•Oct.•11
NFA head coach Bill Bianco (right) greets Monroe-Woodbury head coach Pat D’Aliso (left) after their Class AA football game inCentral Valley, NY on Friday, October 14, 2011. NFA defeated Monroe-Woodbury 7 – 0 to end Monroe-Woodbury’s 63 – game winning streak against Section 9 teams. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record Rain. Mud. Spit and Blood… Friday night […]
"Going Yard…" Minor League Baseball. Wappingers Falls, NY. 2•Aug.•11
After returning from vacation Monday night, it was nice to be assigned again to cover our local Minor League team, The Hudson Valley Renegades last night. (Tuesday). The assignment called for only shooting images of a few key players, as we’re only running a Sunday story. So it’s a chance for me to sort of […]
*"More HS Playoff Baseball…" 7•June•11
This is why I like utilizing long glass for sports; no matter the event, venue or level of competition. Peak action, fast shutter speeds, relatively clean or out of focus backgrounds at wide apertures, nice light… (yea, I was ‘sitting’ on the shortstop and sort of guessed right when he dove for this line drive […]
"March Madness is (finally) Here…!" March 2011.
More like “Maddening…” Newburgh players (L – R, in blue): Parish Canty (#15), Antonio Harper (#2) and Dominique Jacobs (#11) reach for a rebound with Mount Vernon defenders Givvion Jones (#22) and Jabarie Hinds (#55) during their Class AA Regional Semi-Finals game at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY on Tuesday, March 8, […]
Army – Navy Basketball (Doubleheader). West Point, NY 22•Jan.•11
A large American flag is unfurled behind the cadet color guard during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the Army – Navy men’s basketball game in Christl Arena at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, January 22, 2011. Several members of the American hostages who were held captive […]
"Back on the Block…" Basketball 2010.
I’ll start right here: “BBall.”, “Hoops.”, “The Pill.”, “The Rock.”, “Square Up.”, “Box – Out.”, “Swish.”, “Pop – Out.”, “Shake ‘N Bake.”, “Pick and Roll.”, “Gotcha.”, “Face.”, “And One.”, “Down Low.”, “Trap.”, “Press.”, “Coast to Coast.”, “In the Paint.”, and back “On the Block…” NFA guard Will Williams gathers his thoughts during varsity basketball practice […]
*More "Juice…" (Sports Photography) 1•July•2010
Poughkeepsie, NY. One of yesterday’s assignments called for coverage of a few local boxers training for a night of boxing next weekend. This was sort a media event in one of their training facilities, at a local college across the river. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a boxing ring in this converted […]
"I Gotta Get a Bigger Luggage Cart…" Back from Glens Falls, NY 22•March•10
Packing up my gear at 12:30AM including the Apple 12″ PowerBook, (4) head DynaLite arena strobe kit, (4) digital cameras, lenses, remote mounting hardware, tools, heavy duty extension cords, and Pocket-Wizard kits after four NYSPHSAA Tournament games in the Glens Falls Civic Center on Saturday, March 20, 2010. Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON Yea that’s it, a […]
*"It’s Gotten Ugly Up Here…" 19 – 20•March•10
Jake Palmer (#33, left) of John A. Coleman Catholic walks off the court as Maple Grove players celebrate their NYSPHSAA Class D Finals Championship win at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Saturday, March 20, 2010. Maple Grove defeated Coleman 43 – 38. Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON Writing live from courtside along press row here at […]
HS Basketball Sectional Championships & NY State Tournament games. March 2010.
aka “March Madness…” Before I could even turn around and catch my breath after last weekend’s work, which began Friday night in helping out a colleague retrieve strobes from a local college gym after his two games, I found myself right in the middle of the craziness at this level of HS playoff basketball competition. […]
HS Basketball Sectional Championships. aka "March Madness…"
Did somebody ask if I wanted to work through this weekend…? This is perhaps my favorite time of year for work, particulary covering sports. It is (finally) the beginning of the high school sectional championship games here in our area. Besides covering marquee events like graduation at West Point, the annual Army – Navy football […]
*The making of a meaningful (sports) portrait. Feb. 2010
Eric Culver of New Paltz High School photographed in the pool at SUNY New Paltz in New Paltz, NY on Friday, February 19, 2010. Culver is an Olympic hopeful, qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials. Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON_____________________________________________________ *Sometimes you hit a home run. With the bases loaded, in the bottom of the ninth […]
"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 […]
