{Roller Derby} Salina Sirens Bout

This spring, I photographed a bout from the Salina Sirens. I'd love to join the team, but am pretty sure my docs would never allow it ... so I'll live vicariously through photographing them! :)

{Photojournalism} Hayden High School State Baseball

From time to time, I get assignments to photograph events for newspapers. This weekend, I was covering 4A State Baseball in Salina for the Topeka Capital-Journal. It was the paper where I had my first collegiate internship, so photographing for them was a special treat. :) Of course, I referred to myself by my maiden name in the last 5 days more times than I have in the last 12 months, but that's OK. 

As you can guess from the photo, Topeka's team, the Hayden Wildcats, won it all.

These next photos are from the semifinal game earlier Monday .... I focused more on action in the semi game & reaction in the final game.

... when we call ourselves Wedding Photojournalists, it's because our roots are in newspapers & we still take the occasional newspaper assignment.

Hope you're having an amazing start to your summer!

Sacred Heart Basketball II

Last week, I also hung around for the Sacred Heart boys' game, too!

Check out this ninja action by Mark on the left. I'm not sure *exactly* what he's doing, but he was able to draw a foul during his attempt at a basket.

Sometimes photographing at the same place can be monotonous, but I'm headed back to Sacred Heart for a girls game tonight, and I have a few ideas on how I can keep visually changing it up. We'll see if it works ... but the beauty of photographing for kicks rather than for a newspaper is that if I try something and it doesn't work, there's no editor in my face wondering what happened. :)

Sacred Heart Basketball

Some of the parents of the high school seniors I've photographed here in Salina asked if I'd be willing to take some sports action photos. I said "Absolutely!"

So, Tuesday night found be back in a high school gym, photographing boys and girls basketball.

Here are two quick photos from the Sacred Heart girls' game. I'll have boys photos in a day or two.


(And I have NO IDEA why their opponent is actually SMILING whilst playing basketball. The girls are scrambling, and she's smiling like the Cheshire Cat — not sure what's up with that).

State Football

On occasion, Mike or I will be asked to cover a photojournalism assignment. It's truly a nice break in our daily routines. It's also something I miss. Seriously ... I can count on one hand the number of times I've sat in the stands to watch any kind of sports game in the last 10 years. I've ALWAYS been on the field.

So, when a former colleague who now works as an editor of the Kansas City Star asked if I'd be interested in covering Bishop Miege in the Class 4A Kansas State High School Championship, I jumped at the chance.


Now, let me admit something here. As a photojournalist who has transitioned into weddings and portraits, I am highly critical of photojournalistic work. It's a difficult job to do, and it's even more difficult to do it well. Especially sports (or, at least for me .... it's always taken me more effort to produce sports images I'm proud to show).


Let's just say I was a bit cocky about shooting football. After all, how many other wedding/portrait photographers around here do you see doing it?


And then there was the first half of the game .... I was eating a LOT of humble pie. I seemed to forget how fast football action can be. Sure, I do my share of chasing after little kids, ring bearers, and the like, but high school seniors who have signed to play at D-1 schools? That's an entirely different ball game, folks!


When I snapped this frame of the Hayden quarterback grabbing the mask of a Miege defender, I have to admit, I did the happy dance. (side note: my sports desk editor of a husband very patiently explained to me that because the player grabbing the face mask is an offensive player, it's not *technically* considered a "facemask" ... which seems strange to me. One player is grabbing the face mask of another player, but so be it).


Of course, as we learned early on, the action isn't always on the field. Coaches are usually good for a photo or two.


I'm always amused by high school boys, especially their reactions upon winning a championship.


On these two images, I applied some of my affection for sun flare to the photos. A bit more of an artsy edge to football, but I figured why not. :)


Ok, ok, ok. I simply HAVE to talk about this last image. It was the beginning of the 2nd half, and this little guy caught my eye. I love contrast, and with this, it was the big players and then this much smaller one. I don't know the story behind player No. 10, but this photo amuses me.


Story is online HERE. They also had an online gallery, but it seems to have grown legs and walked off.