– 06.16.2013 Cromwell, CT – Phil Wojtusik, left, and Andrew Signore level and clean the Travelers umbrella moored in the center of a pond at River Highlands Tournament Players Club in Cromwell as they and a small army of workers prepare the golf course for the Travelers Championship that opens Monday. The two men work for Creative Dimensions, a company in Cheshire.
Mike Oliver’s last bout was 20 months ago in Puerto Rico, a loss to Juan Manuel Lopez on a technical knockout in the second round.
Oliver, a Hartford featherweight, needed time to recuperate from that fight. He rested his body and mind, stepping away from the sport that consumed his life.
Curtis Jackson III — otherwise known as a rapper 50 Cent — announced Wednesday afternoon that he will be the promoter for the ESPN “Friday Night Fights” show at the Connecticut Convention Center on July 5th which will feature “Machine Gun” Mike Oliver, one of the Hartford and New Haven boxers on the ticket. The event is billed as “50 Cent’s Birthday Bash” because it comes the night before the rapper turns 38. To read Paul Doyle’s story or see more photos… Read More
– 06/09/2013 – MIDDLETOWN, CT; Good reaction from an underdog team. Oxford shuts down a rally to keep Cromwell scoreless. Oxford wins 4-0 for the CIAC Class S Baseball Championship trophy.
The Masuk and Foran high school’s softball teams each won their contests in the Class L semi-final games at Biondi Field Tuesday. Foran pulled off a victory over Maloney, 5-4, and Masuk, 26-0, beat Berlin, 2-1. Masuk hopes to finish off a perfect season when they meet Foran in the championship game either Friday or Saturday. They are one game away from perfection.
2013.06.04 – West Haven, CT – Foran pitcher Jess Harkness is hugged by catcher Danni Kemp after Foran defeated Maloney, 5-4, in game one of the Class L semi-final softball tournament at Biondi Field in West Haven Tuesday. Kemp had a three-run homer in the sixth inning to put Foran on top.
2013.06.04 – West Haven, CT – Masuk pitcher, Tatum Buckley (10), first baseman Melissa Peet, (30) catcher Kayla Crisci (3) and Ashley Fedor (9) celebrate after they beat Berlin, 2-1, in game two of the Class L semi-final softball tournament at Biondi Field in West Haven Tuesday.
Golf legend Billy Casper visited Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield to talk to students participating in SNAG – Starting New At Golf – a program created by Wintonbury Hills Golf Course and the Bloomfield schools to introduce young kids to golf. Golf pros and employees of Wintonbury Hills and Metacomet phys-ed teacher Jim Varano teach basic skills using age-appropriate equipment.
“I think it’s just fantastic. It’s something that’s fun for them,” said Casper as he watched a group of third-grade boys and girls take their hacks with smiles and enthusiasm. (Quote via Steve Goode.)
2013.05.21 – Bloomfield, CT – Third-graders pose for a photo with golf legend Billy Casper during the SNAG program at Metacomet Elementary School Tuesday. Casper visited the school at the invitation of Ciaran Carr, PGA pro and general manager at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course. Metacomet phys-ed teacher, Jim Varano, stands with the students at left.
2013.05.21 – Bloomfield, CT – Shelleecia Roxborough, Jivonne Feliciano, Jaydin Roland and Rob Streckfus (l-r) react as Nicholas Jones (right) hits a good shot during the SNAG program at Metacomet Elementary School. Streckfus is an assistant golf pro at Wintonbury Hill Golf Course in Bloomfield.
2013.05.21 – Bloomfield, CT – Sylvester McGovern (right) takes a shot during the SNAG program at Metacomet Elementary School Tuesday, while instructor Tom Burns, from Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, and classmate Diana Theriault, watch.
2013.05.21 – Bloomfield, CT – Lake Mclean (cq) leaps for joy after hitting the pin with his shot during the SNAG program at Metacomet Elementary School.
2013.05.21 – Bloomfield, CT – Nicholas Jones high fives Rob Streckfus, an assisant golf pro at the Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, during a golf lesson with the SNAG program at the Metacomet Elementary School. Classmates Shelleecia Roxborough (partially hidden,) Jivonne Feliciano, and Jaydin Roland round out the foursome.
2013.05.21 – Bloomfield, CT – Time Kreiker, Victoria Rivera, Shelleecia Roxborough, and Diana Theriault (l-r) shake hands with golf legend Billy Casper during the SNAG program at Metacomet Elementary School.
South Windsor shortstop Alex Goslin runs down East Hartford base runner Taylor Cafro after Cafro tried to steal 2nd. East Hartford beat South Windsor 4-2 at South Windsor High School.
2013.05.15 – Simsbury, CT – The Simsbury High School Crew teams were out for a training session on the Farmington River Wednesday afternoon. The teams will be competing in the Connecticut Public Schools Rowing Association Sprints Championship at Lake Waramaug this coming Sunday. Photo was taken with my Nikon D300s, transferred to my iPhone using an Eye-Fi card then filtered through Instagram. Photo by JOHN WOIKE | woike@courant.com
The 2013 men’s NCAA Division I Frozen Four, the holy grail of college hockey, featured two Connecticut teams that brought molten action to the Steel City. Throughout the series, crosstown rivals Yale and Quinnipiac lit up the Consol Energy Center, the state-of-the-art home ice of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the first semifinal game, Yale captain Andrew Miller (above) breaks a 2-2 tie in overtime against UMass-Lowell goalie Connor Hellebuyck to advance the Bulldogs to the Frozen Four championship game. Miller would later add another crucial goal in the championship game.
In the second semifinal game of the night, Quinnipiac goalie Eric Hartzell and his defensive teammates including Kevin Bui (9), at left, shut down Brooks Bertsch (21) and the St. Cloud State offense 4-1 in the Frozen Four semifinal game at the Consol Energy Center. Quinnipiac would face Yale in the national championship game.
On the eve of the national championship showdown between the two Connecticut teams, Quinnipiac goalie Eric Hartzell joins his coach and family at the Hobey Baker Awards ceremony in Pittsburgh. From left is Quinnipiac head hockey coach Rand Pecknold, Hartzell and his mom Mary Beth, his dad Kevin Hartzell and at right is Hartzell’s aunt, Michelle Matthews.
Yale head hockey coach Keith Allain leads his team into the Frozen Four championship venue at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on April 13.
Yale players Clinton Bourbonais (15) and Charles Orzetti (27) celebrate after they go ahead 1-0 at the end of the second period against Quinnipiac.
Yale goes up 2-0 on Quinnipiac at 16:25 in the third period.
Yale captain Andrew Miller strikes again to make it 3-0 against Eric Hartzell and the Bobcats in the third period of the Frozen Four championship game.
Yale fans celebrate (with Yale captain Andrew Miller’s likeness) late in the third period after Miller opened up a 3-0 lead over Quinnipiac on a breakaway goal.
Yale players rush to embrace their goalie, Jeff Malcolm, after a stunning 4-0 shutout of top-ranked Quinnipiac in the Frozen Four championship game.
Malcolm gets his chance to hoist the NCAA championship trophy after a week in Pittsburgh at the Consol Energy Center.
The UConn women won their eighth national championship earlier this month in New Orleans when they crushed rival Notre Dame, 83-65 in the semi-final and rolled over Louisville, 93-60, in the title game. They made it look easy in the Big Easy. They were led by freshman wunderkind Breanna Stewart, affectionately known as “Stewie” who was named the tournament Most Outstanding Player after scoring a total of 52 points over the two games. But the victory was truly a team effort. They were unstoppable.
Covering the Final Four was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. It was a whirlwind of events starting with the Parade of Teams to kick off the weekend. Then the real work began with shooting team practices, press conferences, autograph-signing sessions, locker room scenes, the high school All America game, both semi-final games, more press conferences, and finally the big game.
Here is a sampling of some of my favorite images from the tournament.
Morgan Tuck, Breanna Stewart, Kiah Stokes, and Moriah Jefferson get into the spirit of the Big Easy all dressed up complete with feather boas in the Parade of Teams at Mardi Gras World Friday night where the four teams were introduced to fans.
Stefanie Dolson shoots a layup during an open practice at the New Orleans Arena the day before taking on Notre Dame in a semi-final game.
Associate head coach Chris Dailey sets a light-hearted mood during practice.
Skylar Diggins and the Irish looked relaxed and confident as they posed for a team photo at their open practice the day before the semi-final game.
Back in the locker room after practice, Stefanie Dolson removes an ice pack from her right leg which was healing from a stress fracture.
Breanna Stewart playfully tickles Chris Dailey as she is interviewed in the locker room after practice.
Moriah Jefferson reacts to a card delt while playing UNO with Morgan Tuck and Brianna Banks and Heather Buck (off camera), a locker room ritual for the group.
The team holds an autograph session for the legions of loyal fans who made the trip to New Orleans to cheer on their Huskies.
Skylar Diggins asserts herself against Bria Hartley early in the semi-final game, but UConn’s defense eventually brought the hammer down on Notre Dame’s shooting star, holding her to 10 points.
UConn’s Kelly Faris was instrumental in keeping Skylar Diggins away from the ball as the two former high school opponents from Indiana faced off.
Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw takes issue with a ref’s call in the second half as UConn pulls away.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis showed off her considerable skills adding 16 points against the Irish.
Caroline Doty shows why she’s the emotional leader for the Huskies as she leaps for joy as a teammate scores in the second half.
Stefanie Dolson battles Notre Dame’s Kayla McBride for a loose ball. McBride was the high scorer for the Irish with 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Huskies stifling defense.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma directs his squad as they hold off Notre Dame.
Bria Hartley drives to the hoop as Skylar Diggins defends. Hartley scored 15 points in the game.
UConn fan Liz Manning cheers as the Huskies roll over Notre Dame.
As the clock winds down, Notre Dame’s Kayla McBride and Skylar Diggins can only watch as their 30-game winning streak comes to an end.
The Huskies leap into each other’s arms as they celebrate their victory over Notre Dame to advance to the national championship game. They lost to Notre Dame three times during the season.
The New Orleans Arena fills up as UConn and Louisville warm up before playing in the national championship.
Stefanie Dolson gets a mouthful of fingers from Louisville’s Bria Smith in the first half of the championship game. Dolson played through pain from a stress fracture throughout the tournament but managed 12 points and 6 rebounds in the game.
The Huskies, feeling the momentum building, celebrate after Breanna Stewart was fouled on a play.
Breanna Stewart dominated the game with 23 points and 9 rebounds.
Louisville head coach Jeff Walz gets in Shoni Schimmel’s face as UConn has it’s way with her in the championship game.
A highlight of the game came late in the second half when senior Heather Buck stole the ball from a Louisville player and scored on the fast break.
The bench erupts into cheers for Heather Buck as she punctuates UConn’s victory with a layup.
Members of the UConn pep band celebrate as UConn win is imminent.
Geno Auriemma is waiting with open arms as senior Kelly Faris leaves the game for the final time in a UConn uniform in the final minutes of the championship.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis cuts the last piece of one of the nets after UConn won the national championship.
Former UConn greats Maya Moore, Kalana Greene and Mel Thomas watch the celebration from the stands. Heather Buck’s Dad, David, is at left.
The Huskies hoist the championship trophy for the fans to see.
The team carries coach Geno Auriemma across the floor after UConn won their eighth national championship, tying Pat Summit’s record at Tennessee.
Ingalls Rink in New Haven on the Yale campus was the site for the Division II boy’s hockey state championship Wednesday night. I haven’t covered a game at the “Whale” in a few years but I remembered it was a great place for a championship game, lots of energy which was evident as the East Catholic fans came prepared packing 11 buses to cheer on their Eagles.
Kevin Robinson of Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe proved to an elusive player as Liam Donohue and the East Catholic defense found out quickly in the first period as Robison scored two goals, the first 1:45 into the period and the second with 11:01 left to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
Then East Catholic made it 2-1 when Alex Manner slipped the puck past goalie Kyle Greenhut with 49 seconds left in the opening period.
Brian O’Connell (L) led the celebration of Manner’s (C) goal as the Eagles fans cheer along while Conor Scharlop is left alone behind the goal as the Mustangs lead narrows to one.
Kyle Scheetz of Fairfield Warde battles for a control the puck from his knees after being checked to the ice in front of the goal during the second period.
Brian O’Connell’s goal with 9:08 remaining in the second period gave the Eagles new life as they tied the score at 2.
Griffin Casey (C) found a gap between Daniel Silvestri (L) and Charlie Meder (R) during the first period and when he scored with 6:08 remaining in the second it gave the Eagles their first lead at 3-2 which is how they ended the period.
The third period began the same way as the first two as Kevin Robinson continued to put pressure of the East Catholic defense as he skated in from the left wing.
Goalie Thomas Usseglio made the initial save on Robinson’s shot later in the period but somehow the puck got past Usseglio on the other side of the goal giving Robinson his third goal of the evening tying the score at 3 with 5:31 left.
Thomas Kryspin celebrates his goal at the end of regulation that would have given the Mustangs a 4-3 victory but…
as the East Catholic players lied on the ice in disbelief, thinking their season had come to an end a review by the goal judge ruled the shot a no goal and the game went to overtime tied at 3 apiece.
Thomas Usseglio made the save on Kyle Scheetz’s shot as the defense collapsed on the play during overtime stunting a chance for the win.
With 5:18 left in the extra frame, Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe was awarded a penalty shot after the referees ruled that East Catholic had fallen on the puck inside the crease. “It is a tough call for an official,” East Catholic coach Drew Clarkin said. “Clearly he was in position. From our vantage point you can’t tell a heck of a lot. We have to live with the call and live with the result.”
“I almost I had it and I was about to put my glove on it but [someone] knocked it away,” Usseglio said. “Someone’s stick came in and it went to the far post. I stuck my pad out and I don’t know what happened after that.”
“I saw him coming down and I saw it in his eyes he was going to deke,” Usseglio said. “I wanted to get him before he could come down and deke. I wanted to get him with poke check. … I missed the poke check and I slid and I didn’t get far enough.” Robinson scored all four goals giving the Mustangs their first ever title.
Brian O’Connell (L) and Sean Keleher (R) were the first ones to reach Usseglio to console the junior who made 31 saves on the night as the Eagles season came to a close.
It was one of the best hockey games I’ve had the pleasure to cover in a very long time. I had been reading Courant reporter Matt Conyers stories and Tweets throughout the tournament which seemed to have so many games in OT but even he said afterward it was one of his most memorable games.
Pro Tip: Shooting ice hockey can present plenty of obstacles. Some arenas provide little holes in the plexiglass to stick your camera lens through which gives you a cleaner image and your camera has an easier time focusing on the fast paced action as the players come flying down ice. The down side of that is limited swing from side to side in the small hole and switching between focal lengths with a separate body can be tricky and you will miss some shots. Shooting through the glass can create a distortion if you are not shooting straight on and can cause all kinds of interference for your auto-focus which will drive you crazy as the lens searches for its subject. The trouble here is finding a piece of glass that hasn’t been to scared from pucks and sticks. Some arenas have areas on the concourse level that afford you a nice overhead shot but I didn’t like the fact the glass was the same height all around the rink. Many, like the XL Center, will be higher behind the goal and extend around the corners slightly then drop down a couple feet to give a clean view of the goal area without the top of the glass in the frame. If you look at the photo of the East Catholic players lying on the ice at the end of regulation you can make out the top of the glass.
The problem with shooting from ice level is that you limit yourself to one goal and the hope the scores happen on your end. The first period I chose the Eagles scoring end since they are the home team for our readership so I need to focus more on their action. It burned me on Robinson’s first two goals which happened on the other side but then Alex Manner scored on my end to give me a nice reaction photo. I stayed at the same end for the second period so I could shoot goalie Thomas Usseglio. I always like to have something of both sides, offense and defense, just in case we need something of a certain player. The third period I chose to stay at ice level, a lot of times I will go up so that I can get both ends (the safe route), but I figured I would take a chance. I settled into the East Catholic bench side behind the goal which gave me a clean line of sight to their bench. I thought that if they scored on the other end the odds are the players will head to the bench for jubilation. I switched to the other side of the goal midway through the period since a lot of the Fairfield players seemed to come down their bench side. That proved to be fortuitous since Thomas Kryspin’s goal and reaction at the end of regulation was right in front of me.
For the overtime period I decided to stay put and hope for the best. When the controversial call was made and the penalty shot was awarded to Fairfield I was in perfect position for the winning shot as Robinson deked my direction and shot around Usseglio as the bench looked on behind them. I was lucky that my camera didn’t decide to have a focusing issue at that moment. After Robinson skated away to celebrate with his teammates at the other end I was able to capture one of my favorite photos as the East Catholic players came off the bench to console their goalie. These kids played their hearts out and left everything on the ice with nothing to be ashamed of.
Camera settings: Nikon D300s, 1/500th shutter, 17-55mm f2.8 set to 40 mm at 2.8 and auto white balance.
3-22-2002 Syracuse, NY Coach Jim Calhoun reacts during the second half. RICH MESSINA | rmessina@courant.com
Jim Calhoun, who took UConn from just another basketball program in 1986 to one of the best in the country winning three national championships, officially announced his retirement Thursday after 26 years as UConn basketball head coach. As sports photographers, we will all miss coach Calhoun on the sidelines. His rants, tirades, smiles (usually sarcastic), screams at referees, and outrageous faces make great photos. Very often, if the game was in the bag, we might just train our lenses on the coach. It never fails, he always makes a good picture. Love him or hate him, he was always good copy and ALWAYS great photos. At Eye Contact, we have put together a gallery of Coach Calhoun’s expressions from throughout his many seasons at UConn. Enjoy.
Chapel Hill, NC 1-17-2004 Head Coach Jim Calhoun looks over the play late in the second half. RICH MESSINA | rmessina@courant.com
STORRS, CT 1/6/01 Coach Jim Calhoun has had plenty of opinions about the officiating so far this season as he gets into it Saturday afternoon with Reggie Greenwood during UConn’s game against St. John’s at Gample Pavilion. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
PHOENIX, AZ. 3.20.99 — WEST REGIONAL FINALS, MENS NCAA s, Uconn vs Gonzaga — Head coach Jim Calhoun cried after winning his first trip to the final four. At post game ceremonies after winning the West Regional, Calhoun, stilled teary-eyed cut down the nets and displayed it to the fans who came to Phoenix to cheer Uconn on. Photo by Brad Clift / Hartford Courant.
Storrs, CT 3/11/01 Coach Jim Calhoun reflects on what was a disappointing season for the Uconn men’s basketball team Sunday evening after learning they were not invited to the NCAA Championship Tournament. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
Hartford, CT 1/7/02 Head coach Jim Calhoun signals his troops to get back on defense during the closing moments as the UConn men almost pulled out a victory Monday night against the University of Oklahoma at the Hartford Civic Center. Oklahoma’s Ebi Ere scored the winning hoop for a 69-67 Sooner victory. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
STORRS, CT; 2.8.00: UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun talks with the media after a team practice Tuesday. MICHAEL McANDREWS | mmcandrews@courant.com
New York, NY 2-21-2000 Coach Jim Calhoun puts his head down early in the second half as st. John began to pull away with the game. St. johns won 79 to 64. RICH MESSINA | rmessina@courant.com
Birmingham Alabama, 3/19/00: Coach Jim Calhoun gives Kevin Freeman a hug as he walks off the court in Birmingham Alabama Sunday afternoon after losing 65-51 to Tennesse during the NCAA Tournament. It was Freeman’s last game as a UCONN Huskie. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
HARTFORD-1/2/10- UConn’s head coach Jim Calhoun went into a tirade late in the game when Notre Dame’s high scorer, Luke Harangody, scored yet again. UConn was ahead by 11 pts. at the time but Calhoun was not pleased with the defensive play of his team. Harangody had a game-high 31 pts. UConn beat Notre Dame at the XL Center Saturday, 82-70. STEPHEN DUNN|sdunn@courant.com
STORRS 2/12/10- Coach Jim Calhoun returned to the court at Gampel Pavilion Friday afternoon after a 3 week medical leave of absence.In photo Calhoun talks about the future during a press conference. STEPHEN DUNN|sdunn@courant.com
Storrs, CT 3/2/05 Jim Calhoun waves to the crowd at Gampel Pavilion after UConn defeated Georgetown 83-64 and he earned his 700th victory. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
Storrs, CT 1/10/07 UConn head coach Jim Calhoun (L) and assistant coach George Blaney try to get their point across during the second half against Marquette. It never got through to the players as the Huskies dropped first home game of the season 73-69. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
UNCASVILLE 8/9/08 UConn coach Jim Calhoun laughs with former player Ben Gordon during the Jim Calhoun Charity All-Star Basketball Game at the Mohegan Sun Arena. CLOE POISSON | cpoisson@courant.com
Storrs, CT 11/26/06 UConn head coach Jim Calhoun looks to be disinterested in his teams effort duiring the second half. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
Phoenix, AZ 3/27/04 Jim Calhoun raises his arm holding the net after UConn defeated Alabama 87-71 Saturday afternoon in the Phoenix Regional to advance to the Final Four in San Antonio. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
HARTFORD 2/13/10 UConn’s head coach Jim Calhoun shouts instructions to his team during the second half of their game against Cincinnati at the XL Center. It was Calhoun’s first game after returning from a three-week medical leave. UConn did not deliver a win for their coach, losing 60-48. CLOE POISSON | cpoisson@courant.com
HARTFORD 2/13/10 UConn head coach Jim Calhoun was animated as ever in his first game coaching after a three-week medical leave of absence. They lost to Cincinnati, 60-48, at the XL Center. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com
Buffalo, NY 3/18/04 Jim Calhoun gives Hilton Armstrong a look after Amstrong failed to defend his player and he hit a three pointer during the second half in a 70-53 UConn victory at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY in the first round of the NCAA Championships. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
Storrs, CT 12-06, 2009 UConn Head Coach Jim Calhoun watches game action during the second half. The UConn mens basketball team beat Harvard University at Gampel Pavilion on their Storrs campus Sunday afternoon by a score of 79 to 73. RICH MESSINA | rmessina@courant.com
Worcester, MA 3-20-2005 Coach Jim Calhoun motions on the sideline after a time out was called on the court. UConn lost to North Carolina State in the second round of the by a score of 65 to 62. RICH MESSINA | rmessina@courant.com
Philadelphia, PA 2-15-2010 UConn UConn Head Coach Jim Calhoun sits on the bench during the second half. RICH MESSINA | rmessina@courant.com
Atlanta, GA 02-11-2007 UConn coach Jim Calhoun tries to plead his case to the referee on a call agianst his team during first half action. The UConn mens basketball team lost to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta by a score of 65 to 52. RICH MESSINA | rmessina@courant.com
Manhattan, NY 3/13/08 UConn head coach Jim Calhoun lets Stanley Robinson know of his displeasure after allowing another West Virginia player to hit an open three and extend the Mountaineers lead during the second half of their quarterfinal game of the Big East Championship. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
HARTFORD 2.13.01 UConn vs Boston College. Coach Jim Calhoun gets into the action against Boston College. JOHN WOIKE | jwoike@courant.com
STORRS, CT; 2/7/09: UConn coach Jim Calhoun looks peeved as his team misses a shot during the second half against Michigan at Gampel Pavilion. After struggling in the first half, UConn pulled out the win, 69-61. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com
HOUSTON – TX – 04/04/11 – Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun celebrates the Huskies’ 53-41 win over Butler for the 2011 NCAA Final Four National Championship in Houston, Texas. UConn is behind 22-19 at the half. BETTINA HANSEN | bhansen@courant.com
Once upon a time I used to enjoy water skiing. Not competitive skiing, just first drag me behind my uncles’ 14 footer with a 40 hp Johnson outboard on a peaceful lake in New Hampshire. On a good day I could take off from the dock on two skis, drop one and then slalom around the lake until we came back to the cottage. If I wiped out, it would be a long haul, and I mean haul, back to the cottage because the boat just didn’t have the power, or I the technique, to get up on one ski. Those were the good “old” days.
I began photographing good skiers on the Farmington River in Collinsville where a slalom course was setup. I was struck by the power and grace the skiers displayed slashing back and forth across the wake then stretching to make it around a set of buoys along the course. There was a ramp in the river as well which the skiers would launch themselves off. The people I met there told me about the Avon Old Farms Ski Club, which has a history of turning out national champion skiers.
That first visit in 2000 to “The Pond”, as most members call it, I met the Haines family. Haley Haines, then 7, was ready to take the next step up as waits for her turn behind the boat at the Connecticut Old Farms Water Ski Club in Avon. Her father Hutch, an accomplished skier, owns the land where the club is located and trains his children.
(L to R) In 2005 Julian, 8, Wyatt, 10, and Haley, 11, all competed last week at the Goode National Waterski Championships in West Palm Beach, FL. Wyatt took first place in the Boys 1 dividion, ages 10 and under, in the slalom. Julian competed for the first time and Haley competed in the Girls 2 division.
Wyatt showed his winning form during a practice run on his home course after he took first place in the Boys 1 division, ages 10 and under, at the 2005 Goode National Waterski Championships.
I got a call from Hutch just before the Labor Day weekend to tell his kids had done very well at this years Nationals and wondered if I would be interested in coming out for some photos. Seven years later Wyatt’s form is a little more polished and aggressive which helped him finish in second place during the 2012 Goode Water Ski National Championships in West Palm Beach, Florida August 14-18th. His best run was 3.25 buoys at a rope length of 39.5 ft off. More than 600 water ski athletes from across the United States competed for national titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall in respective age divisions and two Open divisions during the five-day tournament.
Quinn Haines, 13, placed high enough in the final standings of the 2012 Goode Water Ski National Championships in West Palm Beach, Florida, during the week of August 14-18th that he made the U-13 USA Team. He is headed to the Malibu Pan American Water Ski Championships in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, September 12-15th.
During the preliminary heat today Quinn placed first with a jump of 37.1 meters or 121.7192 feet.
I shot a couple of videos of Wyatt and Quinn as well as a couple photos. Wyatt takes you on a wild run through the slalom course and Quinn takes you on a flight off the ramp as he practiced his jumping.
Hope you enjoy.
Pro Tip: I used a variety of cameras for this video shoot. Two GoPros in waterproof cases, a Contour GPS in a waterproof case and a JVC pro video camera from on board the boat. I was able to mount two cameras on the ramp, the Contour was on the side using a magic arm and one of the GoPros under the ramp where Quinn would be launching from. I made sure that both were in a safe location so that if Quinn were to enter the ramp early he would not get injured by hitting the camera off to the side. Dad approved both locations and was psyched with the prospects these spots could produce. I put other GoPro on Quinns’ helmet. This allowed me to get two different angles of him approaching the ramp and two as he flew through the air and then landing. I got some help editing from Mike Piskorski and Scott Vargas of FOXCT which helped a lot in matching and blending sound from all those sources.
For the slalom video I put a GoPro in a harness strapped to Wyatt’s chest and let him make a couple passes. I shot from the boat with the JVC and then cut the two clips trying to match the sequences as he sped through the course. Then I just added a high voltage guitar track to give it a little splash.
Working with people that are willing to try a few tricks made it all worth while.
Good luck this week Quinn!
Where did the summer go? That question seems to always arise once Labor Day, the “unofficial – End of Summer”, arrives. The summer seems to go quicker each year as I get older, a week at the shore in the middle of it all is my greatest respite from the daily grind of life.
As the next season approaches I felt it was worth a look back on the summer and some of my favorite images.
The “Transit of Venus”.
I was sent to cover the transit of Venus, a once in a lifetime event at the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium in New Haven. It had been cloudy all day and there was little hope when I left Hartford that the sun would be visible as the tiny planet made its pass across. But with some patience and a little luck the clouds began to breakup around 6 o’clock and by 6:30 the grand event began.
The planetarium provided me with a large neutral density filter that knocks out 99.999% of the sun’s harmful rays to allow me to capture the photo of the sun. As I was shooting the crowd that had gathered for the show, Jason Archer picked up the filter and used it to look at the transit as other used special glasses to catch a glimpse. I like the effect the filter gave, almost like a portal looking out into space as the the overcast clouds are reflected on the surface.
Hartford Courant reporter Hillary Federico took a “shot” with Dom Basile, a certified firearms instructor, as he gave her pointers and a little backup while test firing a M16 machine gun at the Metacon Gun Club in Simsbury. Basile talked about the recent spike in female gun use in advance of the “Women on Target” program which will be held at the club later this month.
Assault rifles are a hot buzzer topic, love or hate them, in the right hands – like a trained instructor, police or military officer, they are a weapon used to “keep the peace”. But in the wrong hands, they are a merciless machine that devastates lives. On July 20, 2012, a little less than a month after this photo and article were published a man in full body tactical armor entered a movie theater in Aurora, CO., for a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” killing 12 people and injuring 58 others, the highest number of casualties in an American mass shooting. One of the weapons he used was an assault rifle.
The Travelers Championship had to be one of the hottest golf tournaments I’ve covered at the TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell. Chris Stroud tries to keep cool with a wet towel over his head during the second round of the 2012 Travelers Championship golf tournament at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell Friday. Stroud shot a 68 and finished the day at -1.I think I got heat stroke after the Pro-Am Wednesday. The heat and humidity also took a toll on UConn women’s head coach Geno Auriemma as he had to be removed from the course after 13 holes on a golf cart and received I.V. fluids at the medical station back near the clubhouse.
One other thing you can usually count on during the week of the tournament is rain. Jon Martel of Bristol heads for the parking lot after play was officially suspended for the day during the second round of the 2012 Travelers Championship golf tournament at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell Friday. Martel is a volunteer with Webster Bank and is the Hole Captain on the 2nd hole during the tournament, he and the players will be back on course at 7 am to complete the second round and the cut will be made.
Another thing you can count on, is a first time tour winner hoisting the trophy on Sunday. Marc Leishman kept the streak going after posting a score of -14 as the leaders were still out on the course. But the final four holes proved to be disastrous as each that held the lead squandered their opportunity leaving Leishman with his first tour victory.
Leslie Gordon, an instructor at the Yoga Center of Collinsville, helps lead a new class that incorporates yoga and paddle boards. It is based on paddle boarding, which is a very hot new water sport. Paddle boards look like big surfboards, but you stand atop them with a paddle and paddle around. They are selling like crazy. And now people are doing yoga on the paddle board. A yoga studio in Collinsville has a teacher who leads yoga sessions on paddle boards on a calm section of the Farmington River in Collinsville.
Andrew Haraghey, 16, is a rising star in the sports world as he claimed 5 gold medals in the 2011-2012 Disabled Sports USA Ski Tour this past winter. Haraghey, of Enfield, has cerebral palsy and is training to compete in the 2014 Paralympics which will be held in Russia. He’ll be heading off to Mount Hood in Oregon on July 10 to begin on slope training.
I used a stencil template that Andrew and his mom had made from cardboard to cut out stars that they would sell in his fundraising efforts.
C.J. Martin takes a shot as he passes a guest watching a chucker at Giant Valley Polo Club in Hamden Thursday evening. Matches are held every Sunday afternoon and sometimes spectators are treated to live music as a backdrop to the action. The shoot was for the “Parting Shot” feature in Hartford Magazine, which is now under the CT1 Media umbrella of publications.
Vernon resident Andrew Badecker, 25 (as of July 28), quit his last ordinary job in 2007 after winning $7000 playing online poker. Having already dropped out of college, his parents kicked him out of their house. Since then, he’s gone on to win more than $2 million playing poker in professional tournaments and online. He lives a suitcase life, always traveling and never in one place for more than a couple of months, while consistently confronting the challenges of being a so-called gambler and the realization that he doesn’t have a “normal” life.
When I walked into the house of Andrew he was wearing a tank top and ironing a yellow shirt on the kitchen table.As we talked he explained he normally wore loud colors and bold sunglasses so when I saw his yellow shirt and the color scheme of the living room I knew where I wanted to take his portrait. Two lights, one with a softbox a grid to direct the light and another behind him to illuminate the colors of the two walls behind him. I bold and brash portrait for a guy that likes to make a statement.
This was one of those “Bad ideas gone worse” situations. After torrential rains caused flash flooding in Naugatuck this pickup truck was resting on the edge of a parking lot that had be eroded away by the rain.
So after assessing the situation these guys figured they had a plan to get the truck off the egde and safely onto the parking lot above. Things don’t always ended up like you planned as these men found, once the truck started going forward the weight shifted and over the side it went. Now they had a real problem.
Juan Morrero of New Haven holds onto his nine year old daughter Anysha (L) as her twin Tenysha enjoys the cool water at Wadsworth Falls in Middlefield rush over her Monday afternoon. Morrero said he hadn’t been to the Falls in about 14 years but thought of it as the family was looking for someplace different to cool off.
Mike Roberge of M&M tennis court company in Bristol spreads the red paint that will outline the courts at Plainville High School Thursday morning. Roberge, of Bristol, was working with Joe Foran of Farmington on the project that will be finished in time for school. I climbed the fence surrounding the courts to get a high angle, much to the amusement of the workers.
After a micro-burst ripped through South Glastonbury August 10th knocking power at the Glastonbury Hill Country Club, Tim Smith waits with his daughter Colleen Elizabeth Smith, her flower girls and bridesmaids for the start of her wedding. Severe weather delay the ceremony for over an hour and a half as the bridal party and guests had to navigate through back roads to get to the country club due to downed power lines and trees all around the area. Since the storm had knocked out the power the reception was moved to the Inn at Middletown which was able to help out the newlyweds on short notice.
Diana Benza of Bristol grabs a handful of balloons from Bob Irvine as they set up for an engagement party for Benza’s brother Alex Irvine’s daughter Annie at Elizabeth Park Wednesday evening. The happy couple thinks they are attending a birthday party for Letitia Benza, the grooms mother. Annie and Alex are from Wethersfield.
The sun set on top seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during second round action Tuesday evening at the New Haven Open at Yale tennis tournament after she retired during the the second set due to a right shoulder injury. Radwanska lost the first set 6-0 to Olga Govortsova of Belarus and was down 2-1 in the second before retiring.
I’ve never covered the US Open and likely never will but I’ve enjoyed covering the tennis tournament in New Haven throughout its history. I’ve been able to shoot the stars of my generation, Becker, Lendl, McEnroe, Aggasi, Blake, Monica, Lindsay, Steffi, Venus and many more. There are certain times of the day that I like the best, late afternoon and the very beginning of the night match, especially when the sunsets.
Twenty seven teams from across the country and Canada pushed their limits of endurance and strength during the final day of the 2012 Connecticut SWAT Challenge at Reservoir #6 in West Hartford Thursday afternoon. Members of CSP #1 (Connecticut State Police) run with a few tires chained together during one obstacle on the course.
Actor Kevin Cottle works the fly rod during filming of Connecticut “Still Revolutionary”, the second TV spot for its tourism campaign. This time, instead of going to the shoreline/Connecticut River valley, they’re going to Litchfield County. The iconic West Cornwall Covered bridge over the Housatonic provides the backdrop for this scene.
Being a native of Connecticut I love to take rides into Litchfield County. My dad would pack my mom and brother into the car and we would take road trips to People’s Forest, Kent Falls and other places in the northwest part of the state. It is a wonderful place to take a “Sunday drive” when the foliage is in full display.
With matching “Barbie” backpacks, dresses and shoes, twins Raelin and Aubrae Oporto, 7, are led down the hall by mom Tricia Dunn as the new Bristol West Elementary School opened Thursday as students arrived for the first day of class.
First day of school, that goes back a long way.
Tonight my assignment fell through in Rocky Hill so I took a little ride along the Connecticut River. If you venture off the beaten path there is a dirt road that follows the river from Wethersfield south to Rocky Hill through corn fields and grass lands. I used to water ski on the Connecticut with a cousin or old friend years ago so I sometimes search for someone out enjoying the evening. As Labor Day begins, take a few moments to relax, enjoy a cold one, spend time with family and most of all be grateful for the little things in life…
…because before you know it, you’ll be saying, I can’t believe its Christmas already. Just 115 shopping days to go.
As I was driving home I decided to take a drive to a place I like to stop once in a while to watch the moon or sun rise. Tonight a Blue Moon rose above the city of Hartford.
Goodnight Moon:
…Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Good night cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light
And the red balloon
Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs
Goodnight kittens
And goodnight mittens
Goodnight clocks
And goodnight socks
Goodnight little house
And goodnight mouse
Goodnight comb
And goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody
Goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady
whispering “hush”
Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere
–”Goodnight Moon”, text by Margret Wise Brown
Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!
When I heard I would be covering the UConn women’s basketball team during the post season I was excited at the prospect of them making it to the Final Four.
For selfish reasons I was looking forward to hooking up with my brother Jeff who has lived in Denver for 22 years and I haven’t been able to visit him as often as I would like. We would get together every other year to do a little skiing but I haven’t strapped my boards to my feet in a couple years now. I also have former colleagues from the Hartford Courant living in Boulder and Golden and really wanted to see them as well.
Sunset heading to Boulder Saturday night to meet with Michael Kodas and Carolyn Moreau for dinner. Shot with iPhone 3s using Instagram app.
Inside the Pepsi Center the court awaits for teams to compete for the national title and 30,000 fans cheering on Baylor, Stamford, Notre Dame and the University of Connecticut.
Fans lined the concourse to wait for a chance to get an autograph for the Huskies, some were fortunate, some left with empty hands due to a time constraint.
Jenny Sohm, of Witchita, KS, (L) and Catherine Kello of Washington, DC, aim their cameras towards the UConn women’s team hoping to take a souvenir home of their favorite players like…
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis who holds her 2 year old brother Xander Ali alongside teammate Brianna Banks.
When the autograph session ended the Lady huskies took to the court for a little practice for the fans.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma gives Tiffany Hayes advice on a play during practice as associate head coach Chris Dailey, Kia Stokes, Caroline Doty and Kelly Faris listen in.
Some fans sported “net” hats and temporary tattoos as they watched teams work out.
The UConn women’s basketball team take a half-court shot as the buzzer sounds during their practice session.
Kia Stokes is serenaded by her teammates for her 19th birthday Saturday afternoon after the UConn women finished their practice, tradition calls for the birthday girl to skip around the court afterward.
There are always photos you wish you had at an event like this. One photo I wish I had been in a position to take was a meeting between UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and Tennessee head coach Pat Summit. I was on one end of the court when I saw a commotion at the other side, I wasn’t sure what it was but a small group of reporters and photographers had gathered off the baseline. By the time I realized what was going on and made my way there it was over and I missed the two coaches greeting and hugging one another. The once bitter rivals and titans of the women’s game have recently begun to mend their relationship after it was announced Summit is dealing with the effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
I used to beat myself up over missing a shot like that but today I realize you can’t be everywhere all the time. Be grateful for the ones you are able to capture and hope the next time you’re in the right place at the right time. I was able to follow her around for a few moments as she stopped to sign autographs for fans.
She brought smiles to the faces of many Tennessee fans as they lined up along the sidelines for a change to meet their idol.
Sunday afternoon Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson were the first of the Huskies to walk the walkway to the locker room before their semifinal game against Notre Dame.
The UConn marching band plays as Bria Hartley leads the Lady Huskies onto the court before a crowd of 30,000 in the first semifinal.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis’ 2 year old brother Xander Ali raises his arms to cheer for the team as they enter the arena.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, associate head coach Chris Dailey, and assitant coaches Shea Ralph and Marisa Moseley know they have a tough task at hand as they face Big East rival Notre Dame for the 8th time in 15 months.
Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw (L) and associate head coach Jonathan Tsipis (R) greet UConn head coach Geno Auriemma before tip-off.
Freshmen Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis of UConn drives through Brittany Mallory of Notre Dame during the first half of the 2012 Women’s Final Four. at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, Sunday afternoon. KML played with assertiveness and scored 6 points in 13 minutes in the first half.
Kelly Faris of UConn splits the defense of Kayla McBride (L) and Devereaux Peters (R) of Notre Dame to hand out 4 of her first half assists.
Stefanie Dolson of UConn is double teamed by Devereaux Peters (L) and Natalie Achonwa (R) of Notre Dame in the first half but Dolson scored 12 points to help the Huskies take a 36-33 lead at the half.
Bria Hartley of UConn pushed the ball up court against Natalie Achonwa and Notre Dame during the first half scoring 10 points in 20 minutes.
(L to R) Tiffany Hayes and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scramble for a loose ball against in the first half, Hayes had 4 points and 3 steals while Mosqueda-Lewis scored 6 points.
It was a physical game as Stefanie Dolson found out late in the first half as she tries to keep her contact lens from dropping to the floor.
The coaching staff and bench look on during the first half as Notre Dame builds a slight lead but the Huskies took a 36-33 lead at the half.
Bria Hartley drives past Natalie Achonwa of Notre Dame during the second half as the two teams exchanged baskets for most of the second half as neither one could get a lead larger than five points.
It was a very physical game as Bria Hartley gets fouled by Devereuax Peters of Notre Dame during the second half.
When Stefanie Dolson picked up her fourth foul at the 17:19 mark of the second half UConn had to put sit their starting center and play a four guard line-up and use freshmen Kia Stokes until Dolson returned with 10:09 remaining.
With Dolson in foul trouble head coach Geno Auriemma, associate head coach Chris Dailey and Kelly Faris ponder their game plan after Dolson picked up that 4th foul.
Freshmen Kia Stokes is triple teamed as she takes a shot during the second half. Stokes only scored 2 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in the second half but gave Uconn a presence inside while Dolson sat with four fouls.
Natalie Novosel helps Skylar Diggins up after drawing a charging foul against Bria Hartley during the second half of the first game keeping the Irish up by a point at the 14:28 point.
(L to R) Skylar Diggins and Bria Hartley battle for a loose ball during the second half, Diggins grabbed the ball and called timeout.
Tiffany Hayes looked for the foul as she drove to the hoop against Devereaux Peters (R) as Kayla McBride looks on during the second half.
(L to R) Kia Stokes and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis are pumped after Mosqueda-Lewis scored a basket and drew the foul late in the second half against Notre Dame. After hitting the free throw the Huskies trailed by two with 12:48 remaining.
Kelly Faris splits the defense of Natalie Achonwa (L) and Devereaux Peters (R) late in the second half to rally the Huskies.
Kelly Faris stole the ball from a stumbling Natalie Novosel with 01:22 left in regualtion. It was the beginning of a wild finish of the second half.
Caroline Doty leads the UConn bench in celebration as the Huskies close the gap at the end of regulation against Notre Dame when Kelly Faris stole the ball, drove to the hoop and was fouled.
Faris gets encouragement from Tiffany Hayes, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Kia Stokes after drawing the foul and heading to the line for two free throws.
She hit them both to give UConn a 67-65 lead with :11 remaining in the game, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma had this to say about the end of regulation. “I made a huge mistake of taking Kia Stokes out of the game at that point. We went with five guards so that we could switch all their screens. And in the end one defensive rebound would have won it for us. That’s the part I’m going home with.”
With five guards on the floor the Huskies pressed and Skylar Diggins missed layup bounced off the backboard as Caroline Doty lies on the floor and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis tries to keep Natalie Novosel from the rebound…
but Novosel had the inside position on Mosqueda-Lewis and beat her to the ball with less than 5 seconds remaining…
and made the shot that tied the score at 67 forcing OT.
I used a remote mounted along the catwalk high above the basket. With all the commotion in the closing seconds of the game I didn’t have time to pick up my camera with a long lens for the far side of the court so I reached over to the remote and just pushed the trigger hoping for something. When I got the card and started to edit the images I was happier than a pig in you know what at the results. With Doty on the floor and the sequence of players streaming into the frame it captured the what ended up being the play of the game.
“The game sometimes hangs on one play,” Auriemma said. “Kelly Faris steals the ball, misses the layup and gets two free throws. If she gets the layup and the foul shot, we’re up three instead of two.”
Stefanie Dolson listens to head coach Geno Auriemma during a timeout before the start of overtime.
Auriemma pleads with Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes, Kelly Faris Stefanie Dolson and Kia Stokes to defend their ground in OT.
Tiffany Hayes drove to the basket against Brittany Mallory for 2 of her 10 points but she turned the ball over 6 times in 39 minutes and a couple of 3 pointers by Mallory…
Extended Notre Dame’s lead in the extra period. Mallory finished with 11 points and 5 assists in 41 minutes.
“As most games do, the game turned on one great play by a great player,” Auriemma said of Novosel. “And once we got into overtime, we just didn’t have enough. Brittany Mallory made two shots and that’s who we wanted to take them. God bless her, she stepped up and made them.”
When the final buzzer went off Stefanie Dolson wiped tears from her face as Notre Dame celebrated their 83-75 victory. Dolson finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw and her bench jump in joy after defeating UConn and earned the change to play Baylor for the national championship on Tuesday night.
Stefanie Dolson tries to compose herself as reporters ask her questions in the locker room after the 83-75 defeat. “It just sucks” she said trailing off into tears. “We worked so hard all season, and to end just end it this way, it doesn’t feel good.”
Tiffany Hayes said she was proud of her team and teammates after suffering an 83-75 loss in overtime. Many didn’t think the Huskies would make back to the Final Four but Hayes was happy they were able to be there but wished the season hadn’t ended this way.
“What can I say?” coach Geno Auriemma said. “We put ourselves into position to win.”
Pro Tip: I’ve been fortunate enough to have attended a few Final Four championships. I worked as an editor/technician for staffers Rich Messina and Bradley Clift in 1999 when the men won their first title. I was in Philly and San Antonio for the women when they won in the mid 2000′s. I went to Detroit for the men’s Final Four when they lost to Michigan State in 2005. Each time I’ve gone I have had the privilege to work with some outstanding people from the Courant, the NCAA and other newspapers and wire services. Each time time I’ve come away with new friendships and knowledge.
Tim Rasmussen, Director of Photography at the Denver Post, hooked me up with his chief photographer John Ledya. He gave me advice as to what lens to use for the overhead shots at the end of regulation. He also was able to secure a spot for me on the catwalk so I could mount my camera, next to probably 8 others from various papers and wires services. I owe a lot to them and Jamie Schwaberow ?of NCAA photos, who I met through Jay L. Clendenin, a former Courant photog. Contacts, experience and a little luck helped me to achieve the results I hoped for. I wish I could have stayed longer but hey, there’s always next year, and listening to Geno after the game, I would love to be in New Orleans next year for another go round. Until then…
The UConn women got down to business at the XL Center Tuesday night. They brought their fighting game to defeat the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, 63-54, to win the Big East championship, their fifth consecutive title and 18th overall. After a four-loss season and coming into the tournament as the third seed (13-3, Big East) they finally jelled as a team to defeat their nemesis who had beat them in their last three meetings, starting with last year’s heartbreaking national semi-final when Notre Dame eliminated the Huskies, 72-63. The last straw was on February 27, when they lost 72-59 at the XL Center. But Tuesday, they came out with energy and confidence and didn’t flinch when Notre Dame fought back. They made head coach Geno Auriemma proud, finally playing the game “his way.”
Bria Hartley leads the team onto the court before the Big East Championship game. They wore their road uniforms and sat on the visitors bench, something they are unaccustomed to, since they were the third seed this year coming off a 13-3 Big East season.
Head coach Geno Auriemma gets the attention of his starting lineup for some last minute instructions before the game.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis fights Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Devereaux Peters for a rebound in the first half.
Tiffany Hayes has the ball tipped away by Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins in the first half.
Geno Auriemma makes a point to his team during a time out.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Tiffany Hayes and Kelly Faris crowd the paint while battling Notre Dame's Kayla McBride and Devereaux Peters for the rebound late in the second half .
Big East Player of the Year and Notre Dame star Skylar Diggins (center) shows her frustration with UConn's defense in the second half. Notre Dame led by one point at the half, but UConn came out strong to dominate in the second half.
Kelly Faris, who contributed two huge threes in the second half, was fierce defensively as she wrestled a loose ball away from Devereaux Peters.
Bria Hartley drives the lane hard to score against Skylar Diggins during a furious scoring flourish in the second half. Hartley finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Caroline Doty, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Tiffany Hayes hug teammate Bria Hartley after she scored and drew a foul in the second half.
After getting a bloody nose in the second half, Bria Hartley is still in the game even as she sits on the bench.
Tiffany Hayes playfully points to Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis just before she is announced as the tournament Most Outstanding Player. The freshman scored 19 points in the championship game and 58 points in the tournament.
Geno Auriemma hugs senior Tiffany Hayes after UConn won the Big East championship. It was Auriemma's 800th career win, UConn's 18th title and Hayes' last Big East tournament.
Tiffany Hayes hoists the championship trophy as she and her teammates pose for photos after their hard-fought victory.
One of the things I love about shooting sports is the ebb and flow of a game. This season the reigning national champion UConn men’s basketball team has seen more “ebbs” than “flows”. Even when you think they might have the flow going an ebb seems to find a way to step in a overtake them.
When I get assigned to cover a game I make sure to get there a couple hours early so that I can set up a remote camera. I mount one on the basket stanchion or under the reporters table on the sideline. I do this for two reasons. One, to get an angle on the play for a different point of view. Or…
…when you’re point of view from the floor is completely obscured by either other players or a referee. When Roscoe Smith took the final shot against Syracuse last Saturday night that would have tied the game and likely put it into overtime, he drove the far side of the lane and was nowhere to be seen from my spot. But you fire the camera and hope that somewhere in the crowd you get a glimpse of him in case he makes the shot or, in this case, is rejected by C.J. Fair (wearing orange headband) with about 2.2 seconds on the game clock.
A quick preview of the play on my camera told me I didn’t have a clean shot so I hoped that my remote camera was working properly. With a 9pm start time and the game ending after eleven I needed to send a few game ending photos quickly to meet deadline.
This was the first image I sent because it had the two elements that best spoke about the outcome of the game. A dejected Ryan Boatright of UConn in the foreground while the Syracuse players congratulated C.J. Fair, #5, for his last second block. The Huskies had “flowed” back from a 14 point halftime deficit but in the end the game was taken over by yet another “ebb” and UConn fell 71-69. When I did get a chance to edit my remote camera I was pleasantly surprise with the result…
…I couldn’t have asked for a better shot to sum up the conclusion of the game than this image! The wide angle view gives a nice separation of the players, their faces watching the play and the entire arena on its feet hoping the shot falls pushing the game into OT. In the end it was just another gut wrenching loss for the team and their fans. Perhaps this team will live up to their pre-season billing – next year – if all these young players decide to return for a season of “flows’ instead of this seasons “ebbs”
Pro Tip: Preparation and pre-thought are good habits to have when covering an assignment, whether it is sports, a news event or an environmental portrait.
Camera – Nikon D300, 17-55mm lens set at 20mm, f/3.5, ISO 1250, shutter 1/640th, auto white balance. Pocket Wizard remote transceiver.
UConn started looking like UConn again last night as they pulled out some tricks to beat Villanova 73-70 in overtime, lifted by a last-second, almost 30-ft three by Shabazz Napier and career-high 32 points from Jeremy Lamb at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. (click the ” i ” on the gallery for captions).
Read all about it in the game story from beat writer Dom Amore.
