2017-11-29 Flyers Get Eaten by the Sharks

It wasn't pretty at all but it's not my job to cheer for either side. When I'm shooting for the news, I have to keep objective and not let my personal feelings influence where I point the camera. That being said...

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 28: Philadelphia Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) makes the save against San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Philadelphia Flyers on November 28, 2017 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

Nikon D500 Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 @ 250mm F/4 1/1600 sec

2017-11-11 Back to Basketball!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Basketball is one of my favorite sports to photograph. For an adrenaline junkie the speed of basketball, with its spontaneous changes of directions, fakes and split second decisions, keeping up with the action takes agility and speed. It's great to have a home team like the Villanova Wildcats, because they have been great competitors over the past recent years. This year their home games will be played at the Wells Fargo Center as their usual home turf undergoes a transformation.

Here's Villanova Wildcats guard Mikal Bridges (25), determined to get past Columbia Lions forward Myles Hanson (31) during the game between the Columbia Lions and the Villanova Wildcats last night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Nikon D4 Sigma 50mm f/1.4 art @ 1/1600 sec f/3.2 ISO 2000

2017-11-10 Flyers Friday

It's great to be back at the Wells Fargo Center for the NHL! I was a bit rusty on my timing and framing, but it's been a while since last season and hockey is FAST. Here's Philadelphia Flyers goalie Brian Elliott (37) as he stops one of the 38 shots on goal that he successfully defended last night. This was in the third period as the Chicago Blackhawks tried feverishly to get their game together.

Nikon D4 Sigma 135mm f/1.8 @ 1/1600 f/3.2 ISO 1100

2017-11-9 Throwback Thursday

A few years ago I was assigned to cover my first soccer matches. My local team is the Philadelphia Union and this picture is from when the venue was called PPL Park. Fan favorite Conor Casey (6) was in the air and the sweat spray from his header is flying out from the impact. I thought it was pretty cool at the time, and I think it represents a throwback to one of my earliest professional soccer matches.

Best of 2016: Hockey

I find Hockey to be one of the hardest sports to photograph for a few reasons. First and foremost the speed. That puck just flies, and in what can seam totaly random directions. Second, locations. All photographer spots are assigned at the Wells Fargo Center. For a game I am usually assigned to 3 different places, one for each period. Often I am on the first level (concourse) with a big lens. Which has the advantage of being able to photograph about %75 of the action on the ice. The remaining quarter happens to low so the glass/boards covers the action, but this is where you would want to be to make sure you capture the winning goal. There is a spot that I like on floor level behind (but just to the side of) the goal. The catch is that I have to photograph through the glass. This sounds easy, but it's very tricky because of the way the glass interacts with the camera. The glass is very thick (to save people from high speed pucks and crashing players) so and angle between the lens of the camera and the glass distorts the images and creates strange coloring. Even keeping the camera perpendicular to the glass means only having a limited distance range that the camera can focus correctly, which is about 3 yards in front of the wall out to the blue line (roughly). Any further then that and it's just chance if the camera gets a crisp in focus image. Lastly there are a few holes around the rink that are specifically designed for photographers. These are the best places to capture dramatic hockey pictures. These are the spots I crave. They are given first to the senior members and senior photography companies, so I might get one hole per game for a period. I try to make the most of it when (and if) it happens. Well that's enough of me whining. Please enjoy my top picks from 2016.

20 April 2016: The Flyers logos floats across the ice at the beginning of the third period during the NHL playoff game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

5 January 2016: Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) falls into the Flyers net into Philadelphia Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) during the NHL hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers played at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

25 February 2016: Philadelphia Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) reaches to make the save against Minnesota Wild center Mikael Granlund (64) during the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the Philadelphia Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

5 January 2016: linesman Shane Heyer (55) ready to drop the puck for Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec (14) and Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) during the NHL hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers played at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

19 January 2016: Toronto Maple Leafs center Peter Holland (24) charges towards the net and scores but it was later recalled under review due to off sides during the NHL hockey game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Toronto Maple Leafs played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

02 February 2016: Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) fires a shot at the goal during the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

11 February 2016: Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) makes the save as he blocks the shot fired from Buffalo Sabres right wing Brian Gionta (12) during the NHL game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

25 February 2016: Minnesota Wild left wing Chris Porter (7) celebrates the Wild's goal during the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the Philadelphia Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

02 February 2016: Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) moves through heavy traffic on his way to the puck during the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

30 March 2016: Washington Capitals center Jay Beagle (83) dives and shoots around the net as Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) makes the save during the NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

30 March 2016: Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan White (25) waits at the penalty box door to return to action during the NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

18 April 2016: Pre-game laser show before the NHL playoff game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

18 April 2016: Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan White (25) yells as he tries to stop the puck in mid air during the NHL playoff game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

20 April 2016: Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan White (25) and Philadelphia Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) exchange elations in front of the net after winning the NHL playoff game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 15:  Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas (3) dives in front of Ottawa Senators left wing Mike Hoffman (68) while Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) defends the net during the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators on November 15, 2016, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 15:  Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) and Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) watch the puck fall from the referee's hand during the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators on November 15, 2016, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)