A Much Needed Change

Photos should be big. Always.

So I am moving this to WordPress. It is much more photo friendly and I like what it has to offer.

To the 3 of you who read this: My blog is now located here.

(http://photopperman.wordpress.com)

See you there?

Football Season (Obviously)

Seems like work has been going football sportrait, football game, football sportrait, game, etc. However, I was able to get away for the weekend and not shoot this weeks game. And maybe this sounds wrong, but I am grateful for that opportunity. This pattern has me in a rut.

So here are some rut photos that I took hoping to give myself a fresh feel for the pattern. The first two are portraits of Terence Scott, receiver for the Ducks. The last is a picture of family and friends of Todd Doxey, the player who drowned a few months back and was honored at the first Duck game.

Just some more that I feel like were almosts.

One For You, One For Me

So I got a call around 3:30 today that we'd need a feature shot of Jeremiah Johnson for this week's "Game Day." I'd have to make it after they practiced, around 5. Here's where this always goes wrong. Players don't look tough or cool or even happy after practices. They look tired. Other problems: Practice uniforms. They don't pop. In this case, they look like they don't even fit! Practice fields are also notoriously boring and cluttered. And to top it call off, you usually have about 5 minutes with the players before you're being told to move along.

Actually, there are probably too many problems to list. The point is, I created a photo that I know is a failure. What happened is what usually happens. I start to feel the pressure of my time limit, I start focusing on all these "problems" and my anxiety goes through the roof. Cold sweats and all. So then I lose track of all the things I really know to pay attention to and take care of.

It started raining again, which was fitting the mood I was in. But then it stopped and there was this beautiful light pouring into my apartment where I was about to fall asleep. I realized I needed to get outside and just enjoy the day by myself. So I hopped in my car and wasted a bit of gas in a fit of self-indulgence. And while I was out, enjoying the drive and the sun, I made this photo. Nothing special really, but it made me feel good again. Now I'm not really a metaphorical person, but all that rain letting up just in time for a shiny new sunset felt real nice.

Really Tall Girls

Woke up this morning and remembered that it was the UO Volleyball Media Day. Luckily, I am still on Grand Jury time and so I was actually up hours before I needed to be there. So after a couple cups of coffee I headed out there with a light, an umbrella and my 50mm. I think I ended up with a bunch of almosts, but I was pleased with some of the results from my first use of an umbrella.And I have to say, this is the first time I've photographed athletes here and not had them complain about having to take a picture. And this was right after they practiced! Amazing...

Personal Vision

Every once in a while I hear that phrase: Personal Vision.

I'm not really sure what it means. I like to attribute it to all the photos of mine that I like, that probably not too many other people would enjoy. Here are a few, past and present.