The word came down yesterday that five journalists at my paper, myself included, placed in the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors 2016 contest. The Rockford Register Star competes in Division III with the largest papers in the state. I took third place in the feature photo category for my back to school photo. I also took a first place award for my sports feature photo of a volleyball player reacting after a point. The full list of contest winners can be […]
I hate this time of year. This is the time when photographers pull together their best frames from last year. The solid daily frames are tossed aside and we’re left with an internet that is overwhelmed with the best of the best. It’s an amazing thing to see. But I hate it. Photographers make connections with their pictures. Sometimes you make a killer frame. Sometimes the story behind making the image is better than the image itself. That is something a viewer […]
Volleyball can be a challenging sport to photograph. The plays are quick. Tracking action through the net can cause problems for the camera’s autofocus system. And sometimes all the action looks the same. I was lucky this year. The main volleyball teams I covered had really emotive players. While I got decent action, the reaction really made this season. Here are some of the photos that really stood out this year. And of course, a few action photos from the season.
It’s that time again. Time to look back on a years worth of work to find the best of the best. It’s easier said than done. Last year, I mentioned that photographers can get attached to an image because of the back story. Some images might be technologically challenging to make. Others might have required hours of anticipation and preparation. When it comes to a contest, the back story doesn’t matter. The final image is all that counts. This year, […]
One of the local powerhouse volleyball teams is Shenandoah High School. They have been destroying many teams all season long. Last night, they were in the regional tournament against Muncie Burris who has had 92 consecutive tournament wins and 13 consecutive state championship victories. One tough opponent. Shenandoah fought hard but ultimately lost to Muncie Burris in three straight sets. Here are a few shots from the night. The girls from Muncie Burris were absolutely crushing their spikes. This one […]