Twenty-one
I have been on a pretty lucky streak when it comes to going to sporting events this last month. I have especially been lucky to sit right in the front.
The last two Pistons games I attended have been court side seats, allowing me to get some really great shots of the game. For the historic Red Wings game last night, I managed to spend a good chunk of the game right at the glass, allowing for some close up shots.
This was the Red Wings twenty-first consecutive home win, breaking the NHL record.
No lenses over 80mm were allowed, so I made due with the 50mm and wide. Will edit them today.
Pistons vs. Bucks – 2/3/2012
The boyfriend and I got to attend a Pistons game a couple nights ago and it was pretty damn amazing… probably because we had floor seats. We sat right under one of the baskets. Was pretty exciting being that close to the players and action. We also had the perk of getting free noms inside the nifty little ‘courtside club’. Now if only I can sit that close when the Lakers are playing…
I of course brought my camera with me. This picture is my favorite from the evening.
Check out more photos here.
Winter/Nature Photos
With Winter coming to Michigan, I’m excited to start photographing snowy nature stuff. Outside my home, there is a field of this very tall plants that are really beautiful when covered in snow. Unfortunately the snow already kind of melted, so I didn’t capture them covered. It was still very beautiful outside (and pretty damn chilly) and I just snapped some random pics.
Flickr gallery here.
Time Lapse: Main St. Winter & Night Drive
Really need to start adding musics to these…
Created using iPhone 4S iTimelapse app.
Maksimov Dmitry, You Awoke My Imagination
Maksimov Dmitry is a photographer and illustrator, both taking amazing photographs and creating beautiful and haunting illustrations within them. I have seen his work around Reddit every once and a while, but this particular piece just made me smile for some reason.
You can see more of his work here. He’s like the Banksy of photography.
Photographers Perspective – MLG Providence Timelapse
My friend and MLG Photographer partner Josh Engel, attached a GoPro to his camera while shooting in Providence and made this amazing timelapse video. Sort of sums up what it’s like running around all weekend at MLG.
Shafted.
Last weekend was MLG Providence, the final event within the 2011 season. It went great and I thought I did a pretty good job overall. When I landed back home, I received a text message informing me of a tweet from a staffer about how Zemotion, a photographer, got interviewed by MLG. At first I didn’t care because I knew she owned a team, so I assumed it was simply related to her role as a team owner. Boy, was I way off.
While (ironically) going through my MLG Providence photos, I got a Facebook message from a friend, linking me to this tweet:
I read it, and immediately felt like I got slapped in the face by the very company that has had me as their photographer for the past 13 events. I watched the interview and felt even shittier. The introduction was, “I’m here with Zemotion who’s.. pretty easily the best photographer in eSports… no offence to the other great photographers out there…”
Yeah, the “no offense” really made it all much better.
I was pretty shocked after that and utterly offended. I felt completely unappreciated by MLG, I felt like I was disregarded and my confidence was shot. Those creeping thoughts of harsh self criticism all came flooding back and I started to cry. I was really hurt. I went to the galleries linked in the interview and starting comparing my work. I just didn’t get it. What was I doing wrong? Not that I ever expected or desired such a thing, but why was I never interviewed? I have 13 events worth of story and experience to tell… is my work not good enough? I thought I have taken and shared some amazing photos with the eSports community… am I wrong to think that? I’ve never asked for anything in return, I don’t get paid to work on the photos after the event and post them on my Flickr. I don’t receive any sort of revenue from views on Flickr. All I wanted was for people to get a chance to enjoy the photos that didn’t make the cut for the MLG galleries. I take about 4,000 – 5,000 photos per event, having 25 posted per gallery leaves many behind. I just do it for you guys, so that you can see more and enjoy them. What do I want in return? Just a smile when I see you at the next event. A nod, a hand shake, a ‘hey thanks for that new Facebook profile picture’ or something. I work really hard during MLG weekends, 12+ hour days walking around the venue trying to capture everything and all the important moments on a heavily time sensitive schedule, I do this… and then I get what felt like was getting shit on.
So when I read that title, my heart broke a little. It was carelessly written with zero regard to fellow staff photographers. No respect, consideration, or thought was put in to how that would make Josh and I feel. I just don’t know what to do except sit here and wonder when the fuck will I catch a break.
In regards to Zemotion, I have absolutely nothing against her. I want to be clear that this is absolutely not about her. I have nothing but respect for her and if anything I am a fan of her amazing fashion photography. I’m making a request to please stop tweeting at her in relation to the interview, it’s absolutely not her fault and she deserves zero flack. This is between myself and Josh and MLG.
I would like to see a title change to the article and perhaps someone should link Chobopeon mine and Josh’s Flickr pages.
P.S. – I understand that this is the work of perhaps one or two MLG employees, and not the voice of MLG as a whole.
Photos from MLG Orlando
Finally got around to posting the photos from MLG Orlando. I have been getting a surprising amount of love for these photos on Reddit and from miscellaneous people. It has really boosted my “photography confidence” since I was feeling pretty down about the whole dynamic of being an eSports photographer. It’s getting harder and harder to stand out from the rest of the DSLR equipped individuals that come to events with better lenses than I can afford right now. I do get a little discouraged when I see them, but at the same time I just do my best and I suppose I’m doing something right since I get to still do it and enjoy it.
Here is the MLG Orlando 2011 gallery from Flickr. Hope you enjoy <3
National Geography Basic Photography Guide
Here’s a really cool 22-page guide taken from the full 400-page book. It explains the basics of photography, from aperture settings to composition.
National Geographic Field Guide
National Geographic Photography Basics [National Geographic]
Photojournalism Behind the Scenes
Here’s a fascinating video in which Italian photographer Ruben Salvadori demonstrates how dishonest many conflict photographs are. Salvadori spent a significant amount of time in East Jerusalem, studying the role photojournalists play in what the world sees. By turning his camera on the photographers themselves, he shows how photojournalists often influence the events they’re supposed to document objectively, and how photographers are often pushed to seek and create drama even in situations that lack it.
via PetaPixel
I don’t want to admit it, but this video really opened my eyes. I guess I was pretty ignorant to the idea of just how staged some conflict photos may be. I don’t want to believe it seeing how conflict photography is my real passion and ultimate goal. I’d hate to find myself in this type of situation where I’m photographing a staged photo just because the other photographers around me are doing so. Something to think about I guess.
Parkour Michigan 2011
Michigan Parkour had its annual National Jam this weekend. Parkourers from around Michigan gather at the UofM in Ann Arbor to practice, learn new moves, and share tricks.
I have always been interested in Parkour, but have never practiced it. As a former Gymnast, seeing others doing these amazing flips and acrobats has always been so much fun for me. I started following the Michigan Parkour scene so I can spectate and photograph meets. It was a lot of fun this weekend and very welcoming. Gallery on flickr.