Dallas Mavericks + One Huge Fan + D300 = AWESOME

I haven't had time to write about a recent experience I had, but before Christmas something awesome happened to me. On a Friday night, I was on my way home from work when my father-in-law called. His best friend offered up his 2 tickets for a Dallas Mavericks game vs. the LA Clippers for that night. Now normally, I don't get too excited over Mavericks tickets because I go to a lot of games and this one against the Clip was expected to be "just another game". However, since Roger's friend's seats are in a VERY special place in the arena, I was VERY excited ! See, he sits on Row 3 of the same section that Mark Cuban sits in! And his seats are on the end of the aisle next to the players bench! So, the first part of the story is that I was going to the Mavericks game to sit 3 seats away from Mark Cuban and practically on the end of the Dallas bench.

The 2nd, and most exciting part of the story, is that I just received a new Nikon D300 camera, and I was anxious to try it out! So, I did some homework and found out that I could bring my camera to the game, as long as I did not use a lens that was longer than 4 inches. With that knowledge, I loaded up the D300 with my trusty Nikon 85mm f1.8 lens, and went to the game.

I was nervous entering the building with such a big camera. First, not many people bring cameras to the game, much less ones that cost $2500 ! Second, I was worried about security stopping me with it, and not knowing the "rule" about the 4 inch lens. But to my surprise, I put my camera through security without even a comment from the guards, and in we went.

The first thing I noticed once we go to our seats was that my choice of lens was going to be perfect. If you aren't familiar with the 85mm f1.8 Nikkor, it is a VERY fast, VERY sharp lens that is normally reserved for portraits. But it has its place in sports photography when you anticipate a low light situation where you need a little bit of reach to frame your subjects.

Almost as soon as we sat down the team entered the floor for warm ups. I was able to get some test shots going before the game so I would be all set once play started. I settled in on a Shutterspeed of 1/500th, AUTO ISO, and auto White Balance. By the time the game was over, I dialed in further to a fully manual 1/500th f 2.8, AUTO ISO. The D300 did a fantastic job of using the ISO settings to create the proper exposure. I chose the settings to be sure I stopped the action, as well as provided for a depth of field that gave me a chance to focus cleanly when I shot.

The results can be seen here. Since i was stuck in my seat and not able to move much, I was limited on exactly what I could shoot and when. I was pleased with several of the Dirk Nowitzki shots, and especially like the last shot in the group of Brandon Bass blocking a shot.

I was also able to capture a really great moment on the bench where Avery Johnson was sitting down, completely focused, while the game and activity around him seemed to be so chaotic. Its a photo that says "Leadership" to me when I look at it.

I hope you enjoy the photos. Please feel free to offer comments. I may do some limited runs of posters for "friends and family". I don't really have the consent of the Mavericks to do so, but I don't think Mark will care since we're all such big fans, right!?

CS

Duncanville Daddy Daughter Dance

We are photographing the Duncanville Daddy Daughter Dance (Say that 5 times real fast), February 9th at the Duncanville Senior Center. We'll be shooting portraits of everyone in attendance, as well as shooting the Dads & Daughters dancing. We will be offering on-site prints in 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 sizes. The Dance Committee is providing a free 8x10 to all of those who attend. For information on the Duncanville Daddy Daughter Dance, contact the City of Duncanville.

Senior Portrait Session: Tessa

I started work on a Senior portrait session this weekend. We've got a couple more locations to shoot, but for now here's what I've done. Thanks to Tessa for being a great sport. We took a ride out to an old farm I know about to shoot against some hay bails, a great old fence, and a very cool old fire truck. Here are a few of the shots. For larger views, click here.

I created a few versions of each so you can see what I can do digitally. Some are more "processed", others more "realistic". Enjoy.

What I'm Planning for 2008

Agile Images had a nice 2007, but the end of the year (and Santa Claus) brought some new equipment my way that is going to make 2008 even better. I just got my hands on one of the hottest cameras to come out in a long, long time, the Nikon D300. It has changed what i am able to do with my photography. First of all, its FAST ! 8 frames per second, FAST! That means I'm up 60% over my old Nikon D200, making it easier to catch the perfect shot. Second, its 12.1 mega pixels. For you that means a higher quality image, and a higher quality print. And the biggest benefit of all is that I still have my trusty D200, the one that produced all of the great images you saw in 2007. So now instead of one great body to shoot with, I have 2. You don't know how many times I've missed a perfect shot when I didn't have that second camera on hand.

In addition to a great new camera, I picked up a few gadgets that will make my images better than ever. First, my PocketWizard Transceivers. These are great little remote devices that allow me to setup remote cameras or flashes and shoot from a wireless position somewhere else. It doesn't sound like much, but it makes the difference in portraiture and in some sporting events to have wireless remote flashes that can help make the lighting perfect. The second little trick in my bag is a new software called Adobe Lightroom. If you've seen my portfolio change in the last few months, especially in the portrait section, the improvements are largely due to better processing techniques. Adobe Lightroom is a cool piece of software that lets me put just the right "touch" on your photos. I'm sure you'll notice the difference.

This year I plan to make strides in a few areas, in addition to my regular focus on sports and dog action. I have a couple of weddings booked, plan to shoot more Senior Class portrait sessions, and more family photography. I hope to get the chance to work with you.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Agile Images. It was a busy year for Agile Images. On a few occasions it was a little too busy. I didn't make it to all of the games and events I wanted to, but for the most part, it was a good year of shooting. I learned a lot on every shoot, and got to meet bunches of great people. I tackled my first "real wedding" this year, shot a corporate Christmas (should I say Holiday here?) party, sat 2 rows behind Mark Cuban at a Mavs game, and got a bunch of great new camera gear. We also had a great time at our Fall Special Pumpkin shoot, and did lots of great work for folks who wanted Christmas Family photos. I'm proud of the work this year, and I'm looking forward to a better 2008. Agile Images is starting its third year in business (that sounds strange), and it should be a good one.

Here are some links to a few photos that are not in the portfolio

-At the Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers Game December 21st

-My favorites from a summer wedding

-My favorites from my summer shooting in Destin, FL
These are for sale, by the way. A framed 12x18 Print (matted to 18x24) of any of the photos you see in this gallery is $175. email info@agileimages.com for details.

-My favorites from the Fall Family shoots. And yes, that's me in a couple of the shots. One with my son, my uncle took using my camera, and the other group shot, was a self-timed family portrait !