Hockey City Winter Classic Day 2

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1) Spectators at Soldier Field listen to the National Anthem performance before the start of the game against rivals University of Minnesota Gophers and University of Wisconsin Badgers in the Office Max Hockey City Winter Classic.

2) Bryan Rust (center) makes a move around Cody Murphy (right) as he drives to the net.

3) University of Minnesota forward Kyle Rau (center) cuts to the net during the first period of the Office Max Hockey City Winter Classic at Soldier Field against the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

4) Jake Parenteau waves to the crowd while exiting the field during the Office Max Hockey City Winter Classic at Soldier Field.

5) Kyle Rau (left) takes a high crosscheck in front of the net from Jake McCabe (right).

6) Zach Budish (center) takes a shot with only a few seconds left in the game in an attempt to tie the score.

7) Joel Rumpel (left), Frankie Simonelli (center), and Michael Mersch (right) celebrate their 3-2 win against teh University of Minnesota



After dealing with as many parking difficulties as I could imagine, I finally walked onto the field with a massive grin on my face just in time for the puck drop of the Notre Dame vs Miami game. It was a little warmer than Saturday, and the sun was shining bright. It was a great day for hockey.

I was shooting freelance for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis covering the University of Minnesota Gophers, and I was very excited yet nervous at the same time. However, this is what I was trained for, so I jumped right in. I spent most of the first game walking around the stadium finding the perfect angle for certain shots. After being nice to a few security personel, I found myself in a video broadcast room at the very top of the stadium. It was perfect for a wide angle of the stadium and the city of Chicago.

It was an exhausting couple of days, but an amazing experience. Now, the NHL winter classic!...oh, wait...

Hockey City Winter Classic Day 1

I have the opportunity this weekend of photographing the Office Max Hockey City Winter Classic at Soldier Field (where the Chicago Bears play) for the Star Tribune in Minnesota! The temperature was around 19 degrees before adding the wind chill on the field...it was pretty cold. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying my first big freelance gig.

The games are tomorrow, and I can't wait!

Here is the online article that the newspaper posted:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/191557601.html

St. Rita vs Providence

12/06/12 - Chicago, IL - The Providence Celtics beat the St. Rita Mustangs 2-0 at the Southwest Ice Arena.

High School Playoffs: Marist vs Lyons

10/26/12 - Chicago, IL - The Lyons Lions [7-4-0] beat the Marist Red Hawks [8-2-0] 34-28 in the first round of high school playoffs at Marist Catholic High School.

This was the final of only three football games I got to photograph this fall.  I have been working for Developed Sports, a fairly new sports action company in Chicago, and they provide a great outlet for me to shoot game action without restricting my creative freedom. I am photographing a hockey game for them this upcoming week that I am very excited about! 

St. Rita High School Football

Well, I'm on my own in the big windy city! My post-graduation lack of motivation lasted though the summer, and I have emerged with high hopes. I have started work at Tintype Studios where I have quickly learned how to wear as many hats as possible. Tintype is a youth sports portrait company, and I am being taught how to work in pretty much every department possible (except sales...which is understandable). 

I am working constantly, but I've always liked being busy. Once a week, I get a break from my work at Tintype, and I get to photograph none other than Friday night lights! I walked on the field two weeks ago, and I was instantly brought back to my days as a yearbook photographer at Plano West senior high school. While these games are nothing compared to what I grew up with in Texas, they are still very fun! 

These are some of my favorite photos from the two games I have photographed so far. 

Dirk Nowitzki's 2012 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game

June 30, 2012 - Frisco, TX - The 11th annual Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game was hosted by 11-time NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The heroes foundation is a non-profit initiative bringing sports training and competition to children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.

I got the opportunity to photograph the Heroes baseball game in Frisco. I had been to the game once before (summer 2009), but this time I got an all-access media pass.

One interesting thing from that day was that right before the first pitch, I lost the contact in my left eye. Thankfully it wasn't my shooting eye, but it definitely made for an interesting day of photographing.

These are some of my favorites from the day!