Tennis novice

Somehow, in my ten years as a photographer (two of those at the Gazette) I have never photographed tennis.  So when I was assigned to shoot the girls state tennis team tournament, I walked in a bit nervous and completely clueless about scoring and how the game is played, aside from “hit the ball over the net.”  Luckily, there were plenty of coaches and parents around who were more than willing to explain it all to me, and I left somewhat more familiar with the game.  First up, a few singles matches (still working on my terminology, forgive me if it’s actually a game or a set or something else).. The serve is a pretty easy way to get the ball in the photo. (In sports photography, you generally want the ball in the photo — which can be difficult in fast moving sports like tennis).  I shot this photo from the viewing area, above the court, with a 300mm lens, all of which helped clean up the background.

I moved down to the court, where the background is a little messier but gave a perspective that spectators don’t really get. I incorporated the viewing area to give a sense of environment.

Back up to the viewing area for doubles.  I left the second racket in the frame for that extra context – a way to show that it’s doubles, without having to show the second player.

Another important aspect of sports photography is to show conflict. Not easy with a sport like tennis, where there’s no tackling or blocking or fighting. So, just a hint of the opposing player helps give that sense of competition, and gives the Kennedy player a place to look in the frame.

-liz

Gert and Geneva Tower

Photos of relatives, including 33 great grandchildren, fill the wall of Gert Steele’s Geneva Tower apartment in downtown Cedar Rapids on Thursday, May 28, 2009. Steele has lived in same unit in the building for almost 31 years and, at 97, is the oldest resident of the building. “This place saved my life,” Steele said of the support she received after her husband passed away shortly after they moved into the building.

Dave Rasdal and I spent a couple hours at Geneva Tower a few weeks ago for this week’s Ramblin’ column. The tower, whose residents are a mix of elderly, disabled, full market price and section 8 housing, was evacuated last June as floodwaters rose in downtown Cedar Rapids, and, after months of renovation, is now at nearly full occupancy again. Gert in particular was such a delight to talk to. She brought a sack of pancake flour with her when she and her husband moved to CR during the Great Depression, just so they would have something to eat — her generation’s Ramen Noodle equivalent, I suppose. As we were leaving, she made a remark that Nile Kinnick was one of the cutest quarterbacks to ever play at Iowa — can’t find the notebook for the exact quote, and wasn’t recording audio, unfortunately.

Deb Dufresne, far right, laughs with other Geneva Tower residents James Marugg, far left, Julie Fishel, center, and Katie Howrey, back to camera, on Thursday, May 28, 2009, during a coffee meeting in the building’s dining area in Cedar Rapids. Residents gather three times a week for coffee, and this week was Dufresne’s birthday, so another resident brought her a birthday cake.

-liz

Signs of the Flood

 

I shot this photo of Linda Seger hugging Nick Duffy, one of her many grandchildren, after a birthday celebration in Seger’s rebuilt Time Check neighborhood home for a flood anniversary special section published by The Gazette. Meredith, one of our reporters, actually gave me a heads-up on a handwritten sign in Seger’s home marking the water level. As the one-year anniversary of the 2008 flood draws near, it got me thinking about how people chose to “commemorate” the height of the flood water in their homes and businesses. I like shooting detail photos. I think they add to telling a visual story. They also bring visual variety to an edit.

 

 

They could be a small, professionally printed sign affixed to the wall of a business.

 

 

Or they could be handwritten on a 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of paper taped where a wall meets the ceiling of a home.

 

 

Others, like different colored window blind slats, are incorporated into the design of a rebuilt building.

 

So, let’s see your high-water marks. Send them to jim.slosiarek@gazcomm.com. I’m hoping to get a photo gallery at gazetteonline.com to display them. It would be great to get a little back story on how it came about too.

Thank you for looking

 

jim

10th installment of MyStyle

The tenth installment of MyStyle ran in this week’s Hoopla. Lovar Davis Kidd, founder of MOvMNT Dance Company, put his talent to use in the shoot. Visit hooplanow.com to read his interview and watch the video of L.D. discussing his style. -Cliff

Girl’s soccer

A few extra pictures from a regional soccer semifinal between Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Linn-Mar. -Cliff

Boy’s state tennis finals

A few images from the Class 2A finals at the state boy’s tennis tournament. -Cliff

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Jeff Damisch hits the ball as he faces Matt Sturgeon of WDM Valley for fifth place during a consolation game during the finals of the Class 2A boy’s state tennis tournament at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, May 30, 2009. 

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Eric Allenbach returns the ball as he and Ivan Liao face Austin Wiser and Curtis Newmann of Ankeny for third place during a consolation game during the finals of the Class 2A boy’s state tennis tournament at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center in Cedar Rapids.

Iowa City West’s Iggy Ampuero hits the ball as he and Marshall Moellers compete for seventh place against Tim Kettering and Mitch Anderson of Linn-Mar during a consolation game during the finals of the Class 2A boy’s state tennis tournament at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center in Cedar Rapids.

(from left) Tim Kettering and Mitch Anderson of Linn-Mar play against Iowa City West’s Iggy Ampuero and Marshall Moellers for seventh place during a consolation game during the finals of the Class 2A boy’s state tennis tournament at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center in Cedar Rapids.

Charlie Caris of Des Moines Roosevelt returns the ball as he faces Elliott Baker of WDM Dowling in the championship match of the singles Class 2A boy’s state tennis tournament at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, May 30, 2009. Caris became only the third three-time champion in state tournament’s 81 year  history.

Next installment of MyStyle

We decided to take advantage of good weather and a plethora of trees in bloom for this week’s MyStyle. An audio slideshow can be found at hooplanow.com. -Cliff

Spring sports

A couple as of yet unpublished sports images from the last few days. -Cliff

Cedar Rapids Washington’s Charlie Hammond hits the ball as he and doubles partner Cole Rhatigan face Gavin Young and T.J. McCann of Linn-mar during a boy’s district tennis match at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

Coe’s Max Tunning throws to first base for a double play after tagging out A.J. Lewis of Wartburg during the second inning of a game at the IIAC baseball tournament in Cedar Rapids.

 

I suppose basketball doesn’t count as a spring sport, but these pictures from Hawkeye men’s basketball practice did take place this week.

Devan Balwinkel catches a pass during a drill as the Iowa’s men’s basketball team practices at Carver-Hakweye Arena in Iowa City on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in preparation for a trip overseas.

Jarryd Cole attempts a shot from mid court as part of a drill during a Iowa’s men’s basketball team practices at Carver-Hakweye Arena in Iowa City on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in preparation for a trip overseas.

Sheriff’s office tour

“Tour the Linn County Sheriff’s Office before rebuilding starts” is not the most exciting photo assignment. But it’s a challenge. Light is scarce (thus the grain), but I can usually count on TV photographers popping some light in there so I don’t have to use a flash. Sheriff Gardner milled about this spot just long enough that I was able to get a decent, somewhat sharp, frame. The demolition line you see on the drywall is about 11 ft above ground level.  A slideshow will be up on gazetteonline.com tomorrow. The slideshow and story are on gazetteonline.com.

-liz

Rugby

Rugby is not a sport I get to shoot very often, but it always yields interesting pictures. This week’s Hoopla has a feature on one of the players from the Cedar Rapids Headhunters and a gallery of photos from a game I shot back in April has been posted at Hoopla’s website. -Cliff