Butte College's #11 Adriana Scala, #21 Cassie Thomas, and #2 Tanisha Colbert (left to right) battle for possession against College of the Redwoods' #24 Kristyn Rook (far left) and #33 Allie Wipf (center) in the first half of their women's basketball game at Butte's Cowan Gym Saturday, January 19, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Butte College's #1 Tanisha Colbert (left) goes up for a shot against College of the Redwoods' #21 Kiahna Bell (right) in the first half of their women's basketball game at Butte's Cowan Gym Saturday, January 19, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Butte College head coach Ron Brown gestures his concern against College of the Redwoods in the first half of their women's basketball game at Butte's Cowan Gym Saturday, January 19, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
Pleasant Valley High's #35 Chad Olsen (far left) celebrates a win with the fans against Chico High after the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Pleasant Valley High's #3 Blake Marchant sinks a three point shot against Chico High in the second quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #14 Tanner Binsfeld reacts to being behind in the score against Pleasant Valley High in the third quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #22 Jesse Holmes (right) takes a shot against Pleasant Valley High's #34 Zack Eldredge (left) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Pleasant Valley High's #3 Blake Marchant (center) goes up for a shot against Chico High's #5 Burak Karatekeli (left) and #30 Jerry Migasi (right) in the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
Chico High's #22 Nina Holmes (right) watches against Pleasant Valley High's #3 Izzy Bonacorsi (left) make a drive to the basket in the second quarter of their girls basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #23 Mari Thomas (left) defends against Pleasant Valley High's #14 Jessica Gallaway (right) in the second quarter of their girls basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #22 Nina Holmes (right) dribbles against Pleasant Valley High's #14 Jessica Gallaway (left) in the first quarter of their girls basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #13 Jessica Sibal (top) takes a shot over Pleasant Valley High's #11 Kristina Joyce (bottom) and #3 Izzy Bonacorsi (right) in the first quarter of their girls basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 17, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
Butte College's #32 Kenneth McMillan (center) goes up for a shot against Shasta Colleges' #40 Dreu DePaoli (left) and #21 Jordan McIntosh (right) in the first half of their men's basketball game at Butte's Cowan Stadium Saturday, January 12, 2013 in Oroville, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Enterprise-Record)
I recently photographed a girls basketball game between Chico High and Las Plumas High and had two shots from the same play; one right after the other. When editing the shoot from the office I came across both images and couldn't decide which one I liked better? Help me decide and let me know which one do you prefer? Is there really a big difference? I feel like there is. Even though there were split seconds between the two, what do you think of the differences in the photos?
PHOTO A
Chico High's #14 Nina Holmes (right) reaches for a high pass against Las Plumas High's #12 Kylie Nore (left) in the second quarter of their girls basketball game at LPHS Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Oroville, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
or
PHOTO B
Chico High's #14 Nina Holmes (right) reaches for a high pass against Las Plumas High's #12 Kylie Nore (left) in the second quarter of their girls basketball game at LPHS Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Oroville, Calif.
The local basketball season had its last game at Chico High and I decided to get in to the excitement. Literally, I hoped up in the stands with the fans. I have the joy of having a pretty good access and used it to cover the last basketball game of the season. It was a different perspective that the usual court side and gave a real personal view of the game from the fans point of view.
Chico High's #24 Sterling Smith (right) rebounds against Antelope High's #44 Isaiah Ellis (left) in the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #24 Sterling Smith (right) dribbles against Antelope High's #42 John WInters (left) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High fans cheer against Antelope High in the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High fans cheer against Antelope High in the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
It seems that every night I am covering a basketball game. Whether it is Chico, PV or some other local school I have been taking a lot of basketball action. Here is a batch from the past couple weeks.
Pleasant Valley High's #21 Darren Thomas (left) goes up for a shot against Las Plumas High's #32 Jordan Collins (right) in the second quarter of their boys basketball game at PVHS Varley Gym Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Hamilton High's #4 Taylor Thomson (left) collides against Portola High's #12 Bailey Holt (right) in the second quarter of their girls basketball game Friday, February 4, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High girls gather together on the court against Shasta High before the first quarter of their girls basketball game at Chico High Thursday, February 24, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #24 Sterling Smith (left) goes up for a shot against Pleasant Valley High's #31 Aaron Ellis (right) in the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, February 11, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High fans distract a free throw against Red Bluff High's #24 Carlos Tapia (center) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #24 Sterling Smith (center) takes a shot against Red Bluff High's #34 Jonah McInnis (left) and #33 Storm Lewis (right) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
It's great to see the home team win. The celebration and excitement makes for great images. But sometimes the team can't always walk away with a win. The disappointment and frustration may be hard to watch, but it makes for great pictures. Both men and women's Chico State basketball teams were unable to pull a win in a recent game I covered.
Chico State's head coach Greg Clink (left) argues a call by referee Russell Burch (right) against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the second half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 28, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico State's head coach Greg Clink reacts to a call against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the second half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 28, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico State's #41 Kristin Marquardt, #20 Taylor Lydon, #33 Pauline Ferrall, and #30 McKenzie Dalthorp (left to right) react to a missed point against Cal State Monterey Bay in the second half of their women's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Saturday, January 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
You will constantly hear action photographers talk about great action moments, but what is really important to sports photographers is the emotions of the games. With camera technology getting cheaper and better every day, it becomes much easier for the amateur to get lucky with good action shots. But while I do shoot action, I am a photojournalist who is trying to tell the stories of the games that I cover. I need to find the emotions to best describe the game.
A big game was played with a lot of emotion was the Chico State against San Francisco State men's basketball game. I am constantly following the players expressions when a foul is draw or a whistle blown. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, but the expressions that captured the game the best was the frustrating defeat to the Chico State team.
Chico State's #34 Roderick Hawkins (right) reacts to a foul called on the team against San Francisco State in the second half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 21, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico State's head coach Greg Clink (center) gives the plays against San Francisco State in the first half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 21, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico State's #33 Terence Pellum (left) is fouled against San Francisco State's #44 Matt Fochtman (right) in the first half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 21, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
The rivalry between Chico's two local high schools, Chico High and Pleasant Valley High, has always been a heated competition. While tempers can fly and fans can grow rowdy, in most recent years, the players have been very civilized toward each other. Most of the players know of each other on the opposing team from earlier friendships. They do play to win, not fight to win. That doesn't always mean you won't get a chance to see a little blood on the court.
During a drive from Pleasant Valley High's Darren Thomas, he unintentionally elbowed Chico High's Andrew Acevedo in the face. Acevedo left the game with a bloody nose. Beyond the accidental injury, Chico High continued to play to secure a win against Pleasant Valley.
Chico High's #32 Andrew Acevedo leaves the game with a bloody nose against Pleasant Valley High in the second quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 14, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #3 Jesse Holmes (left) looks to pass against Pleasant Valley High's #22 Clayton Eagleton (right) in the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 14, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #24 Sterling Smith (left) goes up for a shot against Pleasant Valley High's #21 Darren Thomas (right) in the third quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 14, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #33 David Stidham (right) wrestles for a loose ball against Pleasant Valley High's #32 Brian Dooney (left) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 14, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico High's #21 David Levitt (center) attempts a rebound against Pleasant Valley High's #23 Dylan Burington (left) and #21 Darren Thomas (right) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 14, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
I also spent most of the night racing around the gym shooting both video and stills to put together a "sights and sounds" video of the game.
A photographer's dream is great access. Walking the sidelines for as many years as I have, I've begun to be a familiar face and my access has greatly improved. I enjoy being able to really get right next to the players that I cover. I think it brings a unique perspective to the viewers. It shows them an angle that they don't have access to. That is what I was able to do when covering a Chico State women's basketball game. I walked right up to the huddle during warmups and snapped a couple shots over the players. The image really puts you close to the intensity of the moment.
Chico State's #11 Natasha Smith (center) cheers on the team against Cal State East Bay before the first half of their women's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Saturday, January 8, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
During a Chico State basketball game I decided to place a camera at my feet and shoot at a really wide angle to capture all the action that happens under the basket. I wasn't able to look through the viewfinder, so I couldn't "see" what I was taking pictures of, but I knew something would fall into the frame. It was a "worm's eye" view of the game. A viewpoint that most do not see.
Chico State's #34 Roderick Hawkins (center) goes up for a shot against UC San Diego in the first half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 7, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
We photojournalist don't like our assignments to be set up. And nothing is more set up than press conferences. While the press conference provides a good occasion to gather reporters from varying news agencies together in one place, it doesn't give way to much interesting art. Public relations do their best to jazz up the scene. But all the glitter in the world doesn't break away from the fact that the scene is scripted. I always try to look for something more than the normal "person behind the microphone" shot. I take time to search out the real story of the event.
This is what I did when I went to a press conference announcing the new women's basketball coach for Chico State. Brian Fogel was the interim coach for the team the last couple of years, and the press conference announced his removal of "interim" from his title. I noticed some of the key players on the women's basketball team had shown up to congratulate their former, newly announced head coach. I stuck around after the press conference had ended to snap a nice emotional shot to convey the mood of the decision. I felt it was much better than a shot of Fogel talking to reporters.
Newly introduced women's basketball coach Brian Fogel (center) hugged players Natasha Smith (left) and Taylor Lydon (right) after taking questions from media during a press conference at CSUC Acker Gym Thursday, August 5, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
The new women's basketball coach Brian Fogel was introduced during a press conference at CSUC Acker Gym Thursday, August 5, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
When I had arrived back at the office with the photos I came to find out one of our sports reporters, Nick Wilson, who was laying out the sports page that night wanted to search for a file photo of Fogel coaching from last season. I help his search out the image in our archives and he ended up putting a nice package together for the story.
Screenshots of the Sports page C1 and C3 show the layout for the Chico Enterprise-Record story by Travis Souders on Chico State's newly announced women's basketball coach.
