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December 31, 2007
Workflow: Getting Pictures Off The Camera & Into Your Computer
While most cameras allow you to connect directly to your computer to download pictures, save yourself the headache and get a card reader that you can keep connected to your computer.
Card readers of all brands come in two real versions based on how they connect to your computer, USB and Firewire (IEEE 1394). I have been able to pick up USB 2.0 readers at my local computer store for $9.99 and typically can download multiple types of memory cards. You can't beat their price and they work fine if you are not under time restraints for downloading and accessing the pictures.
This year I bit the bullet and purchased a firewire card reader because the consistent throughput of data is faster than a USB reader. The firewire card readers I have seen will only fit one type of card. The one I use is pictured and will only work with Compact Flash cards which are the cards used in most Pro/Semi-Pro DSLRs.
The speed at which it downloads pictures is very important to me when I am on assignment and trying to quickly download the pictures so that they can be posted onto OffWing Opinion and distributed through our syndication service.
In between periods of events you will see the sport photographers running to empty their cards and upload their pictures as quickly as possible. Time is money...because editors on deadlines will run the best photos available at that time.
This part of the workflow is pretty much Straightforward. Let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to answer them.
Have a Happy New Year!
Posted by Allen Clark at 09:15 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 30, 2007
Updates To The Site For The New Year
I am taking advantage of some of my "down time" right now to make some updates to the site that I have been meaning to do for some time.
I have been working in what seems to me to be the bowels of Movable Type's publishing platform to create some new pages and templates.
I have also been playing around with FLICKR's badges which is something I have also been wanting to do for awhile. I used this to put up a feed of my OffWing photos onto my personal website, you can check it out here. The photo farther down the page, below the large image slideshow.
I also hope to begin using FLICKR's badges in different ways around the site.
Stay tuned and Happy New Year!
Posted by Allen Clark at 02:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 28, 2007
Interview With Chris Rutsch Of Hartford's Wolf Pack
I came across a piece about the team photographer for the Hartford Wolf Pack, an American Hockey League (AHL) team located in Hartford Conn.
- Read the story here.
- You can view Chris' pictures here
- The story comes from Mitch Beck's"Howlings: Hartford Wolf Pack News And Commentary."
Posted by Allen Clark at 09:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 27, 2007
What Happens To All Those Photos You Take?
If you don't know the answer to that question then it is about time you spend some time thinking about "Workflow." So what is workflow?
Workflow is everything that you do after you take the picture. It can be simple or complicated. My workflow might not work for you, there is no single perfect workflow. There however some basic elements to workflow.
- Acquiring the images from your camera
- Storing the images on the computer
- Processing the images
- Archiving the images
Sounds boring, eh? So why do I need to care?
Ahhhh, let me take you back a few days or weeks when you first got your new DSLR with that huge sensor of megapixels and the ability to fire the shutter 3-9 times per second. You take this beauty out take some picture of your son or daughter and you come back with a 4gig card full of pictures. So what do you do with all those pictures?
Having a consistent method for handling all those images will make your life much happier and increase the chance that someone will actually see some of those great pictures you took.
I have put a lot of thought into this because of the amount of pictures that I take at a typical event. Of course these are just a reference, your mileage may vary:
- hockey game: 150 - 300images
- wedding: 300 - 700 images
- swim meet: 200 - 300 images
- soccer game: 70 - 150 images
Stay tuned as I try to help you figure out what you should do with all of your great pictures. Shoot me questions and I will try to answer them the best I can.
I will leave you today with a fun read about Sports Illustrated's digital workflow from Rob Galbraith's Digital Photography Insights written in 2004.
Posted by Allen Clark at 06:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 21, 2007
Sports Photography Classes Coming To NY
I would love to make it to a couple of these classes being offered by Adorama Camera, one of the largest photo retailers in the United States, is celebrating the first anniversary of the Workshops@Adorama (http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_List).
The Sports Photography class will be lead by Jeffery Snyder and Mitchell Layton.
Jeff and Mitchell put together a great class (I have attended one of their sessions) and I shoot with Mitchell in Washington, DC. He is the team photographer for the Washington Nationals (baseball), Washington Wizards (basketball), and the Capitals (hockey). Both Jeff and Mitchell are great guys with a ton of experience.
This from Adorama:
The fast-growing series of on-site photography courses are taught by top working professional photographers and digital photography specialists.
To celebrate the Workshops' first anniversary, Adorama is announcing an early-bird discount of 10% on all the currently posted Workshops@Adorama from today until January 10, 2008.
Winter/Spring Semester 2008 Workshop Overview
In January and February, Workshops@Adorama will present a mix of several new classes, including Intro to Sports Photography Techniques, Just Add Stills: Adobe After Effects for Still Photographers, and Introduction to Digital Astrophotography. And the return of such popular favorites as Digital Food Photography: Creating Delectable Images, Travel Photography: Beyond Being There, Color Management: What Is It and How to Use It to Get Better Prints and Adobe Photoshop: Understanding Layers and Masks.
Additional Workshops, Seminars and Special Events will be added in the coming weeks and months, so check back often on our web page.
For a complete list of sessions for the entire Winter/Spring 2008 semester, go to http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_List
All classes will take place in the fifth-floor multi-media classrooms at the Adorama Building, 42 West 18th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, in New York City unless otherwise indicated.
If you have any questions or need assistance in registering, please contact Carl Nilson Monday-Thursday, from 9AM-6PM by email at: carln @ adorama.com or by phone at: 212-741-0401 ext 2216.
Posted by Allen Clark at 08:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 14, 2007
Caps Lose Heartbreaker to Buffalo, 3-5
The Caps played great for two periods until cracks appeared in the third period and the Sabres came from behind to score the victory.
So, I leave it to the following picture to tell the story. You see the Sabres celebrating a goal but also Washington's goalie Olie Kolzig sitting on the ice, frustrated, in the lower right hand corner.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 14: Maxim Afinogenov of the of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates with teammates after his second period goal during a NHL hockey game on December 14, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 14: Alex Ovechkin celebrates with team member Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals following his first period goal against the Buffalo Sabres during a NHL hockey game on December 14, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 14: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Henrik Tallinder of the Buffalo Sabres fight for control of the puck during a NHL hockey game on December 14, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
See more photos from the game by visiting our Photoshelter gallery or our Flickr gallery.
If you are a blogger and would like to use our photographs please contact us.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 14: Donald Brashear of the Washington Capitals and Toni Lydman of the Buffalo Sabres go after the puck during a NHL hockey game on December 14, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
See more photos from the game by visiting our Photoshelter gallery or our Flickr gallery.
Posted by Allen Clark at 07:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 12, 2007
Shooting the Game: Interview with Norwegian hockey photographer Espen Hildrup
Our good friend Jon Swenson over at the Sharkspage recently interviewed Norwegian hockey photographer Espen Hildrup and allowed us to republish the article here. Jon runs a great blog, you should check it out if you are haven't already.
2006-07 VALERENGA TEAM PHOTO - ESPEN HILDRUP
Norwegian photographer Espen Hildrup was kind enough to answer a few questions about hockey photography, the Norwegian Hockey League champion Valerenga team, former NHL Allstar Espen Knutsen, and ice hockey in the small country of Norway.
Espen's latest collection of 2007-08 Valerenga hockey photos are available here, and photos from the 2006-07 Valerenga season are available here. The official GET-Ligaen league website is available at hockey.no, and the official Valerenga Ishockey team website is available at vif.no.
JOHNNY BRUUN 2-1 SHOT - ESPEN HILDRUP
[Q] How long have you been photographing sports, and how long have you been shooting ice hockey in Norway?[EH] I started shooting ice hockey - and sports - in February this year. I picked up photography as a hobby 3 years ago, with a Casio compact. Got my first dSLR 2 years ago; an Olympus e300. Since then I've been doing work for Corinthia International, SAS Radisson, several advertising agencies, magazines and newpapers.
Last winter the weather was really bad here in Oslo, Norway; no snow, only rain and fog, so I didn't get to use my camera at all. Then I called Valerenga Ice Hockey and asked if they could use someone to photograph them. They said yes - and since then I have been to all of their games. Valerenga is by far Norway's #1 ice hockey club, with 25 Norwegian Championships. The ex-NHL All Star player Espen "Shampoo" Knutsen is their head coach.
[Q] What camera do you use when you shoot a game, and which lenses do you use most often for hockey?[EH] I'm using a Canon 5D. Not a typical sports camera, with full frame and 3 fps; but 13mp and very clean high ISO images helps.
In the beginning I brought all sorts of lenses to the games, but the 70-200mm f/2.8 soon became my favorite. I also bring the 1.4x teleconverter, for extra reach - but that gives an f/4, which is a little on slow side. Also the 85mm f/1.8 is a good lens.
[Q] There is a tremendous amount of action and detail in your photos. What do you look to capture when you shoot a hockey game, and what is it like shooting at some of the ice hockey rinks in Norway?
[EH] Having played ice hockey for several years, when I was younger, I try to anticipate the action. Often I just keep the focus at the keeper and zoom in/out as the players move around him. I also try to keep both eyes open; one in the camera, with the other I try to "scan" what goes on outside the viewfinder... When you follow the same team you learn their typical tactics and moves, so you can locate yourself accordingly.
[Q] You have a large collection of photos online, many are of the Valerenga club who have won three straight Norwegian titles. How would you compare the Norwegian league to other leagues? How does Valerenga look so far this season?
[EH] I haven't seen any other leagues except for watching the NHL on ESPN360.com. And comparing the norwegian GET League to NHL is like comparing a Skoda to a Ferrari...
As mentioned, I started shooting ice hockey less than a year ago. Before that I was only into landscapes and travel photography - which got a little boring.
Valerenga is also #1 again this year; but the competition is getting tougher. Valerenga lost 3 major players last season; 2 Americans went back to the US, and 1 native Valerenga-player went to play professionally in Germany. So after not really having found new players, combined with teams like Storhamar Dragons, Stavanger Oilers and Sparta Warriors who are working seriously to be the best, this season looks more uncertain the last year.[Q] Hockey is very popular among the youth in Finland and Sweden, and interest is growing in Denmark and Germany, are more young kids in Norway starting to gain interest in the sport?[EH] Ice hockey is a small sport in Norway, and I have often wondered why. I just do not understand it; why norwegians do not give this sport a chance. In Sweden Ice Hockey is a major sport. Likewise in Finland. One explaination could be, that people has some kind of mental connetion between ice hockey and fighting. Maybe media in Norway has focused too much on the fights, and too little on the game itself. I don't know...
On Valerenga's Hockey School, this year there were almost twice as many participants as last year. And on average, there are 10% more people coming to see the games in Norway this winter. So it looks like ice hockey is picking up in popularity. It also helps that a TV channel broadcasts a match every Thursday night.
There's a lot of talk about the climate change here in Norway; the winters getting warmer, with less snow and ice. So I think more people will look for indoor sports for the winter seasons. This could give ice hockey a boost in the years to come...
[Q] With Norway's Patrick Thoresen playing for the Edmonton Oiler's AHL affiliate in Springfield, and fellow Norwegian Ole-Kristian Tollefsen racking up 47 penalty minutes already for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL, which Norwegians are having the most success playing outside of Norway? And is there a Norwegian player or prospect that fans should keep an eye on?
[EH] Besides Patrick Thoresen and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, I do know the name Mathis Olimb, an ex-Valerenga player who now plays for the Augsburg Panthers in Germany. There's talk he will be playing in the NHL next year.
Right now I heard Mathis Olimb's litte brother, Ken Andre Olimb, who scored Norway's 1-0 goal against Ukraine in the Junior World Championships in Germany, is a player to watch. Also Ken Andre will become one of Norway's top international players. Last night, Patrick Thoresen's little brother Steffen Thoresen signed a contract with Valerenga. He arrives from Allsvenskan in Sweden. So things are looking good right now!
[Q] Espen Knutsen played for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 1997, but he also received a second shot at the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the recommendation of former San Jose Sharks/Norwegian national team head coach George Kingston. Knutsen was the only Norwegian to play in an NHL allstar game, the Swedish Elite League team Djurgarden called him one of the best players in the teams history after he retired, and he captured a Norwegian championship in his first year as the head coach of Valerenga, What has been Espen Knutsen's impact on hockey in Norway?
[EH] Espen "Shampoo" Knutsen's impact on norwegian ice hockey is tremendous! He's an icon in Norway, even though I don't think the average Norwegian actually realizes how big being an allstar in the NHL really is. This combined with his sympathetic and nice way of being, makes him a very popular person in Norway. He earned the championship in his first season as head coach for Vålerenga last season. Now there's people who wants him as coach for Norway's National Team.
Thanks very much for taking the time to answer a few questions, and for telling us a little about hockey in Norway. A handful of photographers have contributed to the Shooting the Game series, including Grega Juvancic from Slovenia, Jenik Bohac from Latvia, Laurent Lardiere from France, and several others.
[Update] 2006-2007 in review: Norway, Valerenga Norwegian champions for the 25th time - Eurohockey.net.
Posted by Allen Clark at 09:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 08, 2007
Caps Thomp Atlanta Thrashers, 6-3
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 8: Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals comes up with the assist against Kari Lehtonen of the Atlanta Thrashers during a NHL hockey game with the on December 8, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 8: Mike Green of the Washington Capitals goes controls the puck during a NHL hockey game with the Atlanta Thrashers on December 8, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)See more photos from the game by visiting our Photoshelter gallery or our Flickr gallery.
If you are a blogger and would like to use our photographs please contact us.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 8: Viktor Kozlov of the Washington Capitals goes after a puck during a NHL hockey game with the Atlanta Thrashers on December 8, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)ee more photos from the game by visiting our Photoshelter gallery or our Flickr gallery.
Posted by Allen Clark at 07:57 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 05, 2007
Dave Black Reviews New Nikon D3
The accomplished photographer, Dave Black has just posted a great review of Nikon's new D3 DSLR. For the sports photographer he has some important things to say about the auto-focus and ISO features of Nikon's new flagship DSLR.
- Read Dave Black's Nikon D3 Review.
- Nikon's D3 Propaganda. (I love it)
For now I will be sticking with my D200, but once again there is a reason for me to be envious of others.
To view OffWing's most recent photos please visit our Photoshelter gallery.
Posted by Allen Clark at 07:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
