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Archive of ‘Sports’ category

Event, Photography, Sports | 0 comment

Denard Span visits Tysons Corner Center | Virginia Photographer

The Bullpen Tysons

A few weekends ago Denard Span of the Washington Nationals took some time out of his busy weekend to meet and greet with fans and a little league team at the Tysons Bullpen. The visit came in the middle of the season during a home stretch for the Nationals. If you have not followed the story of the team for this year, they are playing very well! In fact, they were in the middle for a long winning streak at the time of the photos, and Denard’s play was a big reason for their success.

Denard-Span-and-Grant-Paulsen-©TimeLine-Media
Denard-Span-and-Grant-Paulsen-©TimeLine-Media

For the time he was at the mall, he talked about his upbringing, his background in sports and the role it played in his development. He gave all of us an insight into what it is like to be a big league player. There are many perks, but it is a big responsibility. One of the best things I heard him say was that he still felt lucky and blessed to be doing what he is doing. To be a major league baseball player, and to have the support of his teammates and fans alike pushes him to keep working as hard as he can. He sets big goals for himself, and he is still working towards others.

Greeting Baseball Fans

Denard-Span-on-Tysons-Plaza-©TimeLine-Media
Denard-Span-on-Tysons-Plaza-©TimeLine-Media

Grant Paulsen from 106.7 The Fan radio station was there to get the discussion going. Hearing that baseball players play 162 games over 182 days really impressed how much of a grind it can be. There are not too many days off during the season. With all the games, travel, and playoffs if the team does well, I can see how it can be difficult. This was really eye opening for me, and seeing the difference between that and the little leaguers in the audience, you could tell that they appreciated the effort that he puts in to be where is today. It was inspiring to listen, and pushes me to do more with my own efforts.

Denard-Span-in-Tysons-Bullpen-©TimeLine-Media
Denard-Span-in-Tysons-Bullpen-©TimeLine-Media

He definitely made me a fan, and I’ll be looking to see how the Nationals do this fall as the playoffs loom. He was very nice to the little ball players, and the fans, and I can see why they root for him and the Nationals. Maybe they will be playing baseball in October in DC!

Selfie-with-Denard-©TimeLine-Media
Selfie-with-Denard-©TimeLine-Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Event, Photography, Sports | 0 comment

Middleburg Virginia Horse Racing

Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media

Point to Point Race

Over the weekend, there was a lot of attention to the Kentucky Derby. It was a spectacle for the sporting world that is unique in the presentation of coverage compared to other events for television. The first of the Triple Crown of horse races was run with a record crowd in attendance, and the 2 minutes that the race is presented on TV is some of the most compelling even if you do not follow the sport.

Paddock at Glenwood Park - ©TimeLine Media
Paddock at Glenwood Park – ©TimeLine Media

We watched the race, and I was inspired to go back to see the photos from the Middleburg Point to Point from a weekend ago. Obviously, it must be the horse racing season! We were out there with all the colorful hats and crazy ties in the area surrounding the track on this occasion. In watching the TV coverage, it looks like the scene was similar at Churchill Downs. As can be seen in the photos, it really lends itself to photography.

Tailgate Contest

Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media
Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point – ©TimeLine Media
Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media
Tailgating at the Middleburg Point to Point – ©TimeLine Media

Trying to capture horse racing in Middleburg was a lot of fun! On this occasion, the racing action was very accessible for those in the audience. It was easy to get a good vantage of the horses as they closed to the Finish Line. The camera was able to track the action, and I fired the motor drive as they passed. To be sure the 70-200mm lens was plenty to get close to the jockeys and the horses.

Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing – ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Racing horses in Middleburg, Virginia – ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing – ©TimeLine Media

Looking at the images large after the event really makes me appreciate these horses on account of their biology. They are beautiful as they pass you on the paddock, and additionally their incredible speed as they go through their runs is staggering! You can really feel their ground as their feet thunder by on their last pass. It is really a great photography subject, and I encourage any sports photo enthusiast to give it a try. They will give you some awesome images.

Horse after racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse after racing – ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing - ©TimeLine Media
Horse racing – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Event, Photography, Sports, Travel | 0 comment

Middleburg 2014 Point to Point

Tailgate Competition judges at the Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media

Virginia Horse Country

It was a beautiful April Sunday for the Middleburg Hunt Point to Point this year. Last year, some wet weather put a damper on the festivities, but this year was a cool, sunny day. It was perfect for dressing your best for a tail gate with friends, and watching horses race on the beautiful steeplechase course at Glenwood Park. The overhead sun was strong and bright all day, so there was a lot of strong shadows in all the images.

Tailgate Competition judges at the Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media
Tailgate Competition judges at the Middleburg Point to Point – ©TimeLine Media

People commonly think that having a lot of sun is perfect for making photos. It is true that the camera does like to have as much light as possible to make good exposures. The problems with sun in the middle of the day and early afternoon, is that it is not falling in a good direction for good portraits. With the sun right above, there will be hard shadows that darken faces, horses making post processing necessary to bring out details that you want to see. With such bright sun, many people attending the Point to Point were wearing fashionable hats to lessen their direct exposure to the sun which added additional challenges to photos.

2014 Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media
2014 Middleburg Point to Point – ©TimeLine Media

Middleburg, Virginia

2014 Middleburg Point to Point - ©TimeLine Media
2014 Middleburg Point to Point – ©TimeLine Media

For all of these, a fill flash was necessary to get the faces lit. If not used the details could not be brought out from the shadows. This is a very blunt light when moving and shooting while walking around the park. There was no time to setup an off-camera flash to get more dimension to the light. You can see some hard shadows where the direct flash was firing towards the subjects. It is not the prettiest, but it did get the job done. Also, it was the easiest way to get quick photos with all the impromptu group poses. Thanks to the weathermen that brought us a great day!

Panorama of Glenwood Park in Middleburg, VA - ©TimeLine Media
Panorama of Glenwood Park in Middleburg, VA – ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

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