Matt Roth » community journalism

Sports Up Part 4! …and a little bit about the “other” image.

Matt Roth — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:30:57 +0000

For last year’s Manchester Valley football preview photo illustration the football player scheduled to ride the horse in full football regalia wasn’t too used to horse riding. So… he had a stunt double fill in. I was sworn to secrecy. I wasn’t allowed to tell who the actual rider is. So… let your imaginations go wild I guess. …but not too wild. This is a family friendly establishment, after all.

So, what in the world is a “Sports Up?”

Here’s the thing… It’s good to know your strengths and it’s good to know your weaknesses. I shoot a lot of sports at the Patuxent Publishin Co. — a lot of high school sports. While I’ve gotten a lot better at peak action photos I’m still no Sports Illustrated long glass sniper. While I can hold my own on any sports field, I’m probably not the best guy you send out to get the peak-action-game-defining-image. I’m the guy who you send to get the “other” image.

So, what’s the other image? It shows off the personality to the sports and players. It’s all the interesting minutia on the sidelines or during practice, the nervous moment before shooting a free throw, the “good-gaming” in great light, or cheerleaders braiding a basketball player’s hair before the game, for example. It’s the imagery that doesn’t typically have a place in the sports pages, yet has all the accoutrements of sports. The arena has life beyond the field and in many ways its richer.

Enjoy!

Jim McCleary, head coach of the Kangaroo Kids jump roap team, is being inducted into the Community Sports Hall of Fame. He is photographed with some of his jumpers at the Glenwood Community Center Wednesday, August 26, 2009, where the Kangaroo Kids practice.

I double-tapped the shutter, which decreased my Alien Bee’s output a ton, but gave me this nice subtle, yet contrasty light. Truthfully, I like this photo way more than the one that actually ran, but this photo would’ve suffered in newsprint.

This was at the end of a scrimmage game Bryn Mawr won 0-6 against host Glenelg Country School Wednesday September, 2 2009.

Catonsville goal keeper Kelli Beard prevents a Hereford goal attempt at Comet Stadium Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

Mount Hebron’s Jamie Schwartz readies for a foul shot during the Vikings game against North Carroll during the Big Doug Classic JV girls basketball tournament held at Glenelg High School Wednesday, December 30, 2009. Mount Hebron lost to North Carroll 29-44.

Owings Mills fans celebrate after Keylin Ortiz made a free throw shot in the fourth quarter, holding their lead over Snow Hill. Owings Mills defeated Snow Hill 44-42 at the University of Maryland Comcast Center Friday, March 12, 2010. The win will pit the Eagles against Dunbar for the Class 1A state title tomorrow.

Long Overdue, Spring Preview

Matt Roth — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:00:54 +0000

CAPTION: Last year River Hill center fielder Christian Laidley batted .448, leading the Hawks with both 30 hits and 27 RBIs. He also made the game winning hit in last year’s 2A State Championship game. He is photographed in the River Hill Dance Studio Saturday, March 27, 2010.

As some of you might’ve noticed, I prefer shooting on location. And when I’m on location I like to athletes to show off their athleticism. But for the Howard County Spring Sports Preview portraits I was relegated to the studio. …well, except for Christian’s. No sense in being all doom and gloom about it, right? I figure, hey, while I’m here, I might as work on upping my game. So, I decided to work on my light sculpting skills.

This might sound silly, but this photo series, admittedly not my best, sparked a love affair in me with grids and snoots. Here’s the thing, when I emphasize the athleticism in these kids, I need to make the lighting set up big enough so they don’t knock over the lights/hurt themselves, when they kick soccer balls at my face, for example, but tight enough so the light hits where it needs to. In the studio, these athletes aren’t moving, so I’m allowed to be as persnickety as I want. I credit this series with what I consider success in my most recent athletes of the year photos.

I figured while in the stagnant confines of Patuxent’s small studio, I’d also exercise my “subtlety muscles,” too. I’m really good making big, overt, and to some degree, epic, images. Subtle, quiet moments are usually too …well, subtle, for me to notice while I’m shooting, so, why not force it out of some teenage athletes?

hehehe. lesson learned: I haven’t quite figured out how to keep the kids from being bored in my pursuit of making quiet images. And kinda like how you hear a smile through the telephone, I think most people can sense uneasiness or boredom in photographs. And while the photos I’m showcasing don’t really exude those qualities, there are plenty of outtakes that do.

So, admittedly, I let the lighting do all the heavy lifting in these photos.

Marriotts Ridge center fielder Kelsey Fuller batted over .500 with the Mustangs last year. She also has one of the better throwing arms in the county, able to hit home from the center field wall. She is photographed in the PPC Studio Wednesday, March 17, 2010.

Glenelg goalie Alex Taylor led the Gladiators to the 1A state semi-finals last year. He plans to play for Salisbury University next Spring. He is photographed at the PPC studio Thursday, March 18, 2010.

Wilde Lake midfielder Beth Glaros scored 90 goals and had 10 assists last year. She will be playing for Maryland in the Spring. She is photographed at the PPC studio Wednesday, March 17, 2010.

Corinne Zahlis, junior, and J. Guzzone, senior, were fourth in the states for mixed doubles last year, second in counties but won regionals. Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Repelling for Kidneys!

Matt Roth — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:00:09 +0000

The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland is using skyscraper repelling as a way to bring kidney donation to the attention of younger people.

Here’s the Howard County Times article.

Kidney transplant recipient Gordon Nahas, 68, from Ellicott City, goes through rappelling training, led by Justin Britcher, left, from Hamilton, and Caleb Vesely, from Flagstaff, AZ, on the 24th floor of the Legg Mason Tower in the Harbor East area of Baltimore Saturday, June 19, 2010. Participants who raised over $1,000 for the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland were eligible to repel down the skyscraper, from the 23rd-floor balcony to the fourth-floor balcony.

Here’s the big jump.

After getting passed the first ledge, Kidney transplant recipient Gordon Nahas, 68, from Ellicott City, yelled up to the rope handlers on the 23rd-floor balcony Legg Mason Tower, “This is a piece of cake!”

Greg Jacobson, 30, from Ellicott City, is next.

Watch out for that first step! Greg Jacobson, from Ellicott City, goes head over heels on his way down the Legg Mason Tower Saturday, June 19, 2010. Sight safety supervisor Brian Dickerson, from Houston, TX, and Zeb Severson, from Aberdeen (black shirt), keep Jacobson steady while regaining his composure. All this drama, twenty-three stories in the air, is for the National Kidney Foundation. The thirty-year-old, who serves on the NKF of Maryland board, has kidney disease in his family. His mother, Cindy, of Timonium is a transplant recipient. Dickerson was joined by several dare devils who raised over $1,000 for the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland.

Player of the Year outtakes

Matt Roth — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:00:45 +0000

I asked a few of the Athletes to show me their best karate kick!

Adam helped with Jim’s shoot. I think he has the best Karate Kick so far.

Jordan Maisel: Howard County Girls Tennis Player of the Year

Matt Roth — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:00:30 +0000

Glenelg junior Jordan Maisel was undefeated throughout the year, clenching the county and Region V championship titles. She suffered her first loss of the year at the state championship match. She is photographed at Glenelg High School Sunday, June 13, 2010.

Kory Britton: Howard County Baseball Player of the Year

Matt Roth — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:00:02 +0000

Atholton junior shortstop Kory Britton is the baseball player of the year. He is photographed at Atholton High School Saturday, June 5, 2010.

Jim Marlatt: Howard County Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year

Matt Roth — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:56 +0000

River Hill senior Jim Marlatt led the Hawks with more than 70 goals and well over 100 points. He will play lacrosse for Notre Dame next year. He is photographed at River Hill High School Friday, June 4, 2010.

Casey Schmidt: Howard County Softball Player of the Year

Matt Roth — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:00:32 +0000

Glenelg’s Casey Schmidt is one of those powerhouses at the plate and on the pitching rubber. To clench the 2010 county championship she hit her second homerun of the game against Howard in the eighth inning. She plays volleyball with equal veracity. Next year the seventeen-year-old won’t have to decide which one to focus on, she will play both for Grove City (Pa.) College. She is photographed at Glenelg High School Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

Beth Glaros. Howard County Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year

Matt Roth — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:36:52 +0000

Wilde Lake lacrosse player Beth Glaros scored 85 goals last year and will play for Maryland next year. She is photographed at her school Thursday, May 27, 2010.

10am Update: Memorial Ceremony

Matt Roth — Sun, 09 May 2010 14:00:54 +0000

Members of the Howard County Police Department Command Staff stand by during a memorial service honoring five fallen officers at the Howard County Police Headquarters Wednesday May 18, 2005.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing some of the better work from my archives.