Front Cover shot from my local paper today: Carrier Classic 2011

[Chris Dodkin]

My local paper, the San Diego Union Tribune, carried a great cover shot of the first 'Carrier Classic' basketball game - held on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson last night, in San Diego bay.

Here's the shot - taken by staff photog K.C. Alfred

What a great angle, and balance of lighting between the foreground action, and the sunset/clouds.

The event was held on Veteran's Day - and was attended by the President and First Lady, and a good mix of sports celebs - along with the military personnel for whom it was dedicated.

It was literally a basketball arena, constructed on the flight deck of a carrier!

No way I could get anywhere close to shoot pics - I think the staff photogs at the UT did a great job, and the location and time of day made epic sports shots.

 

[Fidel Marcus]

these are fantastic photos, hats off to this photographer

 

[Brian Moore]

They're great shots for sure! Is that 2nd one yours?

I attended a concert on the same ship a few years ago. I took a few snaps. Nowhere near as good as the above photos. I wonder where they are,...I had forgotten all about them until now.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Sorry Brian - should have worded that better - I wasn't even going to try and attend - so all the shots are from the UT in-house photogs.

You can see the remote cameras set-up on the hoop in shot #1, which presumably took shot #3, fired by remote wireless trigger.

Looks pretty wide, but not barrel distorted - maybe a 24mm?

 

[Darren Bradley]

I noticed these shots, too. Far better than the usual. Bravo to the U-T photographer.

 

[Hamish Gill]

There is quite a lot of distortion, I'd say it's a crop of a fisheye shot ...

 

[Paul Lange]

Far better than the average news shot that's for sure. You have so got to get yourself a press photog pass Chris.

 

[Garry Lee]

The first shot is one of the best photos I've seen!