Net Trust

I had a sportrait a couple weeks ago of the ABH's volleyball player of the year Darby Rogers. It was great shooting a sport besides football because it was a cinch to come up with a new photo idea. Darby and her coach thought I was nuts when I told them I was going to wrap her in a net. It didn't help matters that poor Darby had to do her photo shoot right next to a boys basketball team practice. I'm sure she thought I was going to horribly embarrass her as I started draping the net around her shoulders. Luckily she trusted me enough to go with it and luckily liked the way the photo turned out. Oh and I should mention that the brilliance of preps editor Jeff Cochran contributed to the idea.


Oconee County setter Darby Rogers is the 2009 Athens Banner-Herald Volleyball Player of the Year.

GAMEDAY: BACKS of the FUTURE!

Last week I shot the final Gameday cover of the year for the Independence Bowl between Georgia and Texas A&M in Shreveport, La. The cover featured running backs Caleb King and Washaun Ealey in a story about the future of the Bulldogs running game. My first thought was a Back to the Future themed cover with a Backs of the Future logo. I found an image from the movie I could base the cover on and after shooting the guys in their team meeting room and toiling in photoshop for 5 hours had finished my last Gameday.




Georgia running backs Caleb King, left, and Washaun Ealey

Lady Dogs: 10-0

I've shot the No. 9 Georgia Lady Bulldogs a couple times in the last month and today saw them continue their winning streak against the No. 19 Virginia Cavaliers taking their record to 10-0. I thoroughly enjoy shooting this scrappy team. Today I even ventured under the net to shoot most of the second half to get some different looking shots. Typically my favorite basketball shooting spot is the far corner of the hardwoods. Not only is this a good distance for my 70-200mm and clear of the glaring lights, but is also a little safer. When I sit under the basket some plays come way to close for comfort and several stray basketballs come flying. Last season I had Georgia senior Ashley Houts land on top of me. Good thing she is the smallest on the team.

Here are a few shots from their wins over Georgia Tech and Virginia.

Georgia 56, Georgia Tech 50

Georgia Tech's Chelsea Regins (32) tries to shoot around Georgia's Annie Marie Armstrong (3) in the first half of the Yellow Jackets' 28-25 halftime lead of an NCAA basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday Dec. 6, 2009.


Georgia's Ashley Houts (1) scrambles for a ball with Georgia Tech's Deja Foster (23) in the first half of the Lady Bulldogs' 56-50 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackson in an NCAA basketball game in Athens, Ga., Dec. 6, 2009.


Georgia's Angel Robinson (33) shoots for 2 in the second half of the Bulldogs' 56-50 win over Georgia Tech NCAA basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday Dec. 6, 2009.


Georgia's Porsha Phillips dives for a loose ball.


Georgia Tech's Alex Montgomery (22) nabs a rebound in the first half of the Yellow Jackets' 56-50 loss to the Georgia Lady Bulldogs in an NCAA basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday Dec. 6, 2009.


Georgia's Jasmine James (10), center, and the Lady Bulldogs celebrate their 56-50 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an NCAA basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday Dec. 6, 2009.

Georgia 69, Virginia 53


Georgia's Jasmine James (10) drives past Virginia's Paulisha Kellum (3) in the first half of Georgia's 36-22 halftime lead of an NCAA college basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.


Virgina's Monica Wright (22) recovers a rebound over Georgia's Porsha Phillips (21) in the first half of Georgia's 36-22 halftime lead of an NCAA college basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.


Georgia's Ashley Houts (1) and Virginia's Ariana Moorer (15) dive for a loose ball in the first half of Georgia's 36-22 halftime lead of an NCAA college basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.


Georgia's Angel Robinson shoots for two points around Virginia's Lexie Gerson (14) during Georgia's 69-53 victory in an NCAA college basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.


Georgia's Jasmine James (10) shoots for two points with Virginia's Monica Wright (22) and Jayna Hartig (32) defending during Georgia's 69-53 victory in an NCAA college basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.


Georgia's Ashley Houts is defended by Virginia's Ariana Moorer (15) in the second half of Georgia's 69-53 victory in an NCAA college basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.


Georgia's Jasmine James (10) celebrates after a 69-53 victory over Virginia in an NCAA college basketball game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.