Sports – Page 5 – Scotty Anderson Photography

College Basketball – Jan 7, 2017 – WSU Cougars vs Oregon Ducks

Pullman, Washington — The Washington State University Cougars took on the University of Oregon Ducks at Field Court in Beasley Coliseum on the WSU Campus. The Ducks were 3-0 in the Pac 12 (14-2 overall) and ranked 15th in the nation. The Cougs came in with a 2-0 Pac 12 record (9-5 overall).

Through the first half and the first portion of the second half the Cougars and Ducks were neck and neck. The Cougs lead by several points throughout much of the period of time. But in the final 10 minutes of the game the Ducks started to build a commanding lead. For a while the Ducks could not do anything wrong and the Cougs struggled making shots, maintaining possession of the ball, and stopping the Ducks from scoring.

In the end the Cougs lost by 19 points in a game that did not appear that lopsided through the first three-quarters of play.

The was my first time shooting a basketball game. I tried to get a seat near the court and one that gave me an angle that didn’t place me directly behind the basket. I ended up getting the front row of Section 8. This game me some elevation over the court and a decent angle. But I was behind the basket enough that some of the shots were obscured by the board.

I was able to use my new Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. I found that fast glass was nice. I still had to bump up the ISO setting in order to get the speed. I played around with different shutter speeds and ISO settings. I finally ended up using 1/1000th of a second at ISO-4000.

It was a pleasure to use my lens. I was able to get some great close ups of the action at both ends of the court. With this being my first time out doing such photos I have a lot to learn and a lot more experimenting with shutter speeds and ISO settings before I find myself at a happy place.

For fun I took some photos with my Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-135mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS STM and Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM. A couple of those are also in this post.

#24 Josh Hawkinson of the Cougs prepares for tip off.
#24 Josh Hawkinson of the Cougs prepares for tip off.

Jsoh Hawkinson #24 denies Payton Pritchard #3 with a basket.
Jsoh Hawkinson #24 denies Payton Pritchard #3 with a basket.

A wide angle shot for Jack Friel Court.
A wide angle shot for Jack Friel Court.

Josh Hawkinson #24, Robert Franks #3, Charles Callison #23, Malachi Flynn #22, and Ike Iroegbu #2 wait near center court for the referees to determine the outcome of a play. A player from the Oregon Ducks was ejected from the game and Hawkinson would be awarded free throws due to the foul.
Josh Hawkinson #24, Robert Franks #3, Charles Callison #23, Malachi Flynn #22, and Ike Iroegbu #2 wait near center court for the referees to determine the outcome of a play. A player from the Oregon Ducks was ejected from the game and Hawkinson would be awarded free throws due to the foul.

Josh Hawkinson #24 sinks this free throw.
Josh Hawkinson #24 sinks this free throw.

Ike Iroegbu #2 and Malachi Flynn #22 on defense against Casey Benson #2 of the Ducks.
Ike Iroegbu #2 and Malachi Flynn #22 on defense against Casey Benson #2 of the Ducks.

Payton Pritchard #3 of the Ducks is being guarded by Jeff Pollard #13.
Payton Pritchard #3 of the Ducks is being guarded by Jeff Pollard #13.

Kavell Bigby-Williams #35 of the Ducks tries to reach over Jeff Pollard #13 for the ball.
Kavell Bigby-Williams #35 of the Ducks tries to reach over Jeff Pollard #13 for the ball.

Malachi Flynn #22 shoots.
Malachi Flynn #22 shoots.

Kavell Bigby-Williams #35 of the Ducks and Ike Iroegbu #2 battle for the rebound.
Kavell Bigby-Williams #35 of the Ducks and Ike Iroegbu #2 battle for the rebound.

Malachi Flynn #22 is driving the ball up-court.
Malachi Flynn #22 is driving the ball up-court.

Jeff Pollard #13 shoots a layup in the midst of Tyler Dorsey #5 (behind Pollard), Chris Boucher #25, and Jordan Bell #1 of the Ducks.
Jeff Pollard #13 shoots a layup in the midst of Tyler Dorsey #5 (behind Pollard), Chris Boucher #25, and Jordan Bell #1 of the Ducks.

Dean Hare -- a real professional photographer!
Dean Hare -- a real professional photographer!

Malachi Flynn #22 drives up-court with Casey Benson #2 following and Roman Sorkin #41 preparing to engage.
Malachi Flynn #22 drives up-court with Casey Benson #2 following and Roman Sorkin #41 preparing to engage.

Casey Benson #2 and Dylan Ennis #31 of the Ducks playing defense against the Cougs. Malachi Flynn #22 stands at the top of the key watching to his left.
Casey Benson #2 and Dylan Ennis #31 of the Ducks playing defense against the Cougs. Malachi Flynn #22 stands at the top of the key watching to his left.

Jordan Bell #1 dunks the ball for the Ducks.
Jordan Bell #1 dunks the ball for the Ducks.

Charles Callison #23 drives through the key with Payton Pritchard #3 playing defense.
Charles Callison #23 drives through the key with Payton Pritchard #3 playing defense.

KJ Langston #10 dribbles the ball down-court. I like this shot because the ball looks flat.
KJ Langston #10 dribbles the ball down-court. I like this shot because the ball looks flat.

KJ Langston #10 in full stride with three Ducks running after him.
KJ Langston #10 in full stride with three Ducks running after him.

Steven Shipreyregin #12 shoots over Charlie Noebel #10 of the Ducks.
Steven Shipreyregin #12 shoots over Charlie Noebel #10 of the Ducks.

The final score was 66 - 85. The Ducks pulled away in the last quarter of the game. Up until then it was very evenly matched.
The final score was 66 - 85. The Ducks pulled away in the last quarter of the game. Up until then it was very evenly matched.

High School Football – Newport vs Inglemoor – October 7th, 2016

On October 7th, 2016 Newport High School located in Bellevue, Washington traveled to Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell, Washington to play Inglemoor High School.

I had just rented two telephoto lenses to test for the weekend.
– Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens
– Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

I have been favoring the 100-400 lens but I wanted to try both before I purchased one.

As it turned out my brother invited me to my nephew’s football game. It was a perfect opportunity to try both lenses. I used one in the 3rd quarter and the other one during the 4th quarter.

I love having the 400 zoom but I also noticed I had to really crank up the ISO in order to get some of the photos. I love the fact the 70-200 is faster glass and I get better photos.

After today’s test the 70-200 has made up some ground. Unlike most posts, this album will not have specific descriptions with each photo.

A little more about the game. Inglemoor has had a rough time at football recently. In fact this season it sounds like they are oh-for. Newport was looking to keep Inglemoor in the losing column. With merely 3:39 to go in the game Newport had a one point lead. But they were unable to hold on in the final minutes of the game. They allowed Inglemoor to score two times in the final three plus minutes to win 40 – 28.

Newport High School at Inglemoor High School. Inglemoor wins 40 - 28.

2016 Goosetown Softball Tournament

The first weekend after Independence Day each year is a wonderful softball tournament in Anaconda, Montana. It is called Goosetown and has been an on-going event for the past several decades. Hundreds of softball teams from all over the west come to compete. Games are played on every field available from Butte to Deer Lodge to Anaconda.

This season I went to play with Charles Smith’s Flip Squad softball team. The photographs in this album of the Flip Squad playing softball were taken by Jackie Lew. The lighting for that game was not the greatest for getting crisp photos. Between innings I would make some adjustments to the settings in order to be able to take photographs as the light diminished. Unfortunately, even with some of the settings they were pretty dark. I used Lightroom to lighten them but the graininess shows. Nonetheless, it was rad to have Jackie taking the photos.

All the photos in this set were taken using a Canon 70D with a Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens.

I hope by Goosetown 2017 I will have my new glass which would have made for some awesome photographs. Stay tuned for that!

Briana Young and Kiel Bates.
Briana Young and Kiel Bates.

That moment before the ball experiences a great force in the opposite direction.
That moment before the ball experiences a great force in the opposite direction.

Sandra Hunt is not impressed with the pitch.
Sandra Hunt is not impressed with the pitch.

Sandra Hunt swinging.
Sandra Hunt swinging.

Jenny McMillan ready to make contact with the ball.
Jenny McMillan ready to make contact with the ball.

Jenny McMillan making her way to second base as the second baseman fields the ball.
Jenny McMillan making her way to second base as the second baseman fields the ball.

Jenny McMillan is headed to second as the second baseman tosses the ball to the shortstop.
Jenny McMillan is headed to second as the second baseman tosses the ball to the shortstop.

Jackie Lew watches as the shortstop tries to make a play on the ball after it was tossed to her by the second baseman. Jenny McMillan is headed to second.
Jackie Lew watches as the shortstop tries to make a play on the ball after it was tossed to her by the second baseman. Jenny McMillan is headed to second.

Jessica Stapleton throwing to first.
Jessica Stapleton throwing to first.

Elsa Olney pitching.
Elsa Olney pitching.

Elsa Olney prepares to pitch.
Elsa Olney prepares to pitch.

Solid-looking swing.
Solid-looking swing.

Jessica Stapleton in mid-swing.
Jessica Stapleton in mid-swing.

The third baseman looks intently at her target.
The third baseman looks intently at her target.

Josh McKinstry -- The Man!
Josh McKinstry -- The Man!

If you're the baserunner, this doesn't look good.
If you're the baserunner, this doesn't look good.

Someone is fixin' to get tagged out.
Someone is fixin' to get tagged out.

Jenny McMillan at first base with a hard hit ball coming down the line. The runner on first base had to jump out of the way.
Jenny McMillan at first base with a hard hit ball coming down the line. The runner on first base had to jump out of the way.

Ryan Brown watching some women's softball action in his brand new Goosetown hoodie.
Ryan Brown watching some women's softball action in his brand new Goosetown hoodie.

Jenny McMillan is ready to catch the ball at first base.
Jenny McMillan is ready to catch the ball at first base.

Jackie Lew makes contact.
Jackie Lew makes contact.

Third baseman goes back and catches the pop-up.
Third baseman goes back and catches the pop-up.

Jessica Stapleton watches the shortstop fire the ball to turn two.
Jessica Stapleton watches the shortstop fire the ball to turn two.

The first baseman prepares for the ball.
The first baseman prepares for the ball.

Sandra Hunt safely on base.
Sandra Hunt safely on base.

Jackie Lew prepares for her next AB.
Jackie Lew prepares for her next AB.

Jenny McMillan at the plate.
Jenny McMillan at the plate.

Shortstop making a sliding play.
Shortstop making a sliding play.

Shortstop makes a sliding play on the ball and quickly gets up to make a play at second base.
Shortstop makes a sliding play on the ball and quickly gets up to make a play at second base.

Adrian Silva, Josh McKinstry, and Jackie Lew.
Adrian Silva, Josh McKinstry, and Jackie Lew.

Briana Young behind the dish.
Briana Young behind the dish.

Briana Young stretches her foot in order to be safe at first.
Briana Young stretches her foot in order to be safe at first.

Sandra Hunt swinging away.
Sandra Hunt swinging away.

Jordan Palmer is waiting for the ball to cross the plate.
Jordan Palmer is waiting for the ball to cross the plate.

Josh McKinstry about to unleash on the ball. Sucks to be the ball.
Josh McKinstry about to unleash on the ball. Sucks to be the ball.

Jordan Palmer watching the play at first unfold.
Jordan Palmer watching the play at first unfold.

Bobby Purkhiser making the play at first.
Bobby Purkhiser making the play at first.

Thomas Alkire makes contact with the ball.
Thomas Alkire makes contact with the ball.

Jared Evenson swinging away.
Jared Evenson swinging away.

Jordan Palmer is feeding Adrian Silva.
Jordan Palmer is feeding Adrian Silva.

Adrian Silva going to turn two!
Adrian Silva going to turn two!

Thomas Alkire going back for the catch.
Thomas Alkire going back for the catch.

Jordan Palmer with his eye on the ball.
Jordan Palmer with his eye on the ball.

Kiel Bates headed into third.
Kiel Bates headed into third.

Kiel Bates is safe at third.
Kiel Bates is safe at third.

Josh McKinstry -- it looks like he works out too!
Josh McKinstry -- it looks like he works out too!

Bobby Purkhiser unleashing on the ball.
Bobby Purkhiser unleashing on the ball.

Charles Smith -- yes he works out.
Charles Smith -- yes he works out.

Adrian Silva is tracking the ball.
Adrian Silva is tracking the ball.

Thomas Alkire is at the plate, Bobby Purkhiser is at the on-deck circle, Kiel Bates, Brian Gaede, Josh Mayson and I are waiting our turn to bat.
Thomas Alkire is at the plate, Bobby Purkhiser is at the on-deck circle, Kiel Bates, Brian Gaede, Josh Mayson and I are waiting our turn to bat.

Jared Evenson is showing his 'war face'. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman would be proud.
Jared Evenson is showing his 'war face'. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman would be proud.

Adrian Silva preparing to make the catch.
Adrian Silva preparing to make the catch.

Jared Evenson firing the ball from the outfield.
Jared Evenson firing the ball from the outfield.

Jared Evenson making a catch in the outfield.
Jared Evenson making a catch in the outfield.

Tim Kreuch, Adrian Silva, and Josh Mayson between innings.
Tim Kreuch, Adrian Silva, and Josh Mayson between innings.

Jordan Palmer and Charles Smith.
Jordan Palmer and Charles Smith.

Brian Gaede stepping to the plate.
Brian Gaede stepping to the plate.

How much do you want to bet the ball goes foul?
How much do you want to bet the ball goes foul?

Kiel Bates is ready to unload.
Kiel Bates is ready to unload.

Tim Kreuch in full swing.
Tim Kreuch in full swing.

Kiel Bates getting back safely.
Kiel Bates getting back safely.

Jordan Palmer making contact.
Jordan Palmer making contact.

Kiel Bates watching for base coach Charles Smith to give him a sign.
Kiel Bates watching for base coach Charles Smith to give him a sign.

Adrian Silva with a stretch.
Adrian Silva with a stretch.

This was a flyball to left-center field, caused two players to collide, they were on the ground for a period of time... and the guy who caught the ball held on to it.
This was a flyball to left-center field, caused two players to collide, they were on the ground for a period of time... and the guy who caught the ball held on to it.

When your hits will not drop even though the players do.
When your hits will not drop even though the players do.

Jordan Palmer's dance moves.
Jordan Palmer's dance moves.

Adrian Silva fielding a ball thrown in from the outfield.
Adrian Silva fielding a ball thrown in from the outfield.

Tim Kreuch and Jordan Palmer preparing for the next pitch.
Tim Kreuch and Jordan Palmer preparing for the next pitch.

Josh McKinstry looking back over his shoulder on his way to third base.
Josh McKinstry looking back over his shoulder on his way to third base.

Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- with some photoshoppin' happenin'.
Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- with some photoshoppin' happenin'.

Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- B&W style.
Jordan Palmer, Jared Evenson, and Me -- B&W style.

Jordan Palmer is wound up like a rubber band that is about to explode!
Jordan Palmer is wound up like a rubber band that is about to explode!

Jordan Palmer fires a ball across the infield.
Jordan Palmer fires a ball across the infield.

Adrian Silva fielding the ball thrown in by Kiel Bates.
Adrian Silva fielding the ball thrown in by Kiel Bates.

Jordan Palmer watching the ball into his glove.
Jordan Palmer watching the ball into his glove.

Josh McKinstry making the play at first.
Josh McKinstry making the play at first.

Jordan Palmer fields a ball thrown in from Josh McKinstry in the outfield.
Jordan Palmer fields a ball thrown in from Josh McKinstry in the outfield.

A ball is hit between Tim Kreuch at 3rd and Jordan Palmer at SS.
A ball is hit between Tim Kreuch at 3rd and Jordan Palmer at SS.

Preparing for my next AB.
Preparing for my next AB.

Cougar Country Nadirs Premiere Softball April 20th 2016

The Cougar Country Nadirs Premiere Softball team played in the first playoff game of the Spring 2016 WSU Intramural (WSU IMs) season. The game was played at the Valley Road Playfields – Field C. We were the home team. Unfortunately we were playing very shorthanded. We only have eight players going against a team that we had not played before. As it turned out the team was a bunch of hitters. I lost count of the number of balls they hit to the fence. They also did have a couple homeruns. It made for a long night as the Nadirs were eliminated from the playoffs in round one.

I was unable to play due to my recovery. So I decided I would try to take photos. The fields were lit with field lights. It is not incredibly bright. I talked to my friend Dean Hare about shooting these photos. As far as shutter speed I had read that 1/500 is the slowest I would want to go for sports. I asked Dean what ISO setting I should use. He suggested I needed to use the one that would get me the photo. What I found was that with a shutter speed of 1/500 I used an ISO setting of 10,000. Even then the photos were still sort of dark. What’s worse is the photos are pretty grainy. This was my first attempt at doing such a shoot and I found the results are not quite what I would have hoped for. There are a few photos in this collection that I like but overall I feel like they are too grainy and too “snapshot-ish” for what I would have liked.

As I mentioned already these photos were taken with a shutter speed of 1/500 sec (mostly), ISO-10000, and various focal lengths. I used my Canon 70D with a Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens.

Manager Ryan Miller delivering a pitch and Randy Jobs looks on from Second base.
Manager Ryan Miller delivering a pitch and Randy Jobs looks on from Second base.

Brant Johnson in the beginning of his swing.
Brant Johnson in the beginning of his swing.

Jalen Barnes focuses on the ball as he starts his swing.
Jalen Barnes focuses on the ball as he starts his swing.

Curtin Calhoun as he is completing his swing.
Curtin Calhoun as he is completing his swing.

Tom Sanford in Centerfield comes towards a ball bouncing on the ground. Shortstop-Third Baseman Cam Gale makes he way out for the cut.
Tom Sanford in Centerfield comes towards a ball bouncing on the ground. Shortstop-Third Baseman Cam Gale makes he way out for the cut.

Brant Johnson starting his swing as the ball is headed towards homeplate.
Brant Johnson starting his swing as the ball is headed towards homeplate.

Tom Sanford takes a big step as he prepares to unleash great power on this unsuspecting ball.
Tom Sanford takes a big step as he prepares to unleash great power on this unsuspecting ball.

Manager Ryan Miller pitched a ball a little up and inside. The batter looks doesn't look back as Curtis Calhoun prepares to catch the ball.
Manager Ryan Miller pitched a ball a little up and inside. The batter looks doesn't look back as Curtis Calhoun prepares to catch the ball.

Cam Gale looks up at a ball hit to the fence. It bounced once on the field turf and is making its way over the outfield fence at the 298' mark for a ground-rule double.
Cam Gale looks up at a ball hit to the fence. It bounced once on the field turf and is making its way over the outfield fence at the 298' mark for a ground-rule double.

Curtis Calhoun reaches inside to catch the pitch. But the batter already caught it. I slowed my exposure time down to 1/15 sec hoping to make a nice artsy photo.
Curtis Calhoun reaches inside to catch the pitch. But the batter already caught it. I slowed my exposure time down to 1/15 sec hoping to make a nice artsy photo.

Manager Ryan Miller is swinging at a pitch. I slowed my exposure time to 1/50 sec hoping to get an artsy kind of action shot. Instead... I got a blurry photo.
Manager Ryan Miller is swinging at a pitch. I slowed my exposure time to 1/50 sec hoping to get an artsy kind of action shot. Instead... I got a blurry photo.

Bryce is floating on air as he rounds third base. The third baseman is in the act of cleanly getting the ball from the outfield on a bounce.
Bryce is floating on air as he rounds third base. The third baseman is in the act of cleanly getting the ball from the outfield on a bounce.

Bryce rounded third and the third baseman cleanly got the ball. He is crouched and ready to strike.
Bryce rounded third and the third baseman cleanly got the ball. He is crouched and ready to strike.

WSU Football Spring Practice – April 7th

I made plans to get some photos today but I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. I was thinking possibly some sunset shots, but it was far from sunset. I wanted to go to the CUB on the WSU campus for lunch and to work on my column. I figured it would be a great excuse to be on campus and get some photos of some buildings. I would like to get pictures of buildings and views that will be going away. For example the old WSU Fire Station (currently used as a police station) will be razed (partially) for an expansion of the Fine Arts building. The Stadium Way/Main Street entrance to campus was updated with new rock walls and signs. It is very nice.

I digress.

I walked out of the CUB towards the roof of the Terrell Library. It has some pretty nice views and happens to overlook the WSU football team’s practice field. As it turns out they were practicing. I grabbed my camera and started to take photos. After a few minutes a guy shows up and lets me know that I am okay to come to the field and take all the photos I want but they are asking I do not take photos from the roof. Live and learn. The man said they were going to be going to Martin Stadium soon. He gave me a roster and invited me to come on to the field and get some action shots.

I went down to Martin Stadium and started to take photos. This was my first time using my camera to do sports. I was learning as I was there. Due to the lighting on the and the low sitting sun I had to change my settings a lot. My goal for the photos was to have action shots that froze the action. My camera can do 1/8000 of a second for a photo.

Overall I found when I was taking a photo of action taking place in the bright sunlight I had my exposure time between 1/1250 sec to 1/2000 sec with ISO-400. Some of them were taken at with an exposure speed of 1/1000 sec to 1/1250 sec with ISO-640. Most of the photos I took in the shaded areas had exposure settings of 1/640 sec to 1/800 sec with ISO-800.

The majority of my photos were taken using my Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-135mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS STM. A couple wide angle shots were taken with my Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM.

The photos in the gallery are a sampling of the photos I captured. I hope that I can get better at getting the good angles for sports shots in the future. Unfortunately several rad shots were ruined because I wasn’t in the right spot when the photo was being taken so I didn’t get the detail I wanted.