FEBRUARY 23, 2008 - Houston Dynamo’s Chris Wondolowski and Gamba Osaka’s Tomokazu Myojin battle for control of the ball in the second half of the championship game of Pan Pacific Championship soccer at Aloha Stadium. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 400mm f2.8, Manual, 1/640 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

The Pan Pacific Soccer championship went down the other night at Aloha Stadium. I’d never shot “pro” soccer, so I was looking forward to seeing what it was all about.

I arrived at the stadium and picked up my credentials by the ticket windows. There was a photo transmission room where we could set up our stuff and hang out before the game.

I was handed a bib and a list of photo guidelines we were to follow while shooting the games. The main thing was that we were not allowed to switch sides during play. We would have to choose which goal we wanted to shoot from and stay there the whole half.

Of course, the big deals were Beckham and Ching, so I needed to be behind the goal they were shooting at.

Photogs (in delightful “MEDIA” bibs) are taken to mid-field for the coin toss.

About ten minutes before the start of the game, we were all herded to center field where we could get photos of the teams.

Nothing I really needed, but I did need to be there for the coin toss after which it would be revealed which side we needed to shoot from. After we found out, we had to run to the end of the field to get into position behind the metal ad boards which ringed the pitch.

Play was fast. It took me a while to get acclimated to how fast they ran and how far they kicked. And they played hard. Lots of pushing and shoving. It was great fun to shoot.

FEBRUARY 23, 2008 - LA Galaxy’s Bryan Jordan and Sydney FC’s Tony Popovic tangle in the second half of the third place game. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 400mm f2.8, Manual, 1/640 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

Watching Beckham was fun. Everytime he got anywhere near the ball the crowd would go nuts. He’d do a short pass and people would go bananas. When he’d take a corner kick, people would flock with cameras and cell phones, or just stand there and gawk.

FEBRUARY 23, 2008 - LA Galaxy’s David Beckham takes a corner kick in the second half. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D , EF-S 70-200mm f2.8 (at 70mm), Manual, 1/500 sec, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

There quite a few photographers attending. And a lot of long lenses. We were all packed in behind the ad boards, with not a lot of room between us. I chose to shoot from near the corner thinking I could get a clearer shot of anything happening in front of the goal. But every so often when everyone switched to their 70-200mm lenses (throwing the big lenses over their shoulders) I’d get a nice out-of-focus lens hood in my frame.

Shot on goal somewhere behind someone’s lens hood.

When the first game was over, the photogs were trapped in our area until all the players left the field. This threw a small monkeywrench into my photo filing scheme, since I knew I had to be back out in time to do the midfield coin toss thing so I could be on the right side to shoot Brian Ching. But I still had to edit and transmit from the first game. I had about 20 minutes. Fun.

Beckham wandered around on the field, and eventually went over and handed his jersey to some kid in the stands (The shot conveniently blocked by TV). I shot some photos of him as walked off the field.

Gratuitous shirtless Beckham shot.

I made it out in time for the second game coin toss, and got down to business of trying to get stuff of Ching.

FEBRUARY 23, 2008 - Houston Dynamo’s Brian Ching dribbles past Gamba Osaka’s Mineiro in the first half of championship game. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 400mm f2.8, Manual, 1/640 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

Soccer always has good jubilation. I always think of watching it on TV when the announcer yells “GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!” and the player runs around like a chicken without its head.

I was glad when Gamba Osaka’s leading scorer went wild after a goal.

FEBRUARY 23, 2008 - Gamba Osaka’s Bare celebrates after scoring his second goal against Houston Dynamo in the first half. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 400mm f2.8, Manual, 1/640 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

It was a fun night. Hopefully we’ll get more pro soccer here in Hawaii.

FEBRUARY 17, 2008 - Chelsea Clinton was the center of attention at a democratic rally for Hillary Clinton at Ryan’s Grill at Ward Centre. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D , EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 (at 10mm), Aperture priority, 1/125 sec at f/3.5, ISO 1600, Auto white balance

So Chelsea Clinton was in town doing the stump thing for her mom. It was finally my time to be on Chelsea patrol Sunday when she was to make an appearance at some affair at Ryan’s Grill at Ward Centre. “Alright,” I thought, political fun and a bar all rolled into one. My kind of deal.

I got there early and hung out on a bench outside, pondering my fate. I’d heard that Chelsea doesn’t talk to the media, but is free game for photos. The bar area is tight, and when I finally walked in to scope the joint out, there were throngs of people at tables while servers delivered orders. I could just see myself knocking a jug of wine out of someone’s hand as I jockeyed for a photo.

The microphone was being set up in a corner, bathed in backlight. Clinton would either be a silhouette, or she’d be properly exposed, but the backlight would be blasted. Could have a holy effect. Or look like garbage. I started to think of plan B.

At this point I suppose someone got the word that the light was awful, and a bunch of support people started taping Hillary signs to the window. Problem solved.

Then the action started. I saw Dan Inouye and his fiance approaching the restaurant, so I went towards the door to get into position. They came in and I was getting shots of them shaking hands and getting leis. Then Chelsea came in, and the throng burst into applause.

FEBRUARY 17, 2008 - Senator Daniel Inouye and his fiance Irene Hirano talked with Chelsea Clinton. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D , EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 (at 10mm), Aperture priority, 1/80 sec at f/3.5, ISO 1600, Auto white balance

I was in the right place since Inouye was still near the entrance. There was some small talk and they tried to walk in deeper into the place.

Of course, people there were in a froth trying to get close to Chelsea, and I was trying to backpedal to give them room. I wasn’t going anywhere. A strange tension was developing, and I was trying to keep my distance. TV was off to my left and had their light on which was nice since the place was a black hole and I wanted to avoid using a flash.

A handler came up and started to asking us to back up. I was trapped and getting nervous. I didn’t want to provoke them, so I ducked out and ran to the back.

The mob surged forward. Everyone had cameras and pens and hopes and dreams. I did a hail mary from behind, then decided I’d loop around to catch up with Inouye who was working the crowd. I figured Chelsea would do the same, and I’d let her come to me.

Eventually it turned into a log jam, so I decided I’d get into position for the speech. Whatever that meant.

TV had set up directly in front of the mic, but I opted for an opening to the side. The photos would be a little more dynamic, and I could be that much closer without seeming “too close.” And it worked out well when Inouye introduced Chelsea.

FEBRUARY 17, 2008 - Chelsea Clinton is introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye at a democratic rally for Hillary Clinton at Ryan’s Grill at Ward Centre. Behind is Colleen Hanabusa. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D , EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 (at 22mm), Aperture priority, 1/50 sec at f/4.5, ISO 1600, Auto white balance

Everyone huddled around as a server came up behind me to deliver some cocktails. They looked good. I wished they were for me.

FEBRUARY 17, 2008 - Supporters watch Chelsea Clinton speak. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D , EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 (at 10mm), Aperture priority, 1/200 sec at f/3.5, ISO 1600, Auto white balance

With this side angle I was also able to get some tight, nicely lit portrait-type deals of her speaking. A light had been set up and was placed behind the TV cameras. From their angle the light was almost direct, but from where I was shooting it was at a good angle.

FEBRUARY 17, 2008 - Chelsea Clinton speaks. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f2.8 (at 200mm), Aperture priority, 1/250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 3200, Auto white balance

After she finished a brief spiel, there was more glad-handing and autographs and photos. I stuck around for a little longer just in case.

A good time had by all.

FEBRUARY 11, 2008 - Parking lot. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f2.8 (at 70mm), Aperture priority, 1/8000 sec at f/4, ISO 400, Daylight white balance

Another installment from the inadvertent files… this time from the parking lot of Kapiolani Community College as I made my way to shoot chef Nancy Oakes at the culinary arts school.

FEBRUARY 09, 2008 - Mid-Pacific’s Marc Obando celebrates after scoring against Kapa’a’s goalkeeper Parker Blaylock in overtime (penalty kicks) to win the DII HHSAA Championship at Waipio Soccer park. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 400mm f2.8, Manual, 1/500 sec at f/2.8, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

I’ve been shooting the state high school soccer championships the last few weekends out at Waipio soccer park. Soccer’s a fun sport to shoot, since there’s almost always action going on.

But it’s also a sport in which little, if any, scoring can happen.

This was the case for the boys’ games Saturday night.

If the score is tied at the end of regulation, there’s a 10-minute overtime round. Then, if the score is still tied, there’s a second 10-minute round, with the first score winning outright. Then, if it’s still tied, it comes down to a penalty kick round of five kickers from each team taking turns shooting on a goal keeper. It’s all the marbles at this point. The team with the most goals takes the win.

When it became obvious that this game was going to be decided with penalty kicks, I decided I wanted a photo that would tell the whole story in one frame. I wanted both kicker and goal keeper in the same frame, so I went to the opposite end of the field, and was able to get both in.

Most of the pictures were simply kicker with flying goal keeper. Good enough, but I was hoping for a little more drama.

It came on the last kick with so much emotion from both players. Classic thrill of victory/agony of defeat.