Well, I’m back in Honolulu after a long trip back from The Big Easy. Sitting here at the Stan Sheriff waiting for a UH men’s v-ball game to get rolling.

It’s nice to be back. But it was a really good experience to see what it’s like in the world of “real” bowl games.

There were a ton of photogs out there at the Sugar Bowl. But since there were so few yahoos on the sidelines, unlike the average game, it was pretty easy to get a place to shoot.

A pack of photogs huddle in the end zone. There were lots of people in yellow jackets around there to remind us about “the yellow line.”

The light in the dome was really nice. And it was great to be indoors since it was like, in the 40s outside. And it was loud. The Georgia fans have all their cheers down, so when they start shouting chants in unison, it’s pretty impressive.

A tale of two Georgia mascots

January 01, 2008 - Georgia defensive end Marcus Howard (38) sacks Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan (15) in the first quarter of the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Manual, 1/800 sec at f/4, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

I was getting a little worried about Colt Brennan. I’d never shot him getting sacked so many times. And they were brutal.

January 01, 2008 - Georgia cornerback Asher Allen (2) and Hawaii wide receiver C.J. Hawthorne (2) both lunge for a pass (neither caught it) in the third quarter of the Sugar Bowl . Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Manual, 1/800 sec at f/4, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, it was time for the post-game scrum. I decided to take off after Colt, shooting various celebrations along the way.

January 01, 2008 - Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan (15) walked across the field after losing to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/500 sec at f/3.5, ISO 1600, Fluorescent white balance

When I found him, it didn’t look good. He looked dazed, and, well, un-Colt-like. I followed him for a while, then ran off to start transmitting.

We had to fly out of Houston at 8:20 a.m. on Jan. 02, so we grabbed our stuff and started the drive back to reality…

We’re about 2 hours to game time. Kick-off is set for 7:47 p.m. here at the Superdome in New Orleans.

We caught the media bus from the hotel out here about two hours ago, and have been shooting some fan stuff outside the dome, where it’s probably in the low 50s but a strong wind adds a nice bite. Inside it’s probably in the mid-60s or so.

The work room is in the bowels of the stadium, right off to the side of the field. High-speed internet connections for all!

There are quite a bit of photogs milling around. 400mm 2.8 lenses all over the place. AP has a whole stable of photogs. Looks like it’ll be a zoo out on the field.

We’ve been told that we have to kneel “as a courtesy to fans in the lower seats.” Of course, I left my kneepads in Honolulu. I “borrowed” a bath towel from the hotel to use as some kind of cushion.

Okay… gonna go hunt for some food now…

As game day approaches, more media seems to be showing up at the press conferences.

Today was relatively light, just two pressers with the head coaches.

We all wait around in a room, then a coach gets ushered in. No TV cameras to deal with since the Sugar Bowl guys shoot it and distribute it to all the stations who want it.

The still shooters can roam around the room and work whatever angles they want.

I stayed far today with a 400mm and Jamm did wides and medium shots.

There was the obligatory “photo op” with the coaches and trophy.

It’s always entertaining to see the photo scrum from afar.

Tonight there are a bunch of Hawaii fan parties that we’ll be shooting. Looks like another long day.

DECEMBER 27, 2007 - Georgia head coach Mark Richt talks to the media at a Sugar Bowl press conference at Marriott in New Orleans. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Aperture Priority, 1/13 sec at f/5, ISO 200, Tungsten white balance

I’m just wrapping up sending in the day’s take to the newsroom.

We got started with a press conference with the head coach of Georgia. The press conference room at the Marriott (which is also press central, and our home for the week), is nicely appointed with ample lighting (tungsten balanced).

A smattering of journalists sat there and asked questions through microphones held by little helper people. It was pretty stock… the standard talking head affair.

I shot for about 15 minutes, then ran upstairs to my room to transmit. It’s nice being four hours ahead of Hawaii. There was nobody home when I sent my first round of photos. Low pressure, indeed.

Then we all jumped aboard “The Media Shuttle” (a large tour bus) for the ride to the Georgia team practice at the Superdome. I’d seen it since I was a kid watching Saints games on TV, then there was Katrina, then U2 last year. And now I’m walking into the bowels of the place.

It’s huge. And metallic. And shiny and renovated.

DECEMBER 27, 2007 - Star-Bulletin sports editor Paul Arnett, left, looks across the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/320 sec at f/3.5, ISO 800, Fluorescent white balance

Walking from the tunnel, I could see how bright the field was. Like sunshine.

This is no Aloha Stadium pit of crusty doom.

This is ISO 800 at 1/800 f2.8.

And it was big.

Ample room on the field, although a bit tight in the endzones. And the field turf stuff is all virginal.

I can’t wait to shoot the game here next week. Shooting with the 600mm f4 will be no problem.

Oh, and as for the “Media Center,” I’ll tackle that one tomorrow…

DECEMBER 23, 2007 - Boise State’s Toshi Franklin pulled in a pass in front of East Carolina’s Pierre Bell, but was out of bounds in the second quarter of the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture Priority, 1/2000 sec at f/4, ISO 500, Daylight white balance

It was Hawaii Bowl time yesterday. Most of the game was during daylight, so it was good to be able to shoot with the 600mm f4 at lower ISO numbers than I usually do at those night UH games.

A lot of running plays during the game though, so it was nice when there was a nice pass play that came my way from Boise State.

Too bad the guy was out of bounds.

Oh well, the game was a good warm-up before the Sugar Bowl next week.

Me and Jamm Aquino and three writers will be heading up to New Orleans to cover this game of games. We leave Christmas night on the red-eye to Phoenix and points beyond. I’ll be writing as much as possible along the way, so be sure to check in and see what we’re up to.

There were two assignments the other day at the same time. Both at UH, both at the athletic department, so I took them thinking, “ah, no problem.”

Shoot the band prepping for their trip to New Orleans, then zip over to the practice field to shoot some FB practice.

Well, I showed up at Cooke Field a little early, and noticed a few band members doing what appeared to be sectionals. I opted to wait for the full band, and went back to my car. When I came back a bit later, not a soul was on the field.

“Whoa, they disappeared. Like magic,” I thought.

I called the band office. Nobody there. I called the features section at the paper. No clue.

Hmmm…. I guess I’ll head to the football field and get Lafaele, as requested by sports.

Of course, when I get there, he’s off in some remote nook of the practice field. Since the media is only allowed on the strip mauka of the field, it was impossible to shoot him where he was. I kind of “wandered” near where he was, but was promptly shooed away by some security guard.

I hemmed and hawed as I pondered my fate.

Then I heard the band off in the distance.

They had arrived.

Okay, I’ll head over there and shoot them and come back to the practice field afterward.

I got to the swank black rubber glory of Cooke Field, and started to soak up the band ambience.

I was in the UH band (symphonic wind ensemble) back in my collegiate days, but alas never joined the marching band. I instead often found myself on the football field as a photog for Ka Leo O Hawaii, the student paper. So it was nice being around the band this time. I felt myself reliving my musical youth vicariously through them.

The light was nice, since it was late in the afternoon, and I decided to milk the low sun and shadows.

DECEMBER 14, 2007 - Janice Kunishige conducts the band at Cooke Field as they rehearse for the upcoming Sugar Bowl trip. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Aperture priorityl, 1/640 sec at f/9, ISO 200, Daylight white balance

I wanted the sun behind the conductor, so I was hunched down behind her, about four or five feet behind. I was using a super-wide lens, so I had an expansive view of what was going on, but it probably didn’t look that way to others. Here’s some dude with a camera at posterior-level taking pictures… looks real… uh… interesting, I’m sure. Luckily I’ve long gotten past worrying what people think of me.

I noticed the tuba players had some cool shirts on, so I followed them around for a while.

It’s all about the Tuba Love.

Then it dawned on me I still had to get something from football practice. So I took off for the practice field.

As I walked on the scene, all the players were walking off the field. Oh geez, practice is over. I have no photo.

I started thinking of excuses I could feed the sports editor.

I was starting to sweat at this point, but noticed my man Lafaele in the back of the mob of players walking my way. Hmmm… I’d better try and pop something off of him, I might be able to grab something after all.

DECEMBER 14, 2007 - UH football player Michael Lafaele walks amongst teammates at practice at the UH practice field. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 300mm f2.8, 1.4X teleconverter, Aperture priority, 1/800 sec at f/4, ISO 640, Daylight white balance

Luckily I found this. And although practice wasn’t really over, that photo ended up being better than the stuff I later got of him running drills.

DECEMBER 01, 2007 - Hawaii’s Michael Washington is hoisted by the crowd after victory over Washington at Aloha Stadium. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/500 sec at f/3.5, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

Holy mackerel.

UH takes it all, and Aloha Stadium goes ape.

What a game. It was all the marbles for UH against Washington.

Things didn’t start out too well for Hawaii. There were missed passes, and the ball appeared to be slicker than the proverbial greased pig.

DECEMBER 01, 2007 - Hawaii’s Jason Laumoli fumbles after being tripped up by an unidentified Washington player. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/640 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

So, Washington starts tuning up UH in the first half, and my first thoughts are, “whoa, nelly, this is gonna be a long game. Get ready for tears and angry fans.”

At the end of the first quarter, I had resigned myself to shooting Washington. There were some Hawaii dudes playing on the team, and I wanted to shoot art of them, since they were dominating at that point. Hawaii was falling apart, so I thought at this point I’d better start getting Washington action.

DECEMBER 01, 2007 - Washington’s Louis Rankin is forced out of bounds by Hawaii’s Myron Newberry in the second quarter. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/640 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

DECEMBER 01, 2007 - Washington’s Jake Locker takes a snap against Hawaii in the second quarter. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/640 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

Things were looking bleak. But then Santa hit the field! Yay, Santa! Well, it was some dude dressed up in a Santa suit anyway. I was surprised at how long they let him prance around on the field.

Hey look! It’s Santa!

Santa gets hustled out by HPD.

With about 4 mins left in the first half, I retired to the photo room to send what I had so I could be out for the start of the 3rd quarter.

I had a feeling UH was going to pull out yet another miracle, so I started focusing on them again.

DECEMBER 01, 2007 - Hawaii’s Joshua Leonard gets an arm on a kick by Washington’s Ryan Perkins in the third quarter. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/640 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

But eventually I knew it would turn to emotions, so I was focusing on both fans, and the team.

UH up and scores in the final minutes, and at this point I made the decision to drop the 600mm and get ready for zoomanity. Then Washington up and does a few hail marys to end up in the far endzone. Too far away to shoot, so I’m just watching, slack-jawed.

I’m starting to get ready mentally for OT, but then there’s an interception in the far endzone.

At this, I think, “whoa lordy, here we go again…” and start booking it out to the field. Oh wait, there’s three seconds left. We’re all hussled off the field, and I wait for the knee.

Then all hell breaks loose.

It was worse than last week. There was an air that the players, while happy, didn’t want to really celebrate, rather wanting to wait until the Senior Walk to follow. I latched on to Colt and followed him waiting for something.

As I was backpedaling, I saw a photog come out from my left trying to get in front of me. I immediately grabbed him and threw him out of the way. Turns out it was fellow S-B shooter Dennis Oda. Sorry Dennis.

DECEMBER 01, 2007 - Hawaii’s Colt Brennan is mobbed after victory over Washington. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/500 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

Colt wanted to get off the field, and there were dudes trying to part the Red Sea. To no avail. Then I saw some clown come from behind and try and rip the helmet off Colt.

Weird times.

Those scrums are no fun at all. A lot of photos are useless with arms and hands in the lens, then there’s the failed Hail Mary factor as well where nothing’s in focus and, well, there’s no focal point to the photo.

Things were falling apart fast at this point. There was no real jube, and things felt forced. I decided I’d bail and head back to send the photos.

November 23, 2007 - Hawaii’s Karl Noa kisses the WAC trophy on the field after Hawaii’s win over Boise State at Aloha Stadium. Hawaii clinched the WAC title with the win. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/500 sec at f/3.5, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

That UH/Boise State game was wild. One of the best games I’ve been fortunate to shoot.

The hype leading up to the game was epic, and once I got onto the field before the game I knew it was going to be something special. It was like “real football.” The crowd was loud, the action was good, and the place was rocking.

It was nice that the game started early, giving us two hours of nice light on the field. Especially nice, since I always use the 600mm f4 at the games, which is on the dark side (of the moon) during night games.

As usual, Colt was gonna be the dude, so I wanted to try and get something of him reacting to throwing a touchdown. I usually stand in the endzone since the sidelines are so crowded during games. It’s seems every Tom Dick & Harry is on the UH sidelines, and this game was especially bad.

Wonderfully crowded sideline.

I wanted to be on the side towards the UH bench, since I figured Colt would look that way when something happens. Of course the sideline was stuffed with people just standing there. I needed the photo, and the light was nice (good backlight), so I just forced my way up front. Most were understanding, but some gave me some not-nice-looks. Sorry dude, I’m actually working here, not just “enjoying the game.”

November 23, 2007 - Hawaii’s Colt Brennan reacts after throwing the first TD against Boise State in the first quarter. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/1300 sec at f/4, ISO 800, Auto white balance

Colt threw the TD and made a small reaction, but it lit my candle. Of course it fueled the fire in the stands, and the place went nuts. It’s way cool to hear Aloha Stadium going insane. It’s been a while since the fans were this fired up.

November 23, 2007 - Hawaii’s Jacob Patek slips by Boise State’s Jeff Cavender after Patek intercepted the ball in the first quarter. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/1000 sec at f/4, ISO 320, Auto white balance

While the light was nice at the stadium in the afternoon, there are chunks of shade all over the place. So you never know what any given lighting condition is when the action comes your way. I just threw the camera on Aperture, and let it do the work. I was just shifting the ISO as plays moved down the field. Once less thing to worry about.

November 23, 2007 - Hawaii’s Jason Rivers pulls in a pass over Boise State’s Brandyn Thompson in the first quarter. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/1300 sec at f/4, ISO 800, Auto white balance

Of course, all good things must come to an end and in the second half, it was back to the darkness of an evening football game.

November 23, 2007 - Boise State’s Jeremy Childs couldn’t hold on a pass after being hit by Hawaii’s Gerard Lewis in the third quarter. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Aperture priority, 1/800 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

As the game wore on, it was becoming clear that UH was gonna win the game. The tenor had changed from a nail-biter to elation. The crowd was starting to froth.

Then in came the riot police.

Huh?

I was looking at them as they filed in, wondering “what’s this all about?” Giant mace cans, zip-tie handcuffs, Kevlar helmets, shields, rubber bullet shotguns. It was bizarre. Are there hooligans I don’t know about? “They’re there to guard the goal posts,” I heard someone mutter. Darn, I always wanted to see goal posts get torn down. Oh well.

HPD at the ready

With about 3 minutes left, I took off the 600mm and got my wide stuff ready and headed over to the UH bench. During the game, we’re not allowed to shoot in that area, but once the celebration starts, it’s pretty much free game.

November 23, 2007 - Hawaii’s Jacob Patek hoists Myron Newberry as Karl Noa, right, cheers in the closing seconds of Hawaii’s win over Boise State. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/500 sec at f/3.5, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

I saw an empty water cooler, and some wet coaches and realized the “soak the coach” shot was down the toilet. Oh well, better luck next time. There was still plenty to shoot.

Then the game was over and the players all started running on the field. I took off after them shooting the fun. Then I heard more shouts and screams behind me. The fans were spilling onto the field like ants. It was pandemonium. Nobody was getting tuned up by the cops, so I didn’t have to worry about that angle. I just kept shooting the rabid fans. They were all over the place.

November 23, 2007 - Hawaii fans rush the field after Hawaii’s win over Boise State. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/500 sec at f/3.5, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

Off in the distance I saw the trophy being hoisted above the crowd. I plowed through the roiling masses to get in close. I was holding the straps of the 600mm and my Mark II (all I needed was someone yanking those off me) and one-handing my 20D. It’s times like these that it’s nice to be tall. I got in close and jammed my camera over the heads of everyone rushing the award area. It was like a mosh pit. It was sweaty and wild.

November 23, 2007 - Herman Frazier and June Jones hold up the WAC trophy on the field after Hawaii’s win over Boise State. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 10mm), Manual, 1/500 sec at f/3.5, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

After I got what I wanted, I plowed my way out of the scrum and went back to transmit the photos.

Good times, indeed.

October 06, 2007 - A little orange man comes in for a landing at Aloha Stadium. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 600mm f4, Manual, 1/640 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Fluorescent balance

Just keeping myself entertained during those TV timeouts at a UH football game…

October 06, 2007 - A montage of bad luck.

UH Warrior football was back at Aloha Stadium.

Clouds hung dark in the sky, and intermittent rain showers made the night wet and unpleasant. Perhaps it was some kind of omen.

Last night was “one of those nights.” I seemed to be in the wrong place at all the wrong times.

Shooting sports involves a blend of luck and skill. Sometimes you get it all, sometimes the luck well runs dry.

I knew things were going downhill when I only got a few decent pictures in the first quarter, it seemed all the plays were going to the opposite side of the field.

Or a ref would be between me and the play…

This started to become an alarming trend. I noticed more and more pictures getting spoiled by this unfortunate circumstance.

If it wasn’t a ref, it was a ball dude. Or another ref.

All I could do was shake my head.

Sometimes there’s just nothing you can do but suck it up and look forward to the next game, hoping for a better day.