Day 201: Speedy Lights

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/2, 1/40, ISO 800)

Quick post for this one.  Had a couple shoots coming up for the next two days, so figuring that I may want a little extra light, I went and rented myself an SB-800 for a week.  If I had a choice, I think I'd still opt for an SB-900.  Most folks would think I'm nuts, what with the value you can get with the SB-600 and SB-800, but for me... the interface on the SB-900 is just so intuitive.  Not to mention the fact that I'm sold on the simple things like a dedicated gel holder and the fact that the diffuser can go over that.

What can I say?  I'm a sucker for gimmicks.  More to come.

Day 200: Ultimate Mondays

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~120mm, f/4, 1/500, ISO 250)

We head into this Ultimate Monday with something never before seen, a two-game winning streak.  The weather was good, morale was high, and more importantly, the Slip-N-Slide was out in force. 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~160mm, f/3.5, 1/320, ISO 800)

Things unfolded the same way they usually did as far as I can recall.  A slow start by the Quick Dumpers, but I held out some hope.  After all, they were bound to get their second wind after half-time right?  Well, I think they did to some extent, they certainly played a lot better than they did in the first half, but I think today was just an off-day. 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~92mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 1000)

In the end, the Quick Dumpers weren't able to make up the deficit, but all-in-all, it was a good time.  I too, felt like I caught my second wind during the game.  Most of my keepers, and the photos you see here are from the second half of the game, when I started to really crank the frames.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~120mm, f/4, 1/500, ISO 250)

As for the Slip-N-Slide?  Well, it's no longer undefeated.

Day 199: Easy Goings

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/9, 1/200, ISO 200)

Debated spending the day at home on this day, but figured I could kill two birds with one stone and meet up with some friends that I haven't seen in a couple weeks, or in one case - last season.  T'was of course, a CCSA game.  Playing was Richmond Hill Chinese Baptist Church Dunamis, a team that I got to know quite well due to the good relationship between then and ETCBC's junior team from last season, Klastos. 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/9, 1/200, ISO 200)

Umpiring were two of my friends from another team, Nick (very top) and James (above).  I'm not quite sure how Nick and I met, but I believe it happened at a Dunamis game last season, whilst he was umpiring (go figure).  I think he made a comment about my camera, and somehow we spun that into a conversation from there.  Later that season I also found out that he is in the same class as my good friend Michael.  I had met James during a local softball tournament (Formosan) that some of my CCSA peers were taking part in during last year's civic holiday.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~70mm, f/2.8, 1/4000, ISO 200)

At some point, a few folks from Themelios and Ekklesia also converged on the location, many of us knowing people on Dunamis as well as James from last year's Formosan/CCSA season.  Didn't really pay too much attention to the game, there was already another photographer there ripping it up with a D3 and 70-200 VR II, so I felt little pressure to get anything done.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 130mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 200)

Overall though, a good time just to hanging out and catching up with some friends that I had not seen in a while.  As I've said a couple times this season to a few folks: I come for the sport, but I stay for the people.

Day 198: Sunny Side Up

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/4, 1/2500, ISO 400)

Tis another Saturday of softball.  More after the break.

Day 197: Two For One

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, Multiple Exposure, See Below)

Loitered outside with a few Ekklesia folks after bubble tea into the wee hours of the morning, and somehow wound up experimenting with the multiple exposure setting on my D90.  Eventually came across this post by Joe McNally on his blog.  Shot some test frames, went to bed, woke up, and continued experimenting until I got the shot above.  Both exposures were shot at ISO 100 (L 1.0 on the D90).  The first exposure was somewhere in the realm of 2 to 3 seconds, at f/11.  The key here - as described by Joe - is that the "camera sees only what you light".  So with the first exposure, I 'painted' that beam of light, with a small LED flashlight.  No background light made it into the scene.  For the second exposure, cranked up the speed to 1/200 to kill any potential ambient, and then fired the flash remotely, via CLS on TTL.  Seemed pretty cool, but can't wait to try it out on real subjects.  It'll have to wait though, as Ekklesia has games the following day.  

More on that in the next post.

Day 196: Practice Thursdays

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~160mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 640)

Yeah.  More catch-up posting!  Sorry folks, last few days have been incredibly busy.  This particular Thursday, like many other Thursdays have been relatively the same.  Drills, thrills, and batting practice.  I think I've hit the point in the summer where I start to experience mid-season burnout.  Up until the day this post was supposed to be written (July 15th), I will have attended ten practices and seven games.  Factor in about two hours time for each.  Thirty-four hours of shooting time, with probably at least a couple thousand frames during that span (with a couple hundred keepers to show for it).  At this point, it's the people that keep me going.

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/1.8, 1/50, ISO 1000)

 Above is Albert Kong, intensely grilling one of the younger players - Justin (off-camera) - in a 'game' referred to as "Would You Rather".  Long story short, it involves presenting an individual with two names (someone they'd know) of the opposite gender, and having them choose only one.  What determines/influences the choice is up to the individual.  A few of us went to a bubble tea place afterwards, where said game continued, and much loitering took place after that.  Though I don't generally have much to say during these loitering sessions (I'm a newcomer to the ET community, I don't follow sports, nor do I have a long and illustrious CCSA history), it's interesting to sit back and just listen.  

It helps me understand who I'm taking pictures for, and why I continue to do what I do.

Day 195: Downtime

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/2.8, 1/60, ISO 200)

Spent the day (mostly) at home.  Went out for a bit to check out some potential gear, as well as a little location scouting for an upcoming shoot.  No purchases were made... yet.  Sorry this day and the day prior were really short, but I am in need of a little downtime after the last two weeks.  Don't worry, your regularly scheduled Practice Thursday will be coming up in the next post!

Day 194: Editing Tuesday

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/2, 1/40, ISO 800)

Annnnnnnd, we're back to the usual downtime on Tuesdays.  Though this one in particular was a lot more productive than the last few 'Catch-Up' Tuesdays (as evidenced by amount of blog posts).  Managed to get through most of the photos taken over the past weekend.  

At least I can say I got something done. :~)

Day 193: Ultimate Mondays

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~200mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 320)

We're back to Sunnybrook for the next couple of weeks on Ultimate Mondays.  Woohoo to not needing to fumble with insane ISOs! 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~120mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 320)

Rather uneventful game, though of the opposite nature as last season.  There were no pulverizations this time around, just solid Quick Dumpers play that earned them a win.  My boredom was also subsequently compounded by the fact that I was both hungry and somewhat tired.  Of course, being summertime... "tired" really means like seven hours of sleep (somewhere, someone has just finished rolling his/her eyes and groaning loudly). 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 92mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 500)

Thus, as has been the case a few times already since May, the question came up as to whether or not I'd play.  Rather than shoot it down like usual, I pondered and answered "possibly".  By far the biggest impact that would have is the fact that it wouldn't be "Ultimate Mondays" anymore with tons of pictures on the blog.  Rather, it'd probably be something like "I'm So Damn Tired From Running After a Disc Mondays", with a picture depicting just how terribly exhausted I am.  Still, the prospect of playing would be interesting.  I have absolutely zero athletic ability, having not played any sports since Phys Ed class in Grade 9.  Tossing a disc around has probably been the most 'athletic' thing I've done in the last few years, as I actually have played with a handful of friends in the only piece of greenspace at Ryerson, known as "The Quad".  In conclusion, the reality of me getting active may very well occur, with Ultimate likely being a huge chunk of that.  We'll see though.

(Nikon D60, 35mm DX, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 200)

However, there is one thing that might stop me from doing so.  I probably would not have caught the off-field moment above of Darren and Alice during a line change.  Being a purely dedicated photographer has that benefit afterall.  Those are the moments that are just as important as someone laying out for a disc, diving for a fly ball, or crushing a pitch over everyone else.

That, is the moment it clicks.

Day 192: Rolling Thunder

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~70mm, f/4, 1/2500, ISO 400)

Three games, one day.  More after the break.

Day 191: In Good Spirits

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~160mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 200)

Softball, Surprise Birthday, Smelly Tofu.  Thankfully, they're not all related.  More after the break.

Day 190: In The Works

(Nikon D90, 18-55 VR @ ~18mm, f/5.6, 1/13, ISO 400)

So, by now it should be no surprise that I'm pretty bad with keeping up with this blog, especially during the summer, but I assure you there's a pretty good reason for it this time.  I just can't quite tell you what (it is photo-related though), since it's not ready.  Please bare with me!  I'll try to get this sorted out as soon as possible!

Day 189: Practice Thursday

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~120mm, f/4, 1/640, ISO 640)

After skipping the prior week's practice (which had been moved to the Wednesday of that week, due to Canada Day), we're back to regular ol' Practice Thursdays!  Although, in true Practice Thursday fashion, the usual took place.  Drills, batting practice, and the what not.  Rather than bore you to death with text you've probably read already, I'll keep this one short and let the photos do the talking!

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~92mm, f/4, 1/2000, ISO 400)

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 100mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 400)

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 200mm, f/4, 1/640, ISO 640)

Day 188: Onto The Roaring Twenties

I don't actually wear contacts, so it's unlikely you'll catch me in public looking like this.
(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/8, 1/160, ISO 100, Flash @ 1/4 Manual through softbox)

It's been about five years since I've really celebrated my birthday in any significant capacity.  So far, this year seems to have followed that trend.  Went out to dinner with my friend Elizabeth, which in itself was rather ad-hoc and unplanned.  She did however, purchase me a pair of shirts as a gift - the green one that I'm wearing in the photo as well as a black t-shirt.  Her rationale for the green polo was that I was "lacking colour" in my wardrobe, to which I would not contest.  All of my shirts and pants to date have been blacks, whites, beiges, shades and tones of blue, greys, and the sporadic dark green.  It does fit well though, and I dig the colour, so kudos to you Elly for that! 

It's been a pretty busy week so far, and it doesn't look like it's going to let up for at least a few days.  This wasn't quite the situation a couple months earlier, where I was basically wasting away my days doing nothing.  In some respects, I think these last ten weeks have seemingly unfolded much like the last ten years of my life.  Of course when I was ten, I didn't think much the same way as I do now, when I am twenty.  Back then, 'liking' girls was still taboo amongst school circles, computer games were my entire life, and 11 PM was considered late.  Now, I find myself waiting for the opportune moment to find 'her', photography, school, and friends are my life, and 4 AM is normal or "still enough time to finish that damned essay I've been holding off for way too long". 

To say that the past decade has been a smooth ride though would be incorrect.  Well, partially.  Right up until 16 was for the most part, smooth.  I was doing well in school (generally) and usually in good spirits, though somewhat anti-social.  17 and most of 18 were definitely the 'turbulent teen years' with lots of headbutting, low grades, and crying oneself to sleep at night; it certainly has been the lowest point in my life so far.  The tail end of 18 and 19 by contrast, was generally more of an 'up' year.  Things were certainly on the rebound.  A fresh start in school, discovery of a passion, and a niece who - by now old enough to do more than just eat and sleep - continues to amaze me every time I see her.  Looking back, with the exception of perhaps the previous year, I have no real desire to go back in time and relive my teens; I'm quite happy to leave that behind.  I'm ready to forget the past and move on forward.  My future career on the other hand, is not as obvious and at present is still a mystery.

If you had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up ten years ago, I would tell you that I wanted to be a Computer Engineer, and that I'd want to study at either Ryerson University (though it wouldn't be known as Ryerson University until 2002), the University of Toronto, or the University of Waterloo.  How times have changed.  I'd have to say that my parents had a significant influence on my career choice back then.  It was typical for an Asian family I suppose.  Life back then was so much simpler.  Now I find myself staring down two parallel roads where one is bound to end at some point down my career path.  On one hand an almost certainly rock-solid and steady career in the field of IT development and related business solutions, on the other a potentially lucrative but risky career in photography where I myself am the limiting factor.  To say that I haven't thought about changing lanes and concentrating on one in the last few weeks would be a lie, though to say I have made a firm decision would also be a lie.  To be honest I intend on waiting it out for a couple of years, finishing my degree before I decide what to do.  Whether or not I utilize that piece of paper is something I can't determine since it's hard to pinpoint where I will be photographically at that point because that part of my life is advancing so rapidly.  As an example,earlier this week I was asked to shoot a wedding reception for a friend.  I've practically all but said "yes, I'm in", but ask me the same question six months, or a year earlier and I would think nothing of it, immediately dismissing the notion because photography back then was just 'a hobby'.  Speaking of this hobby, ten years ago, digital photography was barely in it's infancy with early models like Nikon's D1 and D100 series and Canon's D30 and 1D cameras just emerging into the marketplace whilst the majority of shooters were still using film.  Now we have full lines of digital cameras both large and small, and film has all but fallen out of favour with the mainstream crowd.  Don't even get me started on pixels and ISOs.

As with my future with photography, my future in general is pretty hard to determine.  The past few nights I've been lying awake wondering where I'll be in ten, or even five years.  Will I be a full-fledged photographer?  Will I have a wife and child(ren)?  Will I be living in Toronto, in a condo or in a house?  Where will digital photography be?  Will I be shooting with kilos of heavy equipment at ISO who-gives-a-damn?  Will the likes of Chase Jarvis, Joe McNally, David Hobby, Zack Arias, Scott Kelby and so-on and so-on still be around in the world (I honestly hope so), lending their expertise to all who will listen?   Where will my family be?  What will my parents do once they retire?  What will Katelyn be like?  Will I have more nieces and nephews?  Will this blog even still exist?!  Those are just a sampling of random thoughts that drift by my head at break-neck speeds during these times of reflection.  The past is equally uncertain in this regard.  Have I done enough in my life?  Is there something I regret doing, or not doing?  I don't like setting long-term goals, because I feel that life often changes so much that by the time the deadline rolls around, the circumstances for which you originally set that goal have changed.  I do, however have a few that I intend to achieve within the next five to ten years.

In no particular order:

1.  Graduate from school.  I intend on getting that damn piece of paper, so that I can earn a little extra freedom in my life, and a few extra dollars in my pocket.

2.  Get my full driver's license.  My parents and brothers are probably going to be *all* over me on this.  I intend on doing it at some point in the future, but not in the immediate time.  There's just too much going on now to have to cram in driving lessons and fender benders.

3.  Advance my photography.  This is probably the riskiest of the mall.  The top two are pretty much certain to happen.  To ignore my photography, which more and more people keep complimenting by the day though, would be a serious mistake.  Maybe in ten years there won't be a full-fledged Winston Chow Photography (or perhaps Winston Chow Media?), but I'd still like to be shooting the seasonal events or odd-job gig.  

4.  Pick up vital life skills.  I've been spoiled for pretty much my entire life.  I don't do my own laundry, my ability to cook is limited to toasting and microwaving things, and I don't understand jack about financing or the bank other than the putting money in and taking it out part.

So there you have it.  Another sprinkling of my life before I turned twenty, and some of the possibilities of how it might turn out in the coming years, with a touch of 'the present' added in.  

The only way now is forward, so onwards we go!  Well, wait... let me put on my glasses first.

Day 187: Practice Tuesday

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~70mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 200)

Practice Tuesday?  Yup.  Had some extra time, and figured I should turn out to a Themelios practice since I haven't gone in a few weeks.  Helming the team is my friend Elijah, pictured below.  He, along with a handful of other CCSA veterans like my high school friend Jon T (JT) are leading this new team.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 200mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 200)

Not much to talk about for this particular day.  Just a typical practice.  The usual drills, and my introduction to a majority of the team.  Their first games are this weekend.  One on Saturday, two on Sunday.  Definitely will have more to report then.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 640)

Day 186: Ultimate Mondays

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~120mm, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 2500)

New season, same Ultimate Mondays.  What I would only presume to be the 'summer' season kicked off for the Quick Dumpers this past Monday.  They've stepped down into the Recreational Division, which theoretically would mean there will probably be fewer outright blowouts and more intense games.  If Monday's game was any indication, we're off to a good start.  Above is Wesley Leung (pictured a couple days back during the Ekklesia games) who subbbed in for the team, attempting to block a pass. 

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~130mm, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 2500)

For the most part, the game seesawed back and forth between both teams.  The Quick Dumpers seemed to get off to a slow start, trailing by one point at the half, but managed to turn up their game in the second half, taking the lead and running away with it, eventually securing a well-deserved first win of the new season.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 105mm, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 2500)

Photography-wise, I continue to be blown away by the power of the D90 as a stills camera.  I had previously stayed away from shooting at ISO 2500, but in a pinch, it seemed to work out for these photos.  There's still evidence of noise, but that's been minimized by nailing the proper exposure.  Though the team won't be returning to Cherry Beach for a couple of weeks, hopefully the next time we're there, I'll crank it to 3200 just to see what I can get away with.  Next week we'll be heading to Sunnybrook, which means there won't be much of a need for high ISOs, as much as bug repellant.  Erk!

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~160mm, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 2500)

Day 185: Hard Line

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 86mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 200)

Softball shifted back to Wigmore this past weekend.  Mother Nature in turn decided to really crank up the temperature, leaving the entire city in the midst of a heat wave.  Still, regardless of the weather, Ekklesia would play on, black jerseys and all.

(Nikon D60, 18-55 VR @ 55mm, f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 200)

For the most part, it was a fairly standard affair, from a photographic viewpoint.  No particular shots that really broke the mold on what I usually shoot, though being there was still pretty fun.  I did find that I had a bit of trouble shooting from the third base line as the sun started to set though, and so spent the majority of the second game from the first base line.  A few more pictures from the doubleheader:

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 200mm, f/4, 1/500, ISO 200)

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~70mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 200)

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 170mm, f/3.2, 1/1000, ISO 640)

I did however say that 'for the most part', this was a standard affair.  There was a relatively painful flashpoint in the middle of the first game though.  After a year and a half of shooting softball, I finally got hit.  Now, before you start panicing, I assure that I am okay.  No broken face, bones, "jewels", or camera equipment.  Whilst shooting from the third base line, I "caught" a hard hit line drive from one of Ekklesia's infielders, Wesley (pictured at the very top) of the post.  As you probably might notice, he's got pretty big arms and a good swing, so this was by no means a dinker.  Below is where I got hit, in the rear right side of my waist/upper butt.  At least he got a semi-meaty area, rather than say, my legs, arms, or D60 that was handing at the same level.

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/4, 1/50, ISO 800)

I hardly even saw it coming.  I always make sure I keep an eye on the batter, either through the lens, or with my peripheral vision.  If my field of view were to be treated on an X/Y-axis basis, when a ball is hit I will either see it move across the x-axis (indicating it went either to centre, or to left/right field, depending if I'm standing on the first/third base line, respectively), or along the y-axis (indicating it's coming in my general direction, relative to the line).  This particular line drive, did neither.  It practically stayed at (0,0) on a coordinate grid.  I was able to catch a flash of light green (the ball), long enough to realize it was heading straight towards me.  Failing to physically move my position, reflexes kicked in and I started turning, trying to shield my head in the process.  Luckily, my D60 hanging off my shoulder swung with me, clanking against the D90 and 70-200 around my neck in my front torso.  It was then that I felt the hard impact in what I initially thought was my buttocks.  I didn't go down, but I managed to scare practically everyone on Ekklesia.  Albert Kong ran out of the dugout screaming "NOOOOOOOO", then clutched my cameras to make sure they were okay (all in good fun).  Not much in the way of injury aside from the bruise, thankfully.  I took a couple minutes to settle, and then went back to shooting.  For the rest of the day, folks kept asking how I was doing.  I think I can say for certain, that this will be the only time in my life that so many people will be concerned about my butt. :~)

The worst part about all this?

It was a foul ball.

Day 184: Shootout

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 200, Flash @ TTL)

Spent the day at an early-birthday celebration for my friend Vanessa, pictured above.  It was a very small gathering, consisting of just her, our friend Vicky, and her boyfriend Dalton.  We spent a good chunk of the day at the beach, and then moved back to Dalton's house in the evening, to take advantage of an empty space in his basement and his SB-600 to shoot a few frames of Vanessa (above).  I had my Lastolite softbox with me the whole day and so we were able to go for a two-light setup, though the above was just my softbox and SB-900.

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/5.6, 1/80, ISO 200, Flash @ See below)

Above is both flashes on TTL with Group A and B respectively at +2.0 EV.  Triggered via the built-in flash on the D90, which Dalton had as well.  Good times and good fun.  Whilst we were at the beach, also had a chance to shoot some people on jet skis.

(Nikon D90, 18-55 VR @ ~55mm, f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO 200)

Keeping this one short.  More to come.

Day 183: Me, Myself, and I

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 86mm, f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100)

So, what happens when you're incredibly bored?  You shoot yourself of course!  Well, at least I did.  Was really just experimenting with the softbox a bit.  Positioning, lighting, and what not.  Not really much to show.  A lot of it was pretty much a learning experience.  Hopefully you'll see something later today or tomorrow though.  Sorry, but you don't get a picture of me that easily. =)

Day 182: Oh, Canada!

(Nikon D90, 18-55 VR @ 18mm, f/5.6, 1/15, ISO 800)

July 1st, 1867.  The day Canada was born.  To celebrate, a bunch of my friends and I went down to, or rather up the CN Tower, once the world's tallest free-standing structure.  More after the break.

Day 181: The Calm Before

(Nikon D90, 35mm DX, f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 200)

You may have noticed the last few posts have been pretty slow and/or 'meh'.  Worry not.  The next two to three weeks are going to pick up quite significantly.  So in addition to probably being backlogged, I will at least have something fairly decent over that period.  

More to come, very soon.

Day 180: Top-Down View

(Nikon D90, 18-55 VR @ 18mm, f/3.5, 1/25, ISO 400)

Oh yeah.  Nothing like beating a dead horse.  Another picture of my new desk... just to showcase how much extra room I have (and why I'm quite happy).  The whole bottom right corner of the photo used to not be desk.  It used to be floor... so I've practically gained almost double the space over my old desk, in addition to a larger pull-out drawer. 

It's been a few days though, and I've managed to not make a significant mess though.  Woohoo!  Keepin' this one short.

Day 179: Ultimate Mondays

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~145mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 500)

 Today was the final game of the season, though it hardly felt like it since the Quick Dumpers would be kicking off the following season next week.  Despite the high morale coming off from last week's win, the team wasn't able to win this game. Though like several of the previous games, it was clear to me that the team was continuing to improve.  For one thing, it wasn't a complete massacre on the scoreboard.

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~130mm, f/4, 1/4000, ISO 200, +0.2 EV Post)

 Though the team seemed to get off to a slow start, they eventually managed to pick up the pace. The beginning saw a lot of back-and-forth play, with both teams managing to stay quite close to each other scorewise.  Eventually though, the other team managed to break away, but as the gap in the score continued to rise, so did the Dumpers' morale.

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ ~112mm, f/4, 1/500, ISO 640)

As the game progressed, practically every Dumpers player "turned it up a notch", playing much more aggressively which resulted in several points.  Every play drew cheers.  Every play bled passion.  Every play was not a quick dump.  In spite of the loss, they gave it their all, and held their heads high for the next season, as any team should.  Their passion fuels my passion.  My passion, is to capture their passion.  This is why I shoot.

 (Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 1600)