Day 210: Practice Thursdays

(Nikon D60, 35mm DX, f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 200, +0.33 EV)

Practice Thursday rolls around again.  Though this time things were a little different.  Instead of regular practice, it would be an exhibition game against Dunamis.  How it all exactly came together is beyond me, though nonetheless it was an interesting experience. 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 320, -0.5 EV Post)

Ever since watching them play last year, I've always had a positive impression of Dunamis.  Not were they a great team in terms of ability, but also one with a truckload (or more) of spirit.  Ultimately it wasn't really much of a contest, though I was interested in seeing just how well they'd match up against a veteran team like Ekklesia. 

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 170mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 400)

Despite missing a couple of players, I think Dunamis fared reasonably well given the circumstances.  At it's heart is the strong core of veterans that keep the team as a whole going both on the field and off it.  Hopefully this won't be the last you'll read of this team on this blog.  There's a lot more to them than just two blog posts.  More to come.

(Nikon D90, Sigma 70-200 II @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 800)

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.