Lacrosse

A few weeks ago I photographed my first Lacrosse game. I will be the first to admit that I know nothing about this sport other than it was invented by native americans. I went into it thinking it would be hard to photograph for two reasons, first because of the face masks and second because of the size of the ball and the pace of the game.

I was pretty happy with what I got but I'd love to hear from those of you who shoot this more than I do as well as players to see what you think.

Air Force Men's Gymnastics vs Illinois

While I have had a chance to photograph women's gymnastics several times for the Academy, this was the first time I covered men's gymnastics.



U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Senior Garrett Canter competes on the pommel horse during the Falcons home finale against Illinois-Chicago at the cadet gymnasium Mar 7. The Falcons set a new team record, beating their previous record of 342.55 which was set last year in Arizona, but fell to Illinois-Chicago 348.60 - 346.45. Canter scored two career best scores on the still rings (14.00) and the high bar (13.85). (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)



U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Freshman Thomas Wilkinson competes on the pommel horse during the Falcons home finale against Illinois-Chicago at the cadet gymnasium Mar 7. Wilkinson scored a career-best 13.65 on parallel bars. He also set career-best marks in his other two events, Pommel horse with a score of 12.95, and high bar with a 13.85. The Falcons set a new team record, beating their previously set record of 342.55 which was set last year in Arizona, but fell to Illinois-Chicago 348.60 - 346.45. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Senior Garrett Canter competes on the still rings during the Falcons home finale against Illinois-Chicago at the cadet gymnasium Mar 7, scoring a career best 14.00. The Falcons set a new team record, beating their previously set record of 342.55 which was set last year in Arizona, but fell to Illinois-Chicago 348.60 - 346.45. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)

Men's basketball vs San Diego Aztecs

These are from a few weeks ago but here are a few shots I liked from the Men's basketball game vs the San Diego Aztecs.

U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Avery Merriex, a senior guard for the Falcons drives toward the basket as San Diego’s Billy White, a junior forward, defends during the Falcon’s game against San Diego Saturday, March 6 at Clune Arena. Air Force fell to San Diego 61-42. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Evan Washington, a junior guard fights toward the basket as San Diego’s Kawhi Leonard, a freshman forward, defends during the Falcon’s game against San Diego Saturday, March 6 at Clune Arena. Air Force fell to San Diego 61-42. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)

When the light isn't in your favor

Freshman Britany Calley performs balance beam during the Falcons home tri-meet against Southeast Missouri State and Seattle-Pacific in the Cadet Gym February 20. Air Force placed second in the team competition with a score of 188.00. Southeast Missouri came in first with 194.05 and Seattle Pacific finished with 187.075.

What do you do when the light is against you? There are many situations which I find irritating as a photographer but crappy lighting is probably my least favorite situation to find myself in. Now some people would say that they don't mind bad lighting because they can creating their own lighting with strobes, and I don't really have a problem with that argument. Except in a few cases. This is one of them. I have a love hate relationship with Gymnastics at the Academy because of where they compete; the cadet gym, which is one of the worst lit locations I have every photographed in. To make this situation more difficult I can't light gymnastics in any way out of concern for the athletes safety (which is a totally legitimate concern, and I would not want to put any of our athletes in a position where they could become injured because of me). I wish though that the lighting were better for a sport that lends itself so well to great pictures. I'm not sure how to keep the quality of the image while overcoming the lighting issues. How do you handle tough lighting situations where strobes are not an option? (All photos copyright US Air Force Academy, J. Rachel Spencer 2010)

Women's Gymnastics

Recently I got the chance to photograph women's gymnastics at USAFA which was both really irritating and very rewarding. I did get some shots that I liked, but the lighting in the gym they compete in is a photographers worst nightmare! Thank goodness for the D700 which made it possible to still capture a few shots. Here are some of my favorites. (All photos copyright US Air Force Academy, J. Rachel Spencer 2010)

U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Head Coach Doug Day helps correct junior Brittany Dutton’s body position as she practices vaulting before the meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Junior Holland Davis vaults for the Falcons during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Senior Michelle Denise (left) is embraced by teammate Holland Davis, a junior, after competing on the uneven bars during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Sophomore Jenna Dudley holds a pose while competing on the uneven bars during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. Dudley finished in the top five of every event and placed second in the all-around with a score of 38.425. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Sophomore Jenna Dudley does a backflip while competing on the balance beam during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. Dudley finished in the top five of every event and placed second in the all-around with a score of 38.425. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Freshman Tara Harris holds a pose during her floor routine during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)