4/26/2012 --- Orange Coast College v. Irvine Valley College Baseball --- Costa Mesa, CA: Bijan Rademacher (#28) slides into home adding another run to the Orange Coast College Pirates 5-2 win over Irvine Valley College. Photo by Elaine Villaflores, Sports Shooter Academy (c)

“Out of the 4 days of intense training, there was one event that stood out to me: baseball.”

By Elaine Villaflores

Last fall I attended the Sports Shooter Academy to improve my sports photography, build my portfolio, and most of all work with a great lineup of instructors.  It was the most intense four days of photography I had ever experienced and to be honest I was a bit overwhelmed.

At one point I was a bit frustrated that I was not able to create the images I wanted. One of the instructors saw that I was struggling and came by and gave great pointers, advice and most of all encouragement. I really appreciated that the instructor took the time to give feedback and it really pushed me to produce better images.

By the end of the workshop, I felt that my sports shooting had improved in just a few days. While I had gotten better, I knew there was much more I needed to learn.

Sports Shooter Academy IX held in April had a truly amazing line up of instructors. But most importantly to me, it featured many different sports on the schedule that I have not shot before. Sports like baseball, rugby, track and field and a session with Dave Black on high-speed shutter action photography. I knew I had to make another trip to Southern California.

4/26/2012 --- Orange Coast College - Irvine Valley College Baseball ---Costa Mesa, CA: Orange Coast College Pirates 3rd baseman jumps over an Irvine Valley College base runner as he tries to tag him out. Photo by Elaine Villaflores, Sports Shooter Academy (c)

Out of the 4 days of intense training, there was one event that stood out to me: baseball. People in the room kept saying: “Don’t fall asleep at baseball!” I had never shot baseball before so I was not sure what to expect. But one thing I knew for sure: I would think of the experience as a challenge and soak up as much information and advice I could.

The instructors a the Orange Coast College – Irvine Valley College game were John McDonough and Shawn Cullen, who both work for Sports Illustrated.  I was really excited to work with both of them.  While Shawn was helping some of the other photographers with their remote setups, I was soaking up all the words of wisdom from John.

He gave us his insights on where to position ourselves on the field, how to read the different plays and most important of all, he said look for the emotions and details of the game. These words of advice really struck home with me.  John said: “Use your cameras to tell the STORY of the game.”

Once the game started, I went around the field looking for different angles and perspectives always with an eye toward storytelling. John came by to talk about the game and asked if I had any questions. he was also interested in what I had shot, so we did a little “chimping”.

In the end, I was very happy with my images and feel comfortable shooting baseball in the future.

One of the reasons why I come back to the Sports Shooter Academy workshops is the photographers that are on the faculty. Their tips and the immediate feedback are invaluable… you’re out covering these sports and they are right there to help. The nightly critiques also helped me improve over my past workshop experiences. It was nice to hear from one of the SSA instructors he felt that my photos improved from the last year.

Thank you Sports Shooter Academy faculty for the advice, confidence, and for giving back!

(You can view samples of Elaine’s work at her Sports Shooter member page: http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=9548)

Sports Shooter Academy instructor John McDonough of Sports Illustrated, checks in with workshop participants, including Elaine Villaflores (right) during the Orange Coast College - Irvine Valley College baseball game. Photo by Christy Radecic, Sports Shooter Academy (c)

4/26/12 - Irvine Valley College and Orange Coast College players react as the umpire calls the base runner out during a baseball game between Irvine Valley College and Orange Coast College. Photo by Luke Johnson

By Luke Johnson

(Note: First in a series.)

Going into Sports Shooter Academy IX the one thing I really wanted to learn and take back with me was an understanding how to set up a remote camera.

On the first day I was intent on learning as much as I could about remotes, so I decided to shoot the Irvine Valley – Orange Coast College baseball game.

SSA instructor John McDonough checks out the Luke Johnson's remote. Photo by Christy Radecic, Sports Shooter Academy

One of the important things about remotes that instructors stressed, was arriving early to the game. This gave me the time to look around the stadium in search of the perfect spot to hang my remote. I decided to mount my camera on the third base side, aimed at home plate.

With the help of SSA instructor Shawn Cullen, I attached my Nikon D700 and a 70-200 zoom to the fence along the 3^rd base line using a Manfrotto Arm and Super Clamp.

Another thing that we were taught is to never think of a remote as a sure thing. Even if you’re prepared, there’s a lot that could go wrong.

I pre-focused on home plate, hooked up a set of PocketWizard Plus III radio triggers and just hoped for the best.

A while later in the middle of the game, I was shooting on the opposite side of where my remote was located and I saw this play begin to develop at the plate. I quickly grab my PocketWizard, smash down the trigger, just praying that it’s receiving on the other end.

Luckily it did.

(Thanks to SanDisk and Nikon for sponsoring the prizes for the photo of the day.)

Luke Johnson at the Irvine Valley - Orange Coast College baseball game. Photo by Christy Radecic, Sports Shooter Academy

By Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter Academy

The saying goes “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

For me, the Sports Shooter Academy turns that saying on its head. This workshop keeps me young and I always learn … a lot.

So with apologies to David Letterman, here are:
Top 10 Things I learned (or relearned) at Sports Shooter Academy IX

Workshop faculty member Mike Goulding with a order of chili cheese fries at The Hat. Photo by Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter Academy

10 I love the The Hat’s chili fries (but it sure doesn’t love me!)
9 The Nikkor 200-400mm zoom is the IT lens
8 Rugby players are the toughest SOBs out there

Stephanie Moebius had her smile on throughout Sports Shooter Academy IX. Photo by Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter Academy

7 Biggest smiles of the week: Stephanie Moebius
6 We need to start off the workshop with eliminating P from the alphabet (NO PROGAM MODE!)

Sparring at La Habra Boxing Club. Photo by Swikar Patel

5 Projects live! (i.e. Swikar Pitel shooting a cool picture story at the La Habra Boxing Club)
4 I am going to fix the Chinese Fire Drill that is the event signups (I promise!)

Looking over workshoppers' images is a highlight. Here I am looking over images with Carrie Jesenovec and Merrian Lucando (far left). Photo by Christy Radecic, Sports Shooter Academy

3 Looking at workshoppers’ images makes me re-fall (is that a real word?) in love with photography
2 I’ve grown more patient over the years … but I need a bit more
1 Chimping is the biggest stumbling block to shooting

There are many people and companies that make the Sports Shooter Academy work and simple thanks is not sufficient in thanking them. But I can at least acknowledge them and give them all a big shout out…

The faculty, staff and speakers educated and inspired us all: Wally Skalij, Rod Mar, Shawn Cullen, Michael Goulding, Myung Chun, Sean Haffey, John McDonough, Dave Black, Christy Radecic, Rafael Delgado, Dave Honl, Matt Bailey and Mike Greenlee.

The #1 reason this wonderful educational program exists and continues is because of Matt Brown. His contacts, business acumen, experience, talents, sense of humor and sense of purpose drives The Academy, giving us the fuel to propel this (sometimes unweildly) bus.

Bill Pekala and Nikon provide The Academy with the resources, support and the funding that enables me to make this program tuition-free for college students. On the ground in O.C. during SSA IX Nikon’s Sara Moosebrugger, Mike Corrado and Ronal Taniwaki gave us their time, knowledge, experience and good humor. Nikon and their people share our dedication to education and photography… which is truly cool.

Nikon's Sara Moosebrugger talks to Jane Jane Gershovich during a rugby match.(Yes, both are shooting with the IT lens: the Nikkor 200-400 zoom. Photo by Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter Academy

Samy’s Camera provides the SSA with support, including marketing help and resources to help us throughout the year with planning and logistics. Thanks Sam, Louis, Terry and Patrick.

Think Tank Photo has been a part of the Sports Shooter Academy since Day One. Whatever we ask for, they provide without hesitation. Thanks Doug, Brian, Deanne and Kurt…you’re gear and your support of the SSA is the best and appreciated.

Working with remote gear is always on the top of participants’ list of what they want to learn at these workshops and having PocketWizard involved has allowed up to really amp up our teaching in this area. Thanks to PocketWizard and to Ian Ray who journeyed from Vermont to be a part of our faculty.

Sports Shooter Academy Class of 2012.

liveBooks is the SSA’s home on the Internet, providing us with a wonderful website plus they are an active part of the SSA, as exhibited by co-founder Matt Bailey’s appearance at the past two workshops. His vision and words on wisdom both inspire and educate us.

My good friend Dave Honl is always there when we hold an event, need Honl Photo gear or to have him speak. When they coined the expression cool dude they must have had Dave in mind.

Thanks to CameraBits and SanDisk for providing their wonderful products for us to give to the workshop participants.

And lastly … I am able to continue working on the Sports Shooter Academy because of the Deanna and Emma. Their unending devotion to me and my work isn’t deserved but I continue this crazy notion of “giving a little something back” to photography because of them. This workshop is always devoted to them.

(Robert Hanashiro is USA TODAY’s west coast staff photographer. He is the founder of Sports Shooter and co-founder of the Sports Shooter Academy.)