This past weekend I was in Houston, Texas shooting NHRA Spring Nationals. NHRA is by far becoming my favorite sport to photograph besides football. It pushes all your senses to the max, with the loud cars going 300 MPH, the Nitrous Oxide burning your eyes and nose and the feeling of getting blown away from the starting line as the cars launch down the track.

Khalid Albalooshi smokes his tires at the starting line.

Tony Pedregon races down the track.

NHRA fans watch from atop the grandstands.

Toyota Racing showing support for Boston

Del Worsham folds his parachute

Alexis DeJoria puts on her safety harness

Shawn Langdon, near, races along side Morgan Lucas

NHRA pro stock driver Rodger Brogden

Del Worsham sits in his car prior to a run

Antron Brown sits in his car prior to a run

Antron Brown lanches off the starting line

Crew members of Cruz Pedregon celebrate after winning the Spring Nationals

Cruz Pedregon celebrates after winning the Spring Nationals

The day has finally come! The Toledo Mud Hens will host the Louisville Bats to open the 2013 season in downtown Toledo! Just like any city with a MLB team, the whole city basically shuts down and heads downtown to to bars to drink with friends to kick off the summer!

Being a sports photographer, I never have that luxury. I spent the last few days working with the marketing and promotions team creating a list of needs for opening day. Everything from pre-game parties, fans enjoying suites and game action.

Charing all of my batteries

Bag one

Bag two for remotes:

Bag three with remote mounts and go pros:

The night prior to opening day, I spent four hours running 500 feet of ethernet cables to different areas of the ball park. This will be used on opening day and through the rest of the season. I have one ethernet drop in each of the dugouts, two on the concoure level and one in the upper deck. When I set up remotes I plug the ethernet right in to the camera and send the photos to an FTP where I can retrieve them as needed. Also I plug directly into my camera to send photos to the video room to be used on the scoreboard in between innings.

People think I am crazy for running that much cable, but I just don’t trust WIFI at stadiums or cellular data. With the amount of people at stadiums these days using cell phones it’s impossible to get anything to work.

Around 10am I head over to the stadium to shoot some features. Head grounds keeper Jake Tyler was hard at work getting the field ready.

Once the players arrived I spent some time in the clubhouse introducing my self to players and staff. I spent the last six months building up my relationship with all of the Walleye players and I am now starting all over again.

Toledo Mud Hens catcher Bryan Holaday hits in the cage prior to the game.

Jose Ortega, left, and Luis Marte play cards prior to the game. 

Gustavo Nunez warms up on a speed ladder prior to the game.

Quinten Berry runs to first base after a hit.

A few months ago the NCAA announced they would be having a regional hockey game at the Huntington Center. Spending the last 5 month shooting the Walleye and getting familiar with hockey I wanted to see if the spend of the game changed from college to minor leagues.

The game had a different type of play but in the end, hockey is hockey. 

Enjoy the photos! 

The Toledo Walleye are in the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs looking to bring home the cup, and I wanted to share some of my favorite images I have captured during the regular season!

I have been shooting professional for six years now, and I have never enjoyed shooting hockey. It’s usually hard to get around the arena, the photo holes suck, the lighting sucks, the list goes on and on. But having the opportunity to be the team photographer for the Toledo Walleye changed my perspective on hockey and pushed me to create images that people have never seen before.

I covered half of the home games. I was in charge of shooting everything and anything, capturing the experience of the arena for fans of all ages. Some games I would never shoot a frame of action, I spent the entire time making images for the marketing department to use in brochures and flyers to help sell suites for next season. This is something I have never done before and I will say it was a challenge, but looking back at it, its has help change my vision and attitude for making pictures. 

Some games, I would spend shooting only fans cheering, watching and enjoying the game. Boring yes, but I learned and viewed first peson that humans are a creature of habit. Instead of firing of 20 frames I would watch for a few minutes to see if they did the same thing twice and they  did. Then I would wait, fire off the perfect frame and move on to the next group of fans.

Others, I would hang out in the locker room with the players showing how they prepare for games. Taping sticks, getting treatment in the training room and goofing around with each other. Being able to build the trust and relationship is something that I have always cherished. It allowed me to make pictures that wouldn’t have been possible if they didn’t trust me.

The last five months have been amazing and extremely hard but looking back I produced some amazing images!

A special thanks to everyone helped me create these images.

Mike McCall
Jesus Rivera
Mike King
Paul Fretti
Nick Waclawski
Kate Schmoekel
Dan  Royer
Will Mellon
Kyrsten Kachmarik
Anthony Bellino
Bobb Vergiels
Mark Haszto
John Anderson
Logan Strack
Scott McGorty
Tyler Clark
Sarah Brenner
Nicole Foster
Sara Hudson
Ruth Gamber
Bob Middleton
Joe Napoli
Kim McBroom
Andi Roman
Mike Keedy
Cheri Pastula
Emily Croll
Greg Setola
Stephanie Miller
Brad Fredrick
Dave Aleo
Aaron Ferrante 

Enjoy the pictures!

If you would like to view more photos from the season here is the link.

http://aweber.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/Toledo-Walleye/C0000FIEXzlM.bRQ

From February 24th thru March 4th was the busiest week at The Huntington Center since it’s opened. I was talking with Mike McCall who is the Events Service Manager at the arena and he said the staff would be working extremely long hours to switch the arena from hockey to concerts back to hockey.

So I wanted to document this, but the I would actually be going on vacation. With the help of my friend Jeremy Allen we made this happen. On the 24th, we arrived at the arena to start setting up. I would be using a GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition.

I used a Joby Gorillapod to at attach the camera to the railing then I used a safety cable to secure it and then gaffer tapped it for some extra security.

That was the easy part!

Then I ran a 100 ft extension cord to supply power so it would stay on the entire time.

The GoPro would take a photo every 60 seconds for the next 9 days. I was using a 32 GB memory card and it would run out of space half way through the week so Jeremy would come and switch out to ensure we got enough footage.

Here are the stats:

8737 photos were taken in the making of this video, taking up 60.65 GB of storage space.

Shot and Edited by: Andrew Weber & Jeremy Allen

Events Shown:
- Walleye Game
- Painting the ice pink for the next game
- Setting up for Bob Seger
- Bob Seger’s first show
- Striking part of the Bob Seger’s set
- Setting up for Chris Tomlin’s show
- Chris Tomlin’s show
- Striking Chis Tomlin’s set
- Setting Back up for Bob Seger’s second show
- Bob Seger’s second show
- Striking Bob Seger set
- Setting up for the Toledo Walleye game
- Toledo Walleye Game

Then the next part of this project was setting up my Nikon D4 to get a photo of Pink in the Rink. A special promotion the Toledo Walleye have to show suppor to breast cancer. Since I would be on vacation and the marketing department wanted a photo I had to make sure they were happy!

I then ran a 200 foot ethernet cable so the photos could be transfered to a FTP server that I set up.

I tapped the port just incase it wouldn’t get pulled out by accident.

The camera would be up in the cat walk for 8 days before it would be used. Jeremy Allen would come to the arena turn the camera on and trigger the camera via a pocket wizard and the photos would be transfered to an FTP where I could view them and edit while drinking a beer on the beach and sent to the marketing department of the Walleye.

I would put a bag over the camera to keep dust off the camera.

Here is the final image that was selected!

After meeting Gator John over at Wootens, he invited Stacy and I over to Gator Adventures to watch him wrestle alligators. It’s actually not wresting its more of handling and training. I asked Gator John, if I could strap by GoPro Hero 3 to his head while he is handling them and he jumped at the opportunity! I figured it would add a unique angle.

First Gator John took me over to see this huge alligator!

Canon 1DX, 70-200mm, 1/1250th, F4.5, ISO 250

Then John was ready to do some handling. Below is John staring down the gator with the GoPro attached to his head.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1000th, F3.5, ISO 250

Below are all of the photos that were taken with the GoPro. I was extremely happy with how they turned out as it provided a killer angle that most people don’t see every day!

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1000th, F3.5, ISO 250

Here is a picture of me sticking my camera in the mouth of the alligator.

This is our fifth day in Marco Island and the weather has been absolute crap! It’s been in the 60s and rainy & cloudy 70% of the time. We have only laid out by the pool one day, so I have the weakest Florida tan ever!

Stacy and I bundled up and head out to the pier to do a little fishing! We were bored so we attached my Go Pro Hero 3 to end of a long stick so we could get photos of the fish we caught as we reeled them in!

Stacy with her fish!

Day 5 of vacation was a super cloudy and crappy day so Stacy and I decided to drive down to Wootens in the Everglades. Wootens has been around since 1953 giving all kinds of airboat and swamp buggy rides.

During the drive down I saw a Osprey nest atop of a power line.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/1000th, F4, ISO 200

I also saw another Bald Eagle.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/3200th, F4, ISO 200

Welcome to Wootens!

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/2500th, F4, ISO 160

As soon as we walked in we saw a huge alligator in a little canal next to the ticket window.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 200

We got on the airboat and were ready to roll! Our driver up top driving the boat.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1250th, F4, ISO 125

As soon as we got out in the Everglades we saw an alligator hiding in the water.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/1600th, F4, ISO 200

Once we got out in the open water the boat was hitting speeds around 55 mph

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1250th, F4, ISO 125

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1600th, F4, ISO 125

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1600th, F4, ISO 125

Check out this video of what it looks like to ride in an airboat ride.

Once we were done with the air boat ride, Wootens has a large animal sanctuary that we checked out that has all kinds of animals.

We first saw a panther just chillin’ in his cage!

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/250th, F2.8, ISO 250

Then we were looking at some alligators and this guy came up and started talking to us named Gator John. He was the resident alligator whisper! He told us kinds of interesting things about himself and how he has been around alligators his whole life.

Then he offered Stacy the chance to hold a 40 lb. alligator.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 250

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 250

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 250

After Stacy was done holding the aligator he took me over to the Tiger cage.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Then he showed us a baby lion cub!

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/640th, F2.8, ISO 800

Then Gator John invited me into the alligator pond where there were 100 alligators. I of coursed jumped at the opportunity to get up and close with an alligator. John would be hand feeding them.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1000th, F3.5, ISO 160

Gator John left to get a bucket of whole chickens to feed to the alligators.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/1600th, F4, ISO 400

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

I went into the cage and I was approached by 12 alligators.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1000th, F4, ISO 160

John then tossed a piece of chicken in the water and all of the alligators fought for it.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Then Gator John was getting up close and personal with the gator.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

John walks away saying “All in a days work!”

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F4, ISO 160

Here is a video of me with Gator John.

Then on the way home we stopped and saw the worlds smallest post office in Ochopee, FL

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/800th, F5.6, ISO 125

Then we saw a bunch of smoke as we were driving home, and it was a controlled burn.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1250th, F5.6, ISO 125

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/640th, F5.6, ISO 125

Day three of vacation started out cloudy and ended very wet! Stacy and I woke up and head over to the only Starbucks on the island for a little coffee and breakfast before we started out the day! When we were driving around Naples on Monday, we drove past the Naples Zoo and we thought it would be fun to check out and today was the perfect rainy day to do so!

The entrance of the Naples Zoo doesn’t look much like the zoo back in Toledo.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/800th, ISO 200

They had a feature show where you got to see and learn about different animals up close and personal!

The zoo keeper carries a sloth.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/400th, ISO 2000

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/320th, ISO 2000

A Southern Ground Hornbill

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/320th, ISO 2000

The zoo trainer shows off an Ocelot

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/200th, ISO 2000

General view where the primates were.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F4, 1/640th, ISO 250

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F4, 1/500th, ISO 250

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F4, 1/400th, ISO 250

Then we tried to feed a Giraffe, which turned into a big fail!

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F3.2, 1/500th, ISO 250

Then we saw a Honey Badger

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/250th, ISO 640

This is for my buddy Lance Roper, of Actual Coffee.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/2000th, ISO 640

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/3200th, ISO 640

Then it started raining and as we left, we saw the Tiger.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/640th, ISO 640

It rained the rest of the evening and we did some shopping in Naples! Tomorrow it’s suppose to be 85 degrees and sunny so we are hitting the beach!

Finally a vacation! I have basically worked for the last two years with out taking a vacation and the time has finally come! Stacy and I headed to Marco Island, FL to spend 10 days in the sun! I have been going to Marco Island where my grandparents own a condo since I was a little kid.

We arrived in Florida on Monday morning and Stacy wanted to go to a few outlet malls to do a little shopping. Before heading to Marco Island we stopped in Naples, FL to see the suset! Above, the sunset with the Naples Pier to the left.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm 1/6400th, F2.8, ISO 250

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm 1/400th, F2.8, ISO 100

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm 1/640th, F4, ISO 100

I love the guy holding the iPad in the air to get a picture of the sunset!

That ends day one of vacation!

Vacation: Day 2

We woke up and hung around the pool for a few hours before we wanted to do a little fishing. We got a dozen of shrimp to use as bait.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm 1/3200th, F2.8, ISO 1600

Stacy doing a little fishing (with no such luck)

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm 1/3200th, F2.8, ISO 250

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/6400th, F4.5, ISO 160

After two hours of fishing and not catching anything we decides to head over and see if we could find the Bald Eagles who have had a nest on the island for over 10 years.

At first, we only saw it flying from tree to tree.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/2500th, F2.8, ISO 400

Then it flew away!

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/1250th, F2.8, ISO 400

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/1250th, F2.8, ISO 400

Then we got the itch to find more cool birds and different wild life we don’t have back home. We headed over to Briggs Boardwalk to see what we could find.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/250th, F4, ISO 200

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/160th, F4, ISO 200

As we were walking along the board walk we noticed the area had been burned by rangers.

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/160th, F4, ISO 200

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/200th, F2.8, ISO 320

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/640th, F2.8, ISO 320

As we were walking along the board walk it had a sign with all of the different animals we might potentially see: Armadillo, Alligator, River Otters, and Turtles. Did we see any of these?? NOPE!

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/1250th, F2.8, ISO 320

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/2000th, F3.2, ISO 320

We did see a few different birds.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/800th, F5, ISO 500

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/800th, F5, ISO 500

As we were driving away, I noticed these animals on the side of the road so I pulled over and threw up my lens and there were about five wild boars along the side of the road eating.

Canon 1DX, 400mm, 1/500th, F2.8 ISO 500

As we returned to the condo the sun was setting right through the clouds which made for an awesome photo to end the day!

Canon 1DX, 24-70mm, 1/2500th, F3.2 ISO 320