Portfolio (Best of Sports - Part 4 of 7)

Below are samples of my best of sports photojournalism. I learned I had a passion for photographing sports while I was in my third year of college at the University of Alabama when I joined the college all-student run newspaper, The Crimson White after I changed my major to studio art/photography and minor to journalism/photojournalism. There I had all-access press passes to the school's sporting events from football, basketball, gymnastics, softball, baseball, golf, swimming, and more. They didn't cover the cost to travel to away games, but I kept requesting they get press passes for me and I would cover the costs in order to gain more experience and to build my portfolio. I traveled to every SEC school several times and even went to places such as Miami for the Orange Bowl and Phoenix, Arizona for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. I also met many photographers from Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine and I would eventually go in for a portfolio review at Sports Illustrated's office in New York City during Spring Break of my last year of college. It was very exciting as they were putting the finishing touches on the famous Swimsuit Edition and I got to meet and talk with many of the photographers there (during the time I was up there for my portfolio review, I eventually wound up interviewing and getting a summer photography internship at Annie Leibovitz' Studio in NYC the summer of 2004).

Javelin at the PIAA Outdoor State Track and Field 

Championship in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Sophomore Forward, Kennedy Winston, goes up for points

in the Crimson Tide's 70-67 loss against Vanderbilt in 

Nashville, Tennessee

Relay at the PIAA Outdoor State Track and Field 

Championship in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Dancers perform from the Alabama Repertory Dance 

Theater at the Moody Music Concert Hall at

the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

In July 2009 our state put on display in Harrisburg at the Capitol 

building's Rotunda the state's three championship trophies 

(Philadelphia won the World Series and then Pittsburgh won

the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup).

Alabama's Trent Richardson scores a touchdown against 

Penn State in Beaver Stadium, State College in 2011.

Long jump at the PIAA Outdoor State Track and Field 

Championship in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Seat decals at the historic, old Yankee Stadium in the 

Bronx, New York in their final season before they

built their current stadium.

Pole vault at the PIAA Outdoor State Track and Field 

Championship in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

The Aaron's 499 NASCAR race at Talladega

Speedway gets underway in Talladega, Alabama.

Competitor in the boys shot put at at the PIAA Outdoor State 

Track and Field Championship in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Penguin's goalie makes a save during the 2004

New Year's Eve game against the New York Rangers. 

Fly fishing at Allenberry Playhouse on the Yellow 

Breeches Creek in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.

Competitor in the boys hurdles at at the PIAA Outdoor State 

Track and Field Championship in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Cheerleaders, mascot "Big AL" and head football coach

Nick Saban, lead the Crimson Tide out onto the field

 of Beaver Stadium in State College, PA in 2011.

Javelin at the PIAA Outdoor State Track and Field 

Championship in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Kayaking on the Yellow Breeches in 

Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania.

Women's relay at the PIAA Indoor State Track and Field 

Championship in State College, Pennsylvania.

 The newly renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium 

at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

 Statue overlooking the area outside of the stadium 

and Fraternity Row at the University of Alabama.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Football Game

I went to go see the Pittsburgh Steelers play against their rivals, the Cleveland Browns. The game was the last game of the season (Sunday, December 30, 2012) and I was able to go last minute (and for little money) because they didn't make the play-offs. It also was in the middle of a major snow storm (which meant I was in many layers of clothing and had to get creative to try and stay warm, but I was still absolutely freezing! Most people didn't make it to half-time before they had to leave because they were so cold. It continued snowing throughout the entire game.

Here's the stadium as I walked up to it to go inside

for the game. Luckily, I was able to get all of my

professional camera equipment in so I was able to 

get some great shots!

The Hall of Champions where all of their Super Bowl

trophies are on display. The Steelers have the most

out of any team in the NFL.

You immediately know your in Heinz Field 

by all the Heinz symbols everywhere.

The Heinz family and company are all 

from Pittsburgh.

This is my favorite shot of the day! You can see the 

golden bridges and the snowy mountain sides off in 

the distance that Pittsburgh is famous for.

 Though it was freezing there still were way

more fans in the stadium than I expected.

Pittsburgh is known for having the most

die-hard, faithful fans of any professional team.

 Seen here is head coach Mike Tomlin

 (in the black baseball cap).

 My seat was in the end zone, so I was able to get some

nice shots when the team was at my end zone with the ball.

Here is quarterback "Big Ben" Roethlisberger.

 I was thrilled to get some nice shots even though I was 

really far away from the action. I miss my days 

running up and down the sidelines at the University

of Alabama (Roll Tide) shooting the games

for the college newspaper.

This was a huge tackle and a turning point 

for the momentum of the game.

 Fans waving their famous "terrible towels" and cheering.

 After I left, I was able to get a few nice

shots of the city. Here is the home field of the 

Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.

 And these last two shots I got as I drove away

from the city after I left the game.
So excited that they turned out nicely.

Here are the skyscrapers of the city of Pittsburgh.

 And the stark difference of how it used to be such an 

industrial city and the home of most of the steel 

production in America.

Upcoming Posts

I have a several posts that I am going to upload soon. I photographed a wedding, a family for their Christmas cards, a football game, the Baltimore Aquarium, and Thanksgiving. I will start uploading new posts closer to the end of the week, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak of the work I am currently working on. Also, big things are happening for my little business. I am going to be uploading a post on the products I offer (wedding albums, canvas gallery wraps, accordion mini albums, framed prints, engagement session guest book albums, etc.). The possibilities are endless to what I can do when I photograph something. But this post will help my customers and future clients see what I can do with their important memories. Also, on Sunday, January 8, 2012 I will be at the York Expo Center and my photography business, Photography by Lizzie, will have a booth at the largest bridal show in the area. So come check me out at the Wink 103, Winter Wonderland Bridal Show at the York Expo Center. I will be on hand at the booth and all of the great products and services I can offer will be on display. It is a great way to meet and get to know me and see personally how I can turn a photograph into a treasured possession in your home. Also, for the month of February 2012 at the Carlisle Coffee and Smoothie Cafe  at 950 Walnut Bottom Road next to the Nell's Grocery Store, I will be the featured artist and all of my work will be on display on their walls. I will have dozens of pieces up and this will be another way for future clients to check out my work and see if I am the right photographer for them! Come check me out (when the time comes, I will make a post of my work up at the coffee shop so you can all see how it turned out)! And of course a post isn't a post without some photos so here are the previews of what I have been up to!

This week I will do a post of April and Chris' 

beautiful wedding in Nazareth, Pennsylvania (out 

east closer to Philadelphia) that I photographed 

a week ago. All of the details were so amazing 

and I can't wait to share more with you!

 On the same day as April and Chris' wedding, 

I photographed the Green family for their family's 

Christmas cards for this year! The pictures 

turned out great and I will be happy to 

share more from the portrait session with you.

 Back in September, I had the 

opportunity to go to the Alabama vs. Penn State 

game in State College. I went to the University of 

Alabama for college and got to photograph the 

football team while I was a student working 

for the college newspaper. The stadium allows 

large cameras in even if you aren't official 

press for the event, so I was able to take in all 

of my equipment and I got some great shots. 

Here is one of Alabama's #3 - Trent Richardson, 

going in for a touchdown. He is in the running 

for the Heisman Trophy this year and I really 

hope he gets it. He is an amazing football player. 

At the same time, it looks like Alabama might 

get to go to the National Championship game 

this year again for the 2nd time in 3 years and I

couldn't be more excited for my team. Roll Tide!

Also, this fall I was able to go to the National

Aquarium in Baltimore with a friend of mine and 

I am going to post a few of my favorites later this

month. Here is one of a really cool fish amongst 

the coral.

Then, last week I photographed my extended 

family during our visit to Fredericksburg, Virginia

to my aunt's house. It was such a beautiful day

and bittersweet for me now that both of my parents

have passed away. We all have lost many of our

family members recently and my aunt's blessing 

before the meal was beautifully said. 

We miss you all but are thankful for the 

blessings we still receive!

So, as you can see, I have been busy photographing cool events and portrait sessions and I will start sharing more of it all with you this week. So check back often for new posts! Thanks for stopping by today!

Portfolio

I recently came across my portfolio of work that I used to get my current job back in the spring of 2007. They are pictures I took while working for publications from 2001 until 2006 in the states of Alabama, New York and Pennsylvania. I thought I would share them so you could see my older photojournalism work.

Cody Locke, a Freshman biology major, was recently

named one of U.S.A. Today's Top Scholars.

Not just famed for its ice skating rink, Rockefeller Plaza

serves up some of the best cheesecake in New York City.

The Aaron's 499 NASCAR race at Talladega

Speedway gets underway in Talladega, Alabama.

Pete Townshend of the British band, The Who, plays

during a concert at Hershey, Pennsylvania's Giant Center.

The debut show for designer Irene Munger's line, "Blackpool"

was during New York's Olympus Fashion Week.

A couple takes advantage of the nice weather and studies

on the Quad at the University of Alabama.

Buzz Owens joins fellow bikers from around the area every

Tuesday night for "Biker Night" at Rhythm and Brews located

 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Marine Corps band was on hand to participate

in the second Presidential Inaugural Parade for 
George W. Bush in Washington, D.C

Studio shot of Nine West shoes.

The state of Hawaii was represented in the Inaugural Parade

for George W. Bush with an Aloha float with traditional

Hawaiian dancers.

India.arie performs during the Homecoming

festivities at the University of Alabama.

Dancers perform from the Alabama Repertory Dance Theater

at the Moody Music Concert Hall at the University of Alabama.

Byron Quann, former president and CEO of Whitaker Center

for Science and the Arts, stands among children performing as a

part of the Russian American Kids Circus at the

Sunoco Theater in Harrisburg, PA.

Both love and spring are in bloom at Big Spring Park

in Huntsville, Alabama.

A little girl at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Sophomore forward, Kennedy Winston, goes up for points in

the Crimson Tide's 70-67 loss to Vanderbilt.

The Gates, a modern art work, by Cristo and Jeanne-Claude

was installed in New York's Central Park for sixteen days.

The Pennsylvania state capitol building in Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania covered in snow.

The circus came to town in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The day

before the opening night, the elephants are seen here

getting a bath from their trainer.

Dennis McKibbem, of Williamsport, portrays a Stockbridge

Indian during a historical reenactment.

These sisters, ages four and six, were featured on the

November 2006 cover of Central Penn Parent for

 the article "Kids in the Kitchen."

Note: These next four photos are from the same event.

More than a million protesters came to New York City during 

the Republican National Convention in 2004 as part of the

United for Peace and Justice protest march.

The New York Police Department was out in full force to

ensure the safety of the public as well as the rights of the 

protestors.

Just two, of more than one million people, that came

 out to protest the policies of President Bush.

United for Peace and Justice workers lead the protest

along 34th Street past the Empire State Building.