Archive for the ‘sports’ Category
Posted by Chris H. on April 30, 2010
A couple of months ago I collaborated with the beautiful and talented Jennifer Berk to get some images for both of our portfolios. Jennifer is a former pro tennis player who is making the transition into modeling and recently signed with one of the top sports modeling agencies in the country. Here are a couple of images from our session:

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Posted in adults, models, photography, portraits, sports | Tagged: arizona, b&w, black and white, christopher halloran, christopherhalloran.com, fitness, models, phoenix, photographer, portrait, sports, tennis, women | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Chris H. on April 13, 2010
Twice a year, during the NASCAR races at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale becomes the fourth largest city in Arizona. An armada of recreational vehicles descends upon the valley, all drawn by the spectacle of stock car racing. This was the third or fourth time I have photographed the Sprint Cup in Avondale and each time I enjoy it more. I didn’t start with a predisposition to like motor sports, but I’ll confess I’ve become a fan. There is something about the speed, the noise, the danger. I have a favorite spot between turns two and three from which I like to shoot. There is a big opening in the fence, the cars are accelerating quickly and I am very, very close to the action. Sometimes, when a pack of cars passes, I will be blown backwards by the force of the wind they create. It is such a rush. Here are a few images from Saturday’s Sprint Cup race:
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NASCAR is running a little more recklessly this year, allowing the drivers to make more contact than they have in the past. Inevitably, bad boys are born and the two who seem to attract the most attention are Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch, seen here driving the #18 car. It is mildly amusing that one of the two bad boys in this sport drives a car decorated with M&Ms.

Here, Joey Logano (#20) trails a small group heading toward turn three. Joey is 19 years old.

Juan Pablo Montoya (#42) leading the field into turn one while under a cautionary yellow flag. Montoya, who was born in Colombia, was the first Formula One driver to make the transition to competing full time in NASCAR racing.

The controlled chaos of the pits.

Bad boy Kyle Busch and NASCAR’s version of Michael Jordan – Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR Nation, baby.
Posted in celebrities, events, photography, sports | Tagged: christopherhalloran.com, sports, events, arizona, phoenix, photographer, nascar, racing, christopher halloran, motor sports, stock cars, phoenix international raceway, sprint cup | 2 Comments »
Posted by Chris H. on March 4, 2010
For the second year in a row I was able to spend a couple of days in Apache Junction, Arizona photographing the Lost Dutchman Days rodeo, which this year celebrated its 46th anniversary. As I’ve said before, one of the things I like most about what I do is having the opportunity to watch amazing people do incredible things. I am a city boy from the East Coast, so one wouldn’t expect that I would have a natural affinity for the rodeo. But, it is a thrill to witness the skill and fearlessness of the men and women who compete in this sport.
I had a short conversation with the parents of a former rodeo contestant who retired after having his face kicked in by a bull. They told me that their son, who had competed in a number of sports, used to say that there was no rush comparable to an eight second ride on the back of a bull. I believe that. These animals are HUGE – 2,000 pounds of twisting, slashing fury – and they have absolutely no regard for the safety of the cowboys on their backs. As one of the cowboys said, at least the horses have some sense of rapport with humans. The bulls would just as soon kill you.
Here, a bull spins out of the chute:

It’s hard to predict what he’s going to do, but sometimes he’s just going to go vertical:

And sometimes he’s going to throw you off like you’re a rag doll… and then he’s going to try to trample you:

It is not, however, all about the bulls. There are also equally wild rides on horses, both with and without saddles. Here is a cowboy coming out of the chute:

Sometimes the rides are almost balletic:

And sometimes it’s just hanging on for dear life:

There are calf-roping events:

And an event where a cowboy jumps off the back of a perfectly good horse and tries to wrestle a steer to the ground:

Sometimes it works… and sometimes it comes up a draw:

Women compete in two events – calf-roping and the barrel race:

And behind it all is a value system grounded in church and nation – the devotion to country is palpable:

Posted in adults, animals, editorial, events, photography, sports | Tagged: animals, apache junction, arizona, christopher halloran, christopherhalloran.com, cowboy, events, lost dutchman days, phoenix, photographer, photography, rodeo, sports | 2 Comments »
Posted by Chris H. on November 6, 2009
Arizona is in the midst of state swimming and diving championship season. Here two divers compete in Division 4A:


Posted in events, photography, sports, young adults | Tagged: arizona, christopher halloran, christopherhalloran.com, diving, events, phoenix, photographer, sports, young adult | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Chris H. on October 19, 2009
Posted in photography, sports, young adults | Tagged: arizona, butterfly, christopher halloran, christopherhalloran.com, freestyle, high school, phoenix, photographer, sports, swimming | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Chris H. on October 5, 2009
I have had a wild and varied week of shooting. A rock concert, fashion shows, high school homecoming portraits, and the NHRA Pacific Division drag racing championships. I was booked over the weekend, so was only able to make it out to the track on Thursday and Friday for time trials and gambler eliminations. Over the course of those two days, I was able to see runs by everything from pickup trucks that topped out at 80 miles per hour to high end dragsters that were clocking in at 190 on the quarter mile track. I love shooting the early stages of events like this, when the crowds have not yet arrived and I have the freedom to wander all over the track. It was a fun couple of days.
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Posted in events, photography, sports | Tagged: arizona, automobiles, cars, christopher halloran, christopherhalloran.com, drag racing, events, firebird raceway, need for speed, phoenix, photographer, racing, sports | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Chris H. on September 28, 2009
Over the weekend I met a few teenage friends at a local skate park to get some images of them doing their thing. Given the insanity of some of the tricks in their repetoire, I was a little nervous about the absence of protective gear, but all turned out well. A couple of scrapes and bruises, but no broken bones. Meet Dallin, Devon, Jared, Cooper and Alec.
Cooper and Dallin

Jared

Alec

Cooper

Dallin

Devon



Posted in candids, children, personal, photography, sports, young adults | Tagged: arizona, b&w, bmx, christopher halloran, christopherhalloran.com, inline skating, phoenix, photographer, roller blades, skating, sports, stunts, young adult | 1 Comment »