Arizona is in the midst of state swimming and diving championship season. Here two divers compete in Division 4A:
Upside Down – Arizona Event Photographer
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Butterfly and Free – Arizona Event Photographer
This past weekend I photographed the Arizona state high school swimming championships for divisions 1A to 3A, which are the smaller schools in the state. Some great swims, including several state records. The abilities of the swimmers were all over the map, but the best of them were incredibly graceful and powerful, a joy to watch. Here are a couple of my favorites:
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Drag Racing – Arizona Event Photographer
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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Pre-Race Burnout
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Popping a Wheelie
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Check Out the Rear Tire
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Dragsters Accelerating
Skaters
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
NASCAR – Phoenix International Raceway – Arizona Event Photographer
Twice each year, the NASCAR nation invades Avondale, Arizona, making it, overnight, the third or fourth largest city in the state. It is a sight to behold. Fleets of 18 wheelers bring in cars, crew, equipment, tires, and the many other assets required to put on the show. Everything about the enterprise is big: huge engines, capacity crowds, ear-splitting noise, outsized egos, piles of money.
I love going to these races. Power, danger, speed. And the closer you get to the track, the more of a rush it is. This past weekend I found a spot on the straightaway from which to shoot that put me about a foot and a half from the cars screaming past. When a large group went by, it was all I could do to keep from being blown over. The sound, even with earplugs in, was deafening. It was one of those laugh out loud, what a rush experiences. Here are a few of the images from the weekend:
NASCAR officials meeting first thing in the morning.
Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup cars taking practice laps
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Scott Lagasse Jr.
Pit Crews
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Coming into the pits during practice
Kyle Busch returning to the garage.
Marcus Ambrose showing off as he returns to the garage.
Practicing to present the American flag.
Joey Logano, who just turned 18, leads Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The Sprint Cup winner, 50 year old Mark Martin.
Cowboys
These images are from day two of the Lost Dutchman Days rodeo in Apache Junction, Arizona.
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Rodeo
A couple of weeks ago, I touched base with Gary Mulholland, Chairman of the Lost Dutchman Days rodeo in Apache Junction, AZ, and he kindly agreed to give me a press pass to photograph the event. Had a great time on my first day and came away in awe of the athletes who compete in this unbelievably dangerous sport. Here is one of the cowboys coming out of the chute during the bull riding competition:
