8to8: Michael Brown -- At-Large Council Member

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to spend time with Michael Brown documenting a day in the life of a DC councilman. As I said before, I never know what to expect during these assignments. They usually include a lot of meetings and a lot of talking and none of the action that I'm used to. So the real challenge here is to find good pictures in this slow motion environment.

Brown was recently elected in the November 2008 elections as an At-Large member after losing in a 2006 mayoral bid and a 2007 Ward 4 council election. Word on the street is that he may run for mayor this year if Council Chairman Vincent Gray decides not to. Shout out to Michael Brown and staff for their participation in the project.

P.S. this blog post includes an embedded slideshow so it might not be viewable in your feed reader. You might just have to head to the site Untitled, Michael Starghill.

Scarlet Knights and Hoyas

It would be a lie if I told you that I enjoyed shooting the college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. I can't even remember the last time Rutgers basketball was relevant, without a little help from Don Imus. So I leave you with this sweet left-handed layup from Chris Wright in the early stages of a 25 point victory for the Hoyas. Shout out to Matee Ajavon and Ray Rice, Rutgers alums that I kinda know via a friend of a friend of a friend.

Ugly Win: Coolidge vs. Wilson Basketball

Coolidge basketball is currently undefeated in league play (4-0) but it seems that every game is the same. They apply full court pressure the whole game and jump out to a huge first quarter lead. They give up some of that lead in the second quarter. They then come out flat in the third and let the opposing team right back into the game. Then they take over again and complete the roller coaster victory in the fourth. I don't know how much longer they can keep winning like this, but a win's a win. Read about it here. Shout out to whoever decided to paint the key white on the Colts new floor. It bounces up a little more light into the player's faces.


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Jonathan Martin

Up next in the Performance Portrait series is Mr. Jonathan Martin. I photographed Jonathan for an unknown yet upcoming musical project that he's working on as well as a portrait of him and his sisters for his family. His flow was a little more mellow than the others.

The Real Orange III

Whenever Coolidge and Roosevelt get together to play any sport, a battle over who is the real orange ensues. Tuesday night, neither should have been in contention while Coolidge wore mostly black and Roosevelt, mostly white. The real reason the two got together was to play a game of basketball. A game in which Coolidge took over early and never let up with a 89-69 victory. Shout out to Coolidge's chances in the City Title game. The team looks good. Damn good.


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Carroll @ St. John's Basketball

While everyone else was watching playoff football Sunday afternoon, I was on Military Rd. shooting some basketball at St. John's high school. I probably should have been watching football. St. John's took the L and the WCAC is still pretty unpredictable. Shout out to Carroll with the Bishop Don Magic Juan uniforms. "Green is for the money, Gold is for the honeys."


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Hoyas Win! Hoyas Win! Hoyas Win!

Watching a great, down to the wire game on television is a whole lot different than shooting one. In fact watching any basketball game is totally different from shooting one. When I'm sitting on the baseline, I don't know what defense the teams are playing, who has how many timeouts or even what the score is. I just want to see someone (anyone) drive to the basket, absorb some contact, attempt a layup, miss, then have people fight for the rebound. Repeat. That's where all the pictures are...a game full of jumpshots = wack pictures. Luckily, the Hoyas play in the Big East where it's pretty much "no blood, no foul".

Last Saturday was one of those games where I had to watch the clock and the score very closely as time winded down. The Hoyas played and won a helluva game against UConn last Saturday as Austin Freeman led them to victory with 28 second half points. And on another note it seems that playing basketball with my mouth open will make me a better player...everyone else is doing it. Shout out to junior guard Austin Freeman for having the game of his career thus far at Georgetown. I sure did shoot his high school games...does that mean I'm getting old?

Good Counsel @ Gonzaga Basketball

In the WCAC, anyone can win on any given night. And Friday night, it showed. Gonzaga, a perennial favorite in this league were against the ropes during their game against Good Counsel. They ended up squeezing out a win with big help from guards Tyler Thornton (24 points) and Cedrick Lindsay (23 points). The team stayed calm and it paid off in the end. On to the next. Tonight they play rival Bishop O'Connell out in old Virginny. Shout out to coach Steve Turner for the access. There will be more this season.


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Coolidge vs. Cardozo @ Roosevelt

After the holidays and a Jesuit Classic, I'm back to Coolidge and public school basketball. Coolidge played Cardozo at a surprisingly well lit Roosevelt high school gym. Coolidge came out with the orange unis and applied full court pressure pretty much all night long. Coolidge closed out with a 70-61 win in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. Sloppy second half play and TONS of turnovers allowed Cardozo to stay in the game and probably resulted in a miserable practice for the players the next day. Shout out to in-league games, you never know what will happen.


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Capitol Hill Arts Workshop 4th Annual Photography Exhibition

One day a few months ago, I was thinking to myself, "Self, you need to get your work seen by more people. What can you do to make that happen?" I thought maybe entering some photo contests and answering a few of the calls for submissions would be a step in the right direction. Well I did just that and my work was accepted for the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop's 4th Annual Photography Exhibition. Now hopefully I can tap into the billion dollar industry that is high school sports photography.

Anyway, you should come out to 545 7th St. SE this Saturday January 9th from 5p-7p for the opening reception. Not only to see my work, but all the other great work hanging at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.