Kicking off Football Season 2015 with Photojournalist Al Diaz

Al Diaz aldiaz305@aol.com

Football season, my favorite time of year!  Kicked it off by photographing three winning teams. This weekend I traveled to Washington DC as the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins 17-10.

Shot with the Canon 1DX DSLR with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II with Peak Design camera straps I haul it all in my Think Tank Airport Security

On Friday night in Boca Raton, the Hurricanes stormed into FAU stadium with a weather delay during the game that lasted over an hour. The University of Miami defeated Florida Atlantic University 44-20.

Shot with the Canon 1DX DSLR with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II with Peak Design camera straps I haul it all in my Think Tank Airport Security

The previous week in Orlando FIU Panthers roared into UCF but barely squeaked by with a 15-14 win and the U trounced Bethune-Cookman at newly renovated Sun Life Stadium 45-0.

 

On September 3, the Miami Herald published my football preview covers featuring Ndamukong Suh for the Mami Dolphins, Brad Kaaya for the University of Miami, Richard Leonard for Florida International University, Flanagan High’s Devin Bush Jr. for Broward High Schools and Central High’s Donovan Thompson for Miami-Dade High Schools.

My favorite shot is of Flanagan’s Devin Bush Jr. That image was shot in a hot tub overlooking a pool. 

 

I used a black muslin background on a backdrop stand weighted down with sand bags. On either side I used two light stands with two Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT elevated to about six feet. At the bottom of the each light stand I placed two more Canon 600 strobes attached with Manfrotto 244RC Variable Friction Magic Arms. The rim light backlit the water nicely. For the main light I used a fifth Canon 600EX- mounted on a Manfrotto 025BS Super Boom Arm with Pivoting Clamp boom attached to a Manfrotto Cine Stand 008 with Casters.

Below and off to the left I used a Photoflex Litepanel 39x39" Aluminum Frame reflector for fill.

By the time we were ready it was dark. The strobes are all set to high speed sync so I could shoot at a shutter speed of 1600 at f/3.5, ISO 500 on the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens – USA.

 I triggered the devices using a Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT.

The toughest part was getting the beam of light from the strobe mounted to the boom to strike the subjects face. The high-speed sync also causes the batteries to drain quicker which caused a few misfires. Bush made several attempts at leaping out of the water until I finally captured an image with his hair looking hydro electric!

Shot with the Canon 1DX DSLR with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II 

I haul all in my strobe gear in a Think Tank Photo International rolling camera bag and the Production Manager 40

Using my 3 Legged Thing Monopod, Canon gear and Peak Design Sling.

Old Rivals: Miami and Florida State Meet In Primetime Saturday Night

Today I’m traveling to the battle of the undefeated, which will be played out Saturday evening between the University of Miami, ranked 7th, and rival Florida State, ranked 3rd in the nation at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. 

In the meantime, Georgia Bull Dog fans, in town to watch their team play the Florida Gators at the largest cocktail party in the world in one of the SEC’s most bitter rivalries, overrun my Jacksonville hotel. 

 At the beginning of the season I photographed the Hurricanes quarterback Stephen Morris and running back Duke Johnson for the Miami Herald’s Football Season Preview section. My son Jimmy D assisted me during the portrait session. That called for a bit of time-lapse photography to capture the occasion.

Watch This on YouTube for better quality HERE.

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Here are a few shots last Saturday's game against Wake Forest at Sun Life Stadium.

Sunshine State Smackdown! Canes vs. Gators

The gates open at 6:00 AM Saturday for the throng of football fans arriving for the Sunshine State battle at Sun Life Stadium between the University of Florida Gators and the University of Miami Hurricanes.

Unfortunately it will be the last time my two favorite teams will meet for a long time. Miami Herald columnist Linda Robertson calls it “incomprehensible, irresponsible, cowardly and downright party-pooperish”.

Football season is my favorite time of year and this game will be another classic but tonight I’ll be covering the FIU Panthers vs UCF Knights.

Here are few selects from last weeks UM game who defeated the Florida Atlantic University Owls 34-6. 

All the action photos were shot with Canon EOS-1D Mark-IV 16.1 Megapixels Digital SLR Camera with a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Image Stabilizer AutoFocus Telephoto Lens using the Peak Design Leash

Duke Johnson on a 53-yard run for a touchdown as he adds up a 

career-high 186-yards in the game. 

All the action photos were shot with Canon EOS-1D Mark-IV 16.1 Megapixels Digital SLR Camera with a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Image Stabilizer AutoFocus Telephoto Lens and using the Peak Design Leash

Clive Walford on a touchdown reception from quarterback Stephen Morris.

 Miami's Antonio Crawford takes down FAU's Alex Deleon 

Hurricanette dancer performs at half-time

This was shot with a Canon EOS-5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera Body, 22.3 Megapixel and a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens and using the Peak Design Leash

Former UM coach Howard Schnellenberger hoists the 1983 Championship trophy during half-time ceremony honoring the National Champion football team

Schnellenberger was shot with a Canon EOS-5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera Body, 22.3 Megapixel and a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens and using the Peak Design Leash

Opinion: While Florida Gators fans are arrogant, Miami Hurricanes own series record

Unlike the fake genteel Southern charm emanating from Gainesville, UM fans are cosmopolitans. And oh by the way, we do own the series record.

BY MARC CAPUTO

MCAPUTO@MIAMIHERALD.COM

What do you call the Gator fan section at Saturday’s UM-UF game?

A full set of teeth.

OK, that was low. But brace yourself nonetheless, Miami: They’re coming. So break out the earplugs to shut out the banjo music. Pinch your nose to block the stench of the moonshine.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Opinion: Miami Hurricanes just a small blip on Florida Gators’ radar

For University of Florida fans, Miami is like the pesky little brother who just won’t go away. Sure, he’s annoying, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry.

BY CONNIE OGLE

COGLE@MIAMIHERALD.COM

We don’t like you, Miami Hurricanes. Really. But we hate so many other people so much more. To the great Gator Nation, you’re sort of like the palmetto bugs scurrying around the kitchen floor after dark: When you force us to acknowledge your presence, we reach for the nearest heavy object to squash you. But we’re really more worried about the tornado (in the form of Nick Saban) blowing off the roof.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/06/3608376/opinion-miami-hurricanes-just.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/06/3608376/opinion-miami-hurricanes-just.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/06/3608389/opinion-while-florida-gators-fans.html#storylink=cpy

New Photo Work Room at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium

Allen Eyestone works in the new photo workroom at Sun Life Stadium.

By Al Diaz

aldiaz305@aol.com 
The Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes have a new photo workroom at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium.

When the Miami Marlins baseball team decided to bug out of Sun Life for the new Marlins Park, photographers Allen Eyestone and Dave Cross went to work on lobbying for a better work space in the football stadium.

Working independently of each other, Eyestone staff photographer at The Palm Beach Post, produced a video showing the hazardous conditions working out of an old trailer outside the stadium and the obstacles photographers faced getting to and from the field. Eyestone then photographed the better facilities around the country. He submitted his research to Miami Dolphins
 Senior Vice President of Media Relations, Harvey Greene.  

The steps to the old trailer was always dangerous while carrying gear.

Miami Dolphins
 Senior Vice President of Media Relations, Harvey Greene. 

 At the same time, Cross the Miami Dolphins team photographer, lobbied for the upgrade as well.

The result is a spacious 1,750 square foot media work room at event level inside the stadium with a capacity for 175 people. The room is equipped with free Wi-Fi and about 40 locations in the room have hard wired Ethernet.

Greene is glad the room is being well received by photographers and says the current space used to house the former Marlins equipment room and players lounge.

He goes on to say that photogs are allowed to eat with everyone else in the main press box before the Dolphin game. At halftime hot dogs and chips are provided in the photo room for free.

If that’s not good enough, master technicians from SouthernPhoto Technical Service will be providing complimentary sensor cleaning, general camera maintenance and minor camera repairs on site.

SPTS is a Factory Authorized Service Center for all major brands of photographic equipment and has been in Miami since 1948.

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SPTS Master technician Wifredo Cruz and Annie Bone at the media center.

Owner Isaac Hadid says they will also be providing the same service at this years Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne and Florida Atlantic University Football games.

The Miami Herald's Charles Trainor Jr. inside the new work room.

The Miami Herald's Joe Rimkus Jr., at left, and The Palm Beach Post's Allen Eyestone at right.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Jim Rassol at work.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers team photographer Mike Carlson heads to the field.