My US Open Photos
Here are some of my Schuettler Shots from the 2003 US Open...
Some photos I've added text or comments to if you roll over the image.
1st Round, Schuettler v Wayne Arthurs
2nd Round, Schuettler vs Alberto Martin
3rd Round, Schuettler vs Nicolas Kiefer
4th Round, Schuettler vs Sjeng Schalken
Here are shots from the groundscrew doing their high-tech drying. Literally there were more people who came and did this and left than there were people in the stands for the actual match.
This was Wednesday night after some rain delays and they were trying to get Rainer's and the Roddick match in the books to try to save part of the draw. This is in Armstrong, which really is a great facility, and it shines even more when compared to the monstrosity of Ashe Stadium which is like looking into a pit. These aren't great shots, but it shows the crowd - or lack thereof. Roddick was playing in Ashe and this match was starting about 20 minutes later, after all the blowers and towel people arrived and did their thing. I really think there were 30 people there, in the whole stadium... and then we had more rain delays to sit through before Rainer and Sjeng decided not to play on. The Roddick match kept going and was completed, and that counted as a night session, while the day people could turn in their ticket for another future day.
These four shots are after they had played some on Wednesday night, gone into the lockerrooms when it started to rain again, then court had been dried off, and the players came out and ended up not resuming play. The second photo, Rainer is studying/reading something he had pulled out of his bag, he's not napping. My guess is it's part of his visualization techniques (he was down 1-5), or it's info on a great NY restaurant where he can catch a late dinner.
Other photos from New York
This shot was during the Schalken match and it's become one of my favorites from the Open. It was a total accident as I was spent nearly two games trying to set up a crisp action shot with the logo in the background. Not that many opportunities came about with the right layout, and when the shot did line up - like this one, it didn't pan out. As I kept working on the editing, I grew to like the clearness of the logo looming over the blurry action, especially the ball and racquet caught streaking in motion.
The sepia colored shot just above was another attempt at this that didn't work either. It's sort of like a mirror image with Rainer's swing vs the sweep of the logo.
This turns out to be one of my favorite action shots from the Open, Rainer serving during the Kiefer match. He appears much closer to the net, obviously, than he really is but there's a feeling of forward motion that makes it seem like he's coming up on it. Maybe a combo of the depth perception, the forward movement of the shirt and leg muscles, or his charging expression.
This shot is also a favorite (RS v Nicolas), you may have noticed I have a lot of shots of serves - both serving and returning.
My hockey pictures are primarily goalies and in tennis I like the serve. The whole routine and deliberate motion of it, I don't like to call it 'predictable' because that sounds bland, but it's a consistent process. The second is from a different match, but identical. In the large pic I like the wrinkles in the shirt and the sun on the fingers and face, while in the smaller shot it just comes across as a fluid, simple shape. The open hand in both shots draw your eye as the action more than his face/center of the picture, I like how it makes your eye want to follow the toss.
Lars Burgsmuller v Schalken, Lars played very well and could have won except he started cramping, then finishing became questionable. He hung in there and the crowd was in pain just watching him push on.
Martina entertained a huge crowd during her practice, joking with people and laughing at herself. It's great to see her playing with a smile on her face all the time - if you ever get a chance to see the SportsCentury piece on her by ESPN you have to watch it, excellent biopic of her life and tennis.
Some photos I've added text or comments to if you roll over the image.
The photos in this posting, and those duplicated elsewhere on this site, are © by me. I don't mind if you use them, my only request is that you credit or link this webpage.
1st Round, Schuettler v Wayne Arthurs
2nd Round, Schuettler vs Alberto Martin
3rd Round, Schuettler vs Nicolas Kiefer
4th Round, Schuettler vs Sjeng Schalken
Here are shots from the groundscrew doing their high-tech drying. Literally there were more people who came and did this and left than there were people in the stands for the actual match. This was Wednesday night after some rain delays and they were trying to get Rainer's and the Roddick match in the books to try to save part of the draw. This is in Armstrong, which really is a great facility, and it shines even more when compared to the monstrosity of Ashe Stadium which is like looking into a pit. These aren't great shots, but it shows the crowd - or lack thereof. Roddick was playing in Ashe and this match was starting about 20 minutes later, after all the blowers and towel people arrived and did their thing. I really think there were 30 people there, in the whole stadium... and then we had more rain delays to sit through before Rainer and Sjeng decided not to play on. The Roddick match kept going and was completed, and that counted as a night session, while the day people could turn in their ticket for another future day.
These four shots are after they had played some on Wednesday night, gone into the lockerrooms when it started to rain again, then court had been dried off, and the players came out and ended up not resuming play. The second photo, Rainer is studying/reading something he had pulled out of his bag, he's not napping. My guess is it's part of his visualization techniques (he was down 1-5), or it's info on a great NY restaurant where he can catch a late dinner.
Other photos from New York
This shot was during the Schalken match and it's become one of my favorites from the Open. It was a total accident as I was spent nearly two games trying to set up a crisp action shot with the logo in the background. Not that many opportunities came about with the right layout, and when the shot did line up - like this one, it didn't pan out. As I kept working on the editing, I grew to like the clearness of the logo looming over the blurry action, especially the ball and racquet caught streaking in motion.
The sepia colored shot just above was another attempt at this that didn't work either. It's sort of like a mirror image with Rainer's swing vs the sweep of the logo.
This turns out to be one of my favorite action shots from the Open, Rainer serving during the Kiefer match. He appears much closer to the net, obviously, than he really is but there's a feeling of forward motion that makes it seem like he's coming up on it. Maybe a combo of the depth perception, the forward movement of the shirt and leg muscles, or his charging expression.
This shot is also a favorite (RS v Nicolas), you may have noticed I have a lot of shots of serves - both serving and returning.
My hockey pictures are primarily goalies and in tennis I like the serve. The whole routine and deliberate motion of it, I don't like to call it 'predictable' because that sounds bland, but it's a consistent process. The second is from a different match, but identical. In the large pic I like the wrinkles in the shirt and the sun on the fingers and face, while in the smaller shot it just comes across as a fluid, simple shape. The open hand in both shots draw your eye as the action more than his face/center of the picture, I like how it makes your eye want to follow the toss.
Juan Carlos Ferrero in the continuation of his match with Todd Martin that ended up going five sets. This was on Armstrong and was pretty dead when it began, but the crowds grew as Martin came back as the match went on.
Lars Burgsmuller v Schalken, Lars played very well and could have won except he started cramping, then finishing became questionable. He hung in there and the crowd was in pain just watching him push on.
Martina entertained a huge crowd during her practice, joking with people and laughing at herself. It's great to see her playing with a smile on her face all the time - if you ever get a chance to see the SportsCentury piece on her by ESPN you have to watch it, excellent biopic of her life and tennis.
posted by Sprtswrtr @ 11:48 PM
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