(8-16-14) Arlington Million

AUG 16, 2014: Hardest Core owner Andrew Bentley kisses the trophy after winning the Arlington Million at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: Hardest Core, ridden by Eriluis Vaz, after winning the Arlington Million at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: Hardest Core owner Andrew Bentley (right) and Mike Ditka after winning the Arlington Million at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: Hardest Core, ridden by Eriluis Vaz, wins the Arlington Million at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: Ryan L. Moore after winning the 38th running of the Secretariat Stakes aboard Adelaide at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: The Pizza Man, ridden by Florent Geroux, leads the field in the final stretch of the third running of the American St. Leger at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: The Pizza Man, ridden by Florent Geroux, after winning the third running of the American St. Leger at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: Adelaide, ridden by Ryan L. Moore, after winning the 38th running of the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

AUG 16, 2014: La Tia, ridden by E. T. Baird, leads the field on the first pass in the 25th running of The Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington International Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

Recent Work (June - August)

This will be a simple post. I haven't been too busy since the Triple Crown races so there isn't too much variety here. I've had 4 MLB games and an MLS game I shot for USA Today Sports Images, Arlington Million Preview Day for Eclipse Sportswire (who hired me for Triple Crown races). I got to see Victor Espinoza in four different races where he won the first one.

The more exciting thing I worked on was my first assignment with Getty Images. I was hired as a freelance field editor for a minor PGA tournament but ended up shooting a lot since it was only myself and Todd Warshaw, one of Getty's long-time freelancers. It didn't take very long to realize that working with a major client for Getty, like the PGA, takes a lot more than one photographer. I hardly knew anything about photographing golf before I went, so I learned a lot while I was there and from Todd.

(I also have not retrieved my files from PGA since I worked on a different laptop and haven't sent over a hard drive to have them put on for me, so I have to use the embed feature).

Jun 26, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Junior Lake (left) slides into the wall while attempting a catch in the second inning during a game against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Jun 26, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Travis Wood (37) throws against Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) in the seventh inning during a game at Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

#451723730 / gettyimages.com

#451704762 / gettyimages.com

APRIL 12, 2014: Victor Espinoza, aboard Finnegans Wake, reacts after winning the Arlington Handicap on Arlington Million Preview Day at Arlington Racetrack in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

APRIL 12, 2014: I'm Already Sexy, ridden by Florent Geroux (front) finishes ahead of Street of Gold, ridden by Edgar S. Prado (left) in the Modesty Handicap on Arlington Million Preview Day at Arlington Racetrack in Arlington Heights, IL. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media

Jul 26, 2014; Bridgeview, IL, USA; Chicago Fire midfielder Jeff Larentowicz (20) clears the ball against Tottenham Hotspur forward Lewis Holtby (14) during a friendly at Toyota Park. Tottenham Hotspur won the match 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 1, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez (10) reacts after grounding out against the Minnesota Twins  at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton (1) slides and deflects the ball to right fielder Dayan Viciedo (24) who makes the catch against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Alex Rios (51) reacts after flying out against the Chicago White Sox in the fifth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton (1) makes a catch to prevent a home run by Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (29) in the fifth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; A security guard stands in heavy rain during the second rain delay of a game between the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

The Belmont Stakes and Another Unsuccessful Triple Crown

Just like my post on the Kentucky Derby, this one will be a bit lengthy. Scroll down if you just want to look at the pictures.


This one is going to start on a sad note. The weekend before I was to leave for Belmont, my uncle was admitted to the ICU and things did not look good. I drove to New York with my friends, Ting Shen and Rena Naltsas, with the constant worry that I would have to fly back home in case things turned for the worse and then fly back to New York in time for the race. There was no way my uncle or my family would ever want me to miss a potential Triple Crown and the best part was that several people in my family, including myself, came to that conclusion on their own. Thankfully, for my own sanity and comfort, my uncle didn't pass until the week after the race, but I did fly home the day right after the race to be with my family as soon as I could.

Throughout the week leading up to the race while thinking about my uncle, I realized how proud he has been of me. Since the Kentucky Derby, he has been sharing nearly all of my Instagram photos and links to my blog posts on Facebook. It was a tough loss for the entire family and a roller coaster for me. Just about 48 hours after the Belmont Stakes, he passed away, and that was a huge change in my mindset.



On to the photography!

So California Chrome didn't win and that sucks. I was really excited to be one of the rare few that got to witness a Triple Crown on their first time following all three races, but that didn't happen and now I'm just like everyone else who hasn't seen one. One thing I learned during this experience was that it really takes a lot of energy (mental and physical) out of you.

A few of the highlights during raceday was walking over 5 miles with an 800mm lens with me 90% of the time (it was not fun), being able to look through Canon's monster 1200mm lens, meeting some Getty staffers and shooting with an 800mm as my primary and 200-400 as my secondary (how many times can you say a 200-400 isn't your primary?!). I guess this would be a good time to promote CPS (Canon Professional Service) since I wouldn't have been able to use an 800mm without them.

I shot two morning workouts with the 800mm so I could get used to it for the actual race. I even shot one of California Chrome's baths with it while laying down and shooting through a chain-link fence that was 20 feet in front of me. I didn't get any interesting shots from that, everything was typical.

The Belmont Racetrack is a bit different than Pimlico (Preakness) and Churchill Downs. The start and the finish are at the same place, and if you want to shoot from a head-on position, you have to be just under 1/4 mile away from it. I have a few photos to attempt to show the scale of that distance. Oh and by the way, the 1200mm was a perfect lens to be shooting from that far away, you wouldn't have to even crop much. I was shooting next to Sports Illustrated's Jeff Kavanaugh and Getty's Streeter Lecka, Jeff with the 1200 and Streeter also with an 800mm.

I usually post only 10 photos but this time will be a few more. The first few shots are not of California Chrome, but all that follow are and in chronological order. Before the photos of the race, I included a picture from the finish-line looking towards my shooting position. After that are two photos with a cropped version and the original, for even more scale.

A panorama while standing about 10-15 feet away from the inside rail, looking at the stands at the finish-line

June 6, 2014: Scenes from morning workouts at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 5, 2014: Scenes from morning workouts at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 5, 2014: Scenes from morning workouts at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 6, 2014: Scenes from morning workouts at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 6, 2014: Scenes from morning workouts at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 5, 2014: Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome prepares for the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. California Chrome and racing fans are awaiting his attempt to be the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 6, 2014: Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome prepares for the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. California Chrome and racing fans are awaiting his attempt to be the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 6, 2014: Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome prepares for the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. California Chrome and racing fans are awaiting his attempt to be the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 6, 2014: Exercise Rider Willie Delgado smiles laughs while Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome is bathed after a workout for the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. California Chrome and racing fans are awaiting his attempt to be the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

The Belmont Stakes logo in the infield on raceday about 90 minutes before post.

  

Standing at the finish line looking towards my shooting position just under 1/4 mile away.

Note: the file dimensions after cropping are 1113x661

June 7, 2014: California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza and Matterhorn, ridden by Joe Bravo, run out of the gate in the Belmont Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day in Elmont, NY. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 7, 2014: California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza and Matterhorn, ridden by Joe Bravo, run out of the gate in the Belmont Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day in Elmont, NY. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 7, 2014: California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza (right) and Commissioner, ridden by Javier Castellano (center) enter the first turn in the Belmont Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day in Elmont, NY. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 7, 2014: Victor Espinoza, aboard California Chrome, reacts after not winning the Belmont Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day in Elmont, NY. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

June 7, 2014: Victor Espinoza, aboard California Chrome, reacts after not winning the Belmont Stakes while Joel Rosario aboard Tonalist (right) is interviewed after winning on Belmont Stakes Day in Elmont, NY. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM

(6-1-14) IHSA Boys Track & Field State Finals

I spent this weekend in Charleston, Ill. shooting the IHSA Boys Track & Field State Finals for the Chicago Sun-Times. I always try to go to as many state finals events as I can, so being hired to do it is just a plus. I had bad luck that half of my favorite shots were of athletes not in the coverage area, but it gives me something to hold on to hopefully for my portfolio. I also got my third Game Face photo (the back cover of the Chicago Sun-Times) so that was pretty cool.

Below are my favorites (something weird is going on with the color in a few when I put them in here, probably Google's fault). I used three lenses that day, 200-400, 85 1.8 and 16-35.

Carlinville's Jack Denby reacts after setting a new state record in the Class 1A pole vault during the the championships of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 31, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Cahokia celebrate their Class 2A first place victory during the the championships of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 31, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Grant's Jonathan Wells competes in the Class 3A high jump during the the championships of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 31, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Plainfield Central's Luke Winder attempts to clear 7' 7" after setting a new state record of 7' 3" in the Class 3A pole vault during the the championships of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 31, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Cahokia's Joseph Branch competes in the Class 2A 4x100-meter relay during the the championships of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 31, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Grant's Jonathan Wells competes in the Class 3A long jump during the the preliminary rounds of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 30, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

An athlete from Warren warms up before the 4x200-meter relay during the the preliminary rounds of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 30, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

York celebrate their Class 3A first place victory during the the championships of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 31, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Cahokia's Tyran Lyons runs in the Class 2A 300-meter intermediate hurdles during the the preliminary rounds of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 30, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Batavia's Tyler Mansfield reacts after a successful attempt in the Class 3A pole vault during the the preliminary rounds of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 30, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Highland Park's Benjamin Rogin runs in the Class 3A 110-meter high hurdles while his shoe begins to slip off during the the preliminary rounds of the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals hosted at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. on May 30, 2014. Jon Durr/For Sun-Times Media

Excited to see that I made it on the back cover of the Chicago Sun-Times

Having Fun With Track

The two weekends before the Belmont Stakes, I will be at IHSA State Track & Field Finals. This past weekend I wasn't shooting for anyone and I went down just for fun. Next week I will be shooting the boys meet for the Chicago Sun-Times along with another photographer.

Since I had no distractions of making sure I got certain athletes, I decided that I would just have fun with it. I tried a bunch of different things and now I know what I will do for next week's meet for when I'm actually working.

I used only three lenses for the shots below, 200-400, 15mm fisheye and the 35 f/2. Some of them aren't as successful photos as the others but I was really experimenting with trying new things today. The one shot I'm the most frustrated about is the first one. That was the only race where I was standing at the finish instead of sitting or laying prone, that that would have made it better. There is also a 1-2 sequence of a remote and a handheld of the 2nd runner-3rd runner baton exchange of the 4x100.