I attended the 41st Annual Syracuse University Basketball Hardwood Club Dinner last night to celebrate the team’s season to this point, give a big send off to the senior members of the team and to raise money for college scholarship funds. The event gives fans a chance to chat with coaches and players, get their autographs, bid on a silent auction and pose for pictures.
7 foot tall Sophomore center Fab Melo signing a fan's jersey at the 41st Annual Syracuse University Basketball Hardwood Club Dinner at the OnCenter in Syracuse, New York on Sunday, March 4, 2012. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/125s, f/6.3, ISO 2800, EV +0.3, 30mm focal length, bounced flash.
The players were very personable and it was interesting to see them in a different venue than on the basketball court. They are young men who, like their peers, find ways to have fun doing mundane tasks like signing hundreds of posters and other memorabilia.
Senior guard Scoop Jardin signing posters at the 41st Annual Syracuse University Basketball Hardwood Club Dinner. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/125s, f/6.3, ISO 2800, +0.3, 30mm focal length, bounced flash.
As you can see, the background for the autograph table was windows. To make sure I did not get flash back from them I bounced the flash off a very high ceiling with a small card to send some of the light to fill in the shadows in the face and put catchlights in the eyes. I also got down to each players level which got their attention and made a connection with me and my camera.
After dinner and speeches by the Senior players and guest speaker, many of the players hung around and posed with fans for pictures. My daughter and niece took advantage with me as their personal photographer.
Sophomore guard Dion Waiters poses with my neice and daughter at the 41st Annual Syracuse University Basketball Hardwood Club Dinner. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 3200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, bounced flash.
A good time was had by all. Go ‘Cuse as they head to New York City and the Big East tournament.
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Your daughter and niece have good taste – Dion is my favorite too!!
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Dion sure has an air about him but turned on the charm for the two young ladies. Once I get the rest uploaded online, I’ll send you the link.
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I think it’s very interesting how college athletes are grooming themselves to become not just professional athletes, but professional business people and marketers. That’s a good thing.
I am also impressed as all get-out by the quality of the portraits in the challenging environment. All those lights, all those reflections, all that distraction . . . wuff.
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Yes, it is. They are literally their own corporation if they make it to a professional league. The guest speaker was a former player who went on to a very successful career in business. He told the players last night how playing basketball and on a team translated to the world once their playing days are done.
Thank you, Gerry! Those windows did pose a problem. I was very concerned about getting any kind of bounce off the ceiling which was two stories above my head.
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I see Dion dressed for the occasion. lol Glad y’all had a nice time; one of these years I might go to one of these.
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Dion was not the worst dressed one there believe it or not. LOL They have it every year.
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went to the dinner had great time great speeches. not pleased at all about them running out of posters for fans and then was told by the guy running the dinner that oh dont worry u can grab their autographs thruout dinner and after they always stick around for while… sure thank god the vendor who sells the programs was there cause i had to buy another yearbook (already have one all missing is just scoops and kris’s autographs– no offense but they enver bothered to come sign for fans at the games unlike other players… best fan friendly player is southerland… always game over for fans every game…).. so had to buy another yearbook just to get only couple guys didnt get from games.. now have 2 yearbooks wishing i could magically make it into one… and didnt bring my yearbook cause flyer stated not to bring anything only what will be handed out will be signed but i see they dont follow their own rules specially when they run out of posters for fans who spend 75 for the event… but besides that food was great( more like little snack) the speeches where great by all… great seeing jim have a funny side to him..
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im into photography myself and was wondering if u know where classes are or books best to read on learning the in and outs of slr’s ive always just used the auto funtion lol.. and what do all the different versions of lenses mean when i got mine it came with a if i recall without having to pull it out think its a 25-85? and i had bought myself a 75-300 lense since i like to be able to get shots from far.. not always able to get up close like we all like.. looking at getting another longer zoom either 400 or 500 so i can get my shots from wherever.. but i know there are versions that u can zoom without loosing the whole shot itself (wide angle im guessing) but never know what numbers that go with the zoom length mean what all i see it prices that can be cheap for a longer zoom than ones with short zoom and ones in between.. i love taking shots of scenery from vactions (from being in cape cod) to going to parks and getting shots of nature to sporting events..
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Hi just wondering how many people showed up an dif they were able to sign for them all?
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