I attended the Syracuse University Orange Men’s Big East Basketball game on Saturday night along with 34,615 other, mostly Syracuse, fans. The Orange went on to a 95-77 victory over the rival Villanova Wildcats from Philadelphia. SU called this a sold out game when ticket sales reached 34,616 because they would not sell a seat where a fan could not see the court. T-shirts were made proclaiming the game’s sold out status three weeks in advance of the game. The attendance number is the biggest ever to watch an NCAA basketball game on a college campus.
Knowing I was going to the game, I wanted to tell the game’s story photographically. However, this time, I only took the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle DX lens. I felt such a big game needed something that could handle it. Hope you agree.
Thousands of these "Just me and 34,616 of my friends" t-shirts were sold in advance of the Syracuse-Villanova Big East basketball game held on Saturday, February 27, 2010 in the Carrier Dome on the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, New York.
Putting my new found knowledge of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography to use, I attached a gorillapod to a railing to steady the camera. I took an HDR set of photos to create an HDR image showing most, about 90%, of the seated crowd in the Carrier Dome at the start of the second half of the SU-Villanova basketball game.
SOLD OUT: Here are most of the 34,616 fans at the Syracuse University Orange-Villanova Wildcats Big East Basketball game on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Carrier Dome on the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, New York. Click on Photo to Purchase a "Sold Out" print for your home, office or room.
Views Infinitum 
Wow! Thats a lot of people for a basketball match.
I see that there was room for a lot more. I like that they only sell tickets where people have a chance to see what’s going on.
I hope you will sell many of your fine images to the fans of the team.
I really like ultra wide angle photography. It makes this dome look LARGE!
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Thanks, Carsten. Yeah, they packed them in. There is talk of moving the court into the center which would allow more people. It was an event to be sure.
The wide angle was a lot of fun to use. Tune in tomorrow for another photo from this night.
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Your photos shows very well how great it must have been to watch the game live. I can almost hear the enthusiastic fans join the game with their excited shouting.
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There is nothing like a live event. Sporting, music concert or theater. Even with the long view seat I had, it was great to be a part of it all.
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Look – at – all – that – orange!
I can see these posters up on dorm walls all over campus, complete with a little stick-on arrow that says “This is me!”
Scott, you always manage to capture the exhilaration of sports.
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Yeah, we do love to bring out the orange for big games. Now, there’s a fun idea…stick’em arrows. LOL
Thank you for your comments, Gerry.
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These are so cool!!! 🙂
My Dad is pretty excited about his upcoming Big East weekend! 🙂
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Do you mean the Big East tournament? SU is now ranked Number 1 in the polls. Should be interesting to see how they play tonight against St. Johns and, on Saturday, against Louisville.
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Yes…he and his buddies have been attending for years. 🙂 One of his buddies is my PT, so between the two of them, I’ve heard a lot of tournament talk. lol
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That is a LOT of orange!!
I think the wideangle was the perfect choice. The second image looks amazing!
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I think the HDR came out great. Still learning but this time I knew a lot more and the result was not a surprise.
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You must be happy with your wide angle lens. It sure performed well for this image. I would never have thought of using HDR inside a building.
I’ll bet you planned this shot out well ahead of time. Your image is remarkable.
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The wide angle lens takes a bit of practice and thinking. I’m getting better at it.
Yes, I did plan the shot of the crowd almost as soon as I found I was going to the game. Was not sure if I’d be allowed in that area but no one gave a second glance when I went to the spot.
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All of that orange must have been a little overwhelming to Nova!
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Yep, we blinded them with orange! They certainly played that way after the first 10 minutes when SU took over and never looked back.
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I’m just amazed by the crowd attraction of university sports in North America – great photograph to illustrate the blog.
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Thank you, YB. Yeah, we go a little nuts when the local teams do well. SU is doing very well this year.
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Scott I have yet to learn how to do High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. What I am impressed with is that I can’t tell that is what you did with that second image. That has me stoked on learning more.
I have come via your blog from Kathy’s post about how to get a zillion hits. Though I’m not a professional, photography is a passion. I look forward to reading more of your posts. warm regards, Terrill Welch
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Nice to meet you, Terrill. The book I will soon be reviewing really got me from the try-this-and-see-what-happens to oh-now-I-get-it stage. Still have more to learn to get to the this-is-what-I-need-to-get-it-to-look-the-way-I-want stage. 🙂
That was an excellent question for Kathy. Her answers and the comments from those answers are enlightening. I will take you up on your request to visit all those that took the time to comment on Kathy’s blog during the week.
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Nice shots, the Carrier Dome must really be a great place to view a game..we get the Cuse down this way tomorrow, I look for you guys to beat us pretty bad the first game up there was a fluke !!
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We’ll see. Last game at Freedom Hall, the Cards will have the crowd and emotions on their side. SU wants revenge for losing to them in the Dome. Should be a good game.
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Although I’m not a basketball fan (strictly a baseball girl here!) I must say I love that second photo. I love the width and depth as well as the patterns created by the fans, ceiling and floor. Very cool!
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