A record-breaking crowd of 15,558 was the largest ever to attend an NCAA women's gymnastics meet. They actually had to turn people away! #1 ranked Florida was in town, and they proved they deserved their ranking. Utah didn't do too poorly, losing by a score of 197.000-196.750. It was senior night. There are three seniors, but only two competed because one is injured. It was a whirlwind for me, and lots of fun. Here are 11 shots for C&C, all from the MKIV except the crowd shot, which was taken with a 5D + Canon fisheye.
#1. I live in the Arizona and Scorpions don't look like that I wish that they did.
# 3. Great capture! Would have been nice if the last girl had some light on her face but this is a great looking shot. Very Artsy look and feel. You nailed it.
#8. Yes, more would be very nice! Is she a freshman? I do not remember her from last years post.
Thanks again Russ for taking us through this meet.
John: Thanks. I'm going to have to read the brief.
Thanks, Bryan!
Frank: A couple of them have competed in the Olympics, but in most cases for other countries. Nansy Damianova, for example, who is pictured in 1 and 8, competed for Canada in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. One of the gymnasts who graduated last year, Daria Bijak, competed for Germany in 2008. At college age, these women are relatively old for the sport and for most of them, this is the end of the line. One of the stars who graduated a couple of years ago is part of Cirque du Soleil last I heard. Thanks for your feedback.
Many thanks, Bret!
Michael: Ha! I hear you. And I concur with your feedback on #3. Yes, the athlete in #'s 1 and 8 is a freshman. She combines her attractiveness with beautiful gymnastics, so she is going to be fun to watch for years to come. Thank you for your comments/feedback.
Wow, #5 and #9 are outstanding... plain outstanding. 11's cool too, yes, but #5 and #9 stick out for me.
Re #5 though... I don't have the gymnastics experience you do (truth is my flexibility kinda sucks and that held me back! ) but isn't it bad etiquette to yell "HEY LOOK HERE" during her routine like you must have there? Nice capture.
Thanks, Jerry. It's almost comical how many cameras are pointed at these athletes as they perform (I doubt there are many of my shots of floor, for example, where there isn't another photographer or videographer in the background). So I imagine it would be to these girls' advantage to play it up rather than be intimidated. Still, it always surprises me when I look at the photos and it looks like they were playing to the camera.
Mark: Yeah, it's remarkable. An average of 13,503 across the 6 home meets this season. I don't think there's another gymnastics program that draws as many fans. Utah has a very strong program, but it's much more than that. Their coach is a marketing genius and works tirelessly to promote his program. Evidently, he's doing something right. Thanks for your comment.
I wish that they did.
) but isn't it bad etiquette to yell "HEY LOOK HERE" during her routine like you must have there? Nice capture.