Sunday, January 22 was Indiana University's game against Penn State. Those of you who didn't know or don't remember, it was also the day Joe Paterno passed away.
It's my belief that the team had taken it upon themselves to make this game a game in memory of Paterno and of course it's not a memorial game without a win. Sadly things didn't go according to plan for them, and very quickly the game turned into a HEATED game. A fight nearly broke out with about 6 seconds left in the second half, largely due to player aggression and some abysmal refereeing.
Scott,
I am assuming you were asking the OP this question but I was just going to say the same thing and agree with Pat regarding the crops on the last 3. Honestly just get rid of the last 3 because the 1st shot of the series has more of the elements necessary for a great shot (in comparison with the other 3 which have cut off limbs, motion blur, etc.). Nice exposure, good composition and peak action. The only thing I can't speak for is if it is sharp or not. The OP mentions motion blur in the last 3 shots that keep bugging him, but honestly I can't make that call on the 1st shot in this series because it is downsized.
Scott, thanks for the question. I do believe honestly that the first of the sequence is my favorite for the pretty much the same reasons that Billy has mentioned (cut off limbs, needs to be re-cropped, bit of motion blur) Though the first of the four is smaller (my error in downsizing) I can confirm has no blur at all! That said, I'm biased, because when in the course of taking pictures of a team, you're trying to make them look good, and the first one is the only of the four where it doesn't look like IU has successfully impeded the basket. For that reason, the biased "best-looking" action is between the 3rd and 4th.
Connor,
I have to politely, but strongly disagree with you on that one. The first shot of the sequence initially caught my eye and I was 'WOWED' by the frame even before I saw the other 3. My first thought was not that the PSU player made the basket or was being fouled, etc. it was "What a great block by #25!" Perhaps you see it differently because you were there to see the play develop live, but I believe the shot not only stands alone very well, but it does not reflect poorly on IU whatsoever. But then again, that's just my opinion.
Billy, I'm very glad you disagree, and even more so that you've told me. Looking at it your way, I'm now seeing it that way as well! Having such input is more than I could ask for, and it's given me a lot more confidence about what I should be thinking about when I'm looking at my pictures.
Good photos. Being an IU fan, naturally I saw this game. I like photo 1 of Christian Watford and the only thing better would have been to get the profile view of the Penn State player and his demeanor of determination, desperation, or however he may have appeared.
