NBA Jams…Photographing the LA Clippers from the floor at The Staples Center.

IS IT THE SHOES?!?

Ok, now that I’ve lost half of you with an obscure-ish video game reference, I’ve got something exciting to share! I had the amazing privilege of photographing the LA Clippers versus the Golden State Warriors on Saturday from the floor at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. This was seriously one of the coolest things I have ever done. Not only was this the first NBA game I have ever been to, it was also the first basketball game I have ever photographed, talk about some pressure! Arriving early, myself, and my friends and fellow shooters who came along, Sarah and Emily, got a chance to meet up with Andy Bernstein, Director of Photography for the Staples Center, got my credentials, and then had a quick tour of the inner workings of the press room and gear storage. Andy and his assistant Johnny were great guides and hosts and awesome people to meet; not to mention, amazing photographers as well, make sure to take a look at Andy’s work.

The staff was a great help as well, giving directions and helping me navigate around the huge center.Standing on the floor and looking up at all the seats really made you feel small out there.I got to prep my gear, then headed out to shoot the first quarter from slot 4 on the Warriors side. The action was insane, and shooting was tough, switching back and forth from a Canon 1Ds Mark III with a 70-200mm lens for down-court shots, and a Canon 1D Mark IV with a 24-70mm for the up close action.

After that, I took the 2nd and 3rd quarter to wander and photograph all through the center, before returning to shoot out along side Andy in the number 13 slot for the final period. The game was great, really face paced, and both teams really played hard. In the end the Clippers prevailed, beating the Warriors 112 to 104. Afterwards, Andy walked myself, Sarah, and Emily around the floor, showing us where he had placed remote cameras to capture all the action, and he snapped a photo of the three of us as a memento. As I said before, this was an amazing experience, and I am thankful to have been given the opportunity. That being said, there are some huge personal thankyous in order. First off, thank you to Rich Fuller and Andy Bernstein for setting the whole thing up and offering me the opportunity. Thanks again to Andy and Johnny for being such great hosts, and thank you to the staff of the Staples Center for all their help as well. Lastly,   thank you to the Clippers and Warriors for a very exciting game. This was a day I definitely won’t be forgetting.

Let me know what you guys think of my shots!

-Joe

PS: Here’s me on the floor, camera in each hand! Haha!

Michael Hussar, White: A Decade, book signing and party.

This past weekend I got the opportunity to photograph artist Michael Hussar’s book signing for “White: A Decade” at the awesome Studio Servitu in Los Angeles, California. The event was great, and being an admirer of Michael’s work for some years now, it was amazing to finally get a chance to come face to face with his work, and the man behind it. What struck me first, aside from how beautiful these pieces are, was the size, these were somewhere in the neighborhood of around 4-8ft by 6-10ft in size, definitely awe inspiring. The party and reception was a blast, with a good number of great guests, including Kat Von D, and members from a good number of bands, including Vampires Everywhere. One of the highlights of the night was Michael’s live painting demonstration, in which he created a portrait of the beautiful Miss Crash. To top it off, after the guests had left for the evening, I got to have a drink and a talk with Michael himself, which was a great way to end the night. A special thanks to Michael, Jane, Crash and the ladies and gents of Studio Servitu for a wonderful and inspiring evening, hope to do it again soon! And, if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out Michael’s work, and his new book.

If you are looking for pictures from the photo booth and event, the gallery can be found here: http://t.co/QeILwLI

-Joe

Michael Hussar Live Painting.

The Stars Are Maligned 11-11-11 Event Article.

I had a chance to cover an event at Studio Servitu last week in Los Angeles. The event was a gallery showing for the art and work of Nick Kushner, Rudy Coby, and Anthony Silva. If you are unfamiliar with any of these artist I urge you to click the links and take a look, some amazing talent all around. Lip Service was one of the great sponsors of the evening, and just posted an article about the night featuring some of the photos we took, give it a look HERE. Some great guests were in attendance, including Marilyn Manson and Janice Dickinson. A big thank you to Jaysen Turner as well, without him it would have been impossible to cover all the goings on of the evening. The photographs will be posted in a gallery online soon, so attendees can grab the shots they are in.