Athletes of the Year

Here are my portraits of The News-Sentinel Prep Sports Athletes and Coach of the Year for the 2008-2009 school year.



_{July 2, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - North Side's Aris Allen was named the Prep Sports Boys Athlete of the Year. Allen played for the Redskins football team, was a state finalist wrestler, and won the state championship in the shot-put event at the track and field state championships.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

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_{July 2, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - South Side basketball player Sydney Weinert was named the Prep Sports girls athlete of thee year. Weinert also played tennis and was the high jumper for the Archers' track and field team.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

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_{July 2, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - North Side's Aris Allen was named the Prep Sports Boys Athlete of the Year. Allen played for the Redskins football team, was a state finalist wrestler, and won the state championship in the shot-put event at the track and field state championships.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

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_{July 2, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - South Side basketball player Sydney Weinert was named the Prep Sports girls athlete of thee year. Weinert also played tennis and was the high jumper for the Archers' track and field team.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

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_{June 24, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - After leading his girls basketball team to a Class 3A state championship early this year and the first for any sport at Elmhurst, coach Mark Redding has been named The News-Sentinel's 2008-2009 Prep Sports Coach of the Year.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

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US National Championship Swimming

I spent Tuesday shooting the ConocoPhillips U.S. National Championships and World Championship Trials at the Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI in Indianapolis. It was a good time, but was reminded of just how hard it can be to stay focused when you're seriously sleep-deprived. I rolled into Indy Tuesday morning on a solid 2.5 hours of sleep and averaged about 4 hours per night for the last week or so. My assignment was to photograph and write about a couple of local swimmers who competed and to get some photos of the Olympians.



_{July 7, 2009 - Indianapolis, Ind. - U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte warms up before the start of the preliminary rounds on Day 1 of the ConocoPhillips U.S. National Championships and World Championship Trials at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis on Tuesday, July 7.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}


I've photographed plenty of events, including the Olympic Diving Trials last summer, at the natatorium, but when I got there everything was different. It was set up for TV with additional stage lighting installed that while it was contrasty and bright, it still forced me to use high ISO settings. Generally, I will set strobes to photograph a meet, but since I was not considered a Tier 1 photographer I was not allowed to use strobes or get a straight on look at the swimmers. I had to stay to the sides. I understand completely the necessity to have these sort of tiers of importance for different media outlets, and I am not complaining.



_{July 7, 2009 - Indianapolis, Ind. - U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte powers through the butterfly leg of the mens 400-meter individual medley preliminaries during Day 1 of the ConocoPhillips U.S. National Championships and World Championship Trials at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis on Tuesday. Lochte finished with the top seed time then won the national championship final with a time of 4:06.40.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}


The fact is pictures still have to be made, even if I can't use the equipment I want to use, stand where I want to stand or have to operate on almost no sleep. So I got done what I needed to do. I made some decent photos, but I could tell I wasn't quite on top of my game. I will try to get back to Indy later in the week for another session at the pool, and maybe this time I'll get something a shade better than the "safe" pictures.

Softball POY

_{Homestead pitcher Jacqui Matheis led the Spartans to a 29-1 record, undefeated regular season, a Class 4A No. 1 ranking and national rankings this season. She was among the state's leaders in earned run average, strikeouts and victories and for her accomplishments Matheis has been named The News-Sentinel's 2008-2009 Prep Sports Softball Player of the Year.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

Though I was not initially thrilled when I learned that I would have to add writing duties to my workload a couple of years back, I've become accustomed to it. Given a choice, I'd certainly prefer to go back to telling stories visually. Unfortunately, in these times that's not an option. But what I do appreciate about my current lot is the fact that when I write a story and shoot the photo I have almost complete control over the entire package. I make the decisions on everything except the design - that's another story for another day.

This week I wrote about Jacqui Matheis, a pitcher from Homestead High School's softball team that went undefeated during the regular season and gained national rankings. Matheis was named The News-Sentinel's Prep Sports Softball Player of the Year.

I photographed her in a couple of portrait settings and a couple of action sequences and made a few pictures that I liked. Jacqui was great to work with. She and catcher Nikki Wilson, who could have easily been named the POY herself, geared up in 90-plus heat and blistering sunshine to get in some practice and for the photo shoot. They even shook off my blunder that forced me to make a run to pick up a piece of gear and the cold bottles of Gatorade that I left at home (luckily just 3 miles away.)

In any case, I made a picture I can live with, I wrote a story I wasn't disappointed with and tonight I'll be shooting minor league baseball at Parkview Field. Things are lookin' pretty good from where I'm standing.

So, if you have a minute and the inclination, check out my story about Jacqui Matheis in the Prep Sports section of News-Sentinel.com.

It's not over 'til ...

_{June 20, 2009 - Indianapolis, Ind. - Spencer Anderson, lower left, reacts after safely sliding across home plate to score the game-winning run, as the Panthers and their fans erupt in celebration, to beat the Westfield Shamrocks 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning of the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday at Victory Field in Indianapolis.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

It's not over until it's over!

It's an old saying with may variations, and in the game of baseball it's just as true today as the first day it was said. Saturday, I covered the Indiana Class 4A state championship game between the Snider Panthers and the Westfield Shamrocks at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

Through the first six and two-thirds innings Westfield pitcher Kyle Kramp, a 45th round draftee of the San Francisco Giants, dominated. He allowed two hits and Snider didn't get its first hit until the fifth inning. But with two outs in the final inning, Indiana high school teams play seven innings, Snider found a way to get a run in. Then still holding a 2-1 lead, Kramp had Snider's Tom Zumbaugh down on an 0-2 count. But he hung a pitch over the plate just enough for Zumbaugh to make contact and it got through the infield for an RBI single to score the tying run. Kramp got out of the inning, but the game moved on to an extra frame.

Snider took advantage. Spencer Anderson hit a lead-off double on relief pitcher Nick Crouse then moved to third on a wild pitch. Westfield loaded the bases on two intentional walks with no outs. Snider catcher Alex Mitchell stepped up and delivered a sacrifice fly ball to right field that gave Anderson enough room to dive into home plate for the game-winner.

Through this tournament, Snider came back from late deficits, as much as six and seven runs, in the three games previous, but they looked like the gas was out of the tank throughout this game. This one looked like the final inning was just a formality, but Snider found a way ... again.

Check News-Sentinel.com for stories and more photos.

Craziness in Chicago

I had no idea there were this many fans of Honduras Soccer in this country. I had to get to Soldier Field three hours early to get a parking spot that was within a quarter mile of the stadium. When I parked, I was surrounded by a sea of blue and white. Honduran fans everywhere, singing, dancing, beating drums, cooking and drinking. It was absolute insanity.

As I walked around there were spotty groups of American fans, but not near the number of those wearing blue. I encountered a large group of USA fans that were facing off against a large group of Honduras fans chanting and cheering. All I can say is I always knew that soccer fans get crazy and I've heard horror stories, but this atmosphere is quite different than anything I've experienced.

I'll post more photos later, but here are some from the scene outside Soldier Field Saturday afternoon.

Helio pulls off the hat trick

<sub>May 24, 2009 - Indianapolis, Ind. - Helio Castroneves, second from right, and members of his crew climb the fence to celebrate Castroneves Indy 500 victory on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Castroneves became the just ninth driver to win the famed race three times.
Photo by Chad Ryan.



May 24, 2009 - Indianapolis, Ind. - Helio Castroneves celebrates after becoming the ninth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three times after he pulled away from Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick on a restart in the final 12 laps on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Photo by Chad Ryan.




May 24, 2009 - Indianapolis, Ind. - Helio Castroneves races down the main straight away during Sunday's Indy 500 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Castroneves pulled away from Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick on a restart in the final 12 laps to record his third victory at the Brickyard.
Photo by Chad Ryan.</sub>

Safe at Home

<sub>May 20, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - Snider catcher Katherine Rogers, left, misses tagging Homestead's Melissa Harless at the plate in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game. The Spartans pushed their record to 25-0 with their 13-0 pasting of the Panthers at Homestead.

Photo by Chad Ryan.





May 20, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - Homestead pitcher Jacqui Matheis throws a strike during the Spartans softball team's 13-0 dismantling of the Snider Panthers on Wednesday, May 20 at Homestead. The Class 4A No. 1-ranked Spartans improved to 25-0 with the win.

Photo by Chad Ryan.</sub>

Backlit Baseball

_{May 18, 2009 - Fort Wayne, Ind. - Churubusco's Andrew Grawcock slides into third base as Elmhurst's Nick Williams has to leap to try to catch the throw. Grawcock beat the tag then went in to score a run on the errant throw during Monday's game at Elmhurst's Derbyshire Field.
Photo by Chad Ryan.}

And another one

I wanted to get the fans in the mix, so I set up a portrait station in the lower level of Memorial Coliseum, and here are some of the characters that found their way into my trap.




Here are the names of the fans clockwise from top left of the top six photos:

Fort Wayne Komets fans dressed for the occasion on Friday and a sellout crowd turner out to watch the Komets claim the Turner Cup at Memorial Coliseum. Counter clockwise from top left: Seth, 5, Hayden, 7, and Quincy Cains, 22 mo.; Tom Wisniewski; Kay and Jeff Fabini; Carroll Henry, Peg Smith, Peg Sherman, 91, Tina Mohr and Melanie Reeg; Victoria Ebbing; Dwight McCann.

And these names are the folks in the bottom six photos - again clockwise from the left:

Angela and Hal Baker; Russell Galloway, 80; the section 214 "Whiteboard Guys", Kyle Stevens, Bracken Douglas and Donovan Miller; Jim Lindlag; Nathan Oetting, 8; Sean and Dick Carroll.

Komets Pics

Here are a few photos from last night at Memorial Coliseum. I teamed up with News-Sentinel photographer Ellie Bogue to cover the Fort Wayne Komets' Turner Cup championship-clinching victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Ellie and I came up with a pretty good plan to get everything in, including the video (More on that later). I haven't seen her pictures yet, but I'm sure she did the great job that she always does covering the game. It was fun following the K's this year, but now we're on to the next thing, and if I wouldn't have worked until 4:30 this morning I'd be on Pit Road at Indy right now (as of this writing) getting ready for Pole Day for the Indy 500.

Check out News-Sentinel.com for more photos, slideshows, the great sports writing by Blake Sebring and Reggie Hayes and our video content from the playoffs.


In any case ... here are the pics.



<sub>Fort Wayne's Justin Hodgman, right, slips the puck past Muskegon goalie Kevin Armstrong to score the Komets fourth and final goal in a 4-1 Game 5 victory over the Lumberjack on Friday at Memorial Coliseum. With the win the Komets repeated as IHL champions for the first time in team history.
Photo by Chad Ryan.



Fort Wayne center Justin Hodgman hoists the Turner Cup on Friday after the Komets beat Muskegon to win consecutive IHL titles. Hodgman scored a goal in the Komets 4-1 victory.
Photo by Chad Ryan.




Fort Wayne's Sean O'Connor, right, reaches for a loose puck during the first period of Friday's Turner Cup Finals Game 5 at Memorial Coliseum.
Photo by Chad Ryan.




Fort Wayne's Leo Thomas, right, reacts after beating Muskegon goalie Kevin Armstrong on a two-on-one break during the third period of Friday's Game 5 of the Turner Cup Finals on Friday at Memorial Coliseum.
Photo by Chad Ryan.







Fort Wayne Komets fans cheer and throw confetti at the final horn as the Komets beat Muskegon 4-1 to claim the Turner Cup on Friday in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Coliseum.
Photo by Chad Ryan.




Fort Wayne's Keith Rodger, left, and Dylan Row celebrate after clinching the Turner Cup on Friday at Memorial Coliseum.
Photo by Chad Ryan.




Konstantin Shafranov kisses the Turner Cup after the Komets repeated as Turner Cup championships, beating the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-1 on Friday in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Coliseum.
Photo by Chad Ryan.




Fort Wayne's Leo Thomas pulls away with a mouth full of beer, champagne and whatever else was dumped into the Turner Cup in the locker room as the Komets celebrate their back-to-back Turner Cup championships on Friday at Memorial Coliseum.
Photo by Chad Ryan.




For the first time in team history the Fort Wayne Komets repeated as Turner Cup championships, beating the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-1 on Friday in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Coliseum.
Photo by Chad Ryan.</sub>

Fort Wayne Komets repeat

Here are a few clips from Friday's Turner Cup Finals Game 5 at Memorial Coliseum. The Komets beat the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-1 in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Coliseum to win the best-of-seven series 4-1 and repeat for the first time in team history as Turner Cup champions.

Could be tonight

No motor drive necessary

This is the seventh frame of a game I wasn't planning to shoot today, and I only shot one photo in the sequence - despite having the 8.5 frames per second motor drive capability. So to those of you who think you need a 10 fps motor, I say, "No you don't. Well, not really anyway. OK, You can have it, but you don't have to fire it like a machine gun."



_{Jeudy Valdez of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Class low-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, breaks his bat in the first inning of of the TinCaps' game against the Dayton Dragon on Sunday, May 3, at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Ind. Fort Wayne came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Dragons 4-3, improving to 17-5 on the season.
Photo owned by Chad Ryan and may not be used without written permission}

Opening of Indiana trout season

Alright, so this is a week old. I planned to write a story about a group of guys who get together every year for the opening of the Indiana inland stream trout season. Unfortunately, on the way up to their camp, I came across a huge fire at Lake James. I stopped to shoot the fire for the newspaper and in the course of everything from getting fire info to transmitting photos from a camp site to meeting a friend at the camp who was a little under the influence and wanted to talk for awhile I never made it to bed that night.



To make a long story longer, I had a very long day scheduled that Saturday as I was following the Fort Wayne Komets to Kalamazoo, Mich., to cover their playoff game. What I'm getting at here is I shot the photos but totally crashed before I could write the story then the newspaper didn't have space for it anyway. So, I am presenting the pics here, and I will write the story sometime because it's worth telling.



In any case, I hope you enjoy the photos. I wish I would have shot a few different pics, but I was running on 30+ hours of no sleep. I know - not a valid excuse. I'll try harder next time.

This is a test

This is a test to see if I am smart enough to figure out how to embed video clips from Vimeo into the blog. I've uploaded videos directly to Blogger before, but I am experimenting with using a video hosting service such as Vimeo to do the heavy lifting for me.

In any case this movie is just a short highlight clip from last Saturday's Komets game in Kalamazoo Mich. If all goes well, I plan to produce highlight clips from every game in the Turner Cup finals starting tomorrow night then I will upload them both to Blake Sebring's blog, Tailing the Komets, and here.

So anyway, here goes. I'll see you on the other side as long as nothing blows up.


Komets Test Movie from Chad Ryan on Vimeo.

Ballpark christened

Parkview Field. Fort Wayne, Ind. Home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Class Low-A affiliate of the MLB San Diego Padres.

Photo by Chad Ryan
PickChad dot com

Video tour of new ballpark

If you get the time and you have the interest, check out the short video tour of the brand, spanking new Parkview Field home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps in downtown Fort Wayne, Ind., that I produced for News-Sentinel.com. I enlisted News-Sentinel sports columnist Reggie Hayes and his great sense of humor to help me pull this off.

The funny thing about the soundtrack is that on the day Reggie and I filmed the voice clips, the stadium was testing out the speaker system so there is quite a mix of different songs and audio clips throughout. Initially it was a bit frustrating, but we decided to roll with it, and everything worked out ok. We especially liked the timing of the "Phantom of the Opera" clip as we filmed the section from behind home plate.

In any case, check out the video, but more importantly, check out the ballpark. I cannot wait to shoot baseball in that place - just little more than 24 hours from now. The TinCaps, Class Low-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, are selling standing room only ticket for Thursday's home opener that will feature an F-16 flyover, and fireworks after the game.

Check it out here: News-Sentinel.com Video by Chad Ryan

Portrait shoot with Deshaun Thomas

After a series of three days of scheduling and location availability falling apart, I managed to get in a portrait shoot with high school basketball player Deshaun Thomas for The News-Sentinel's Prep Sports Player of the Year. Everything that could have gone wrong did - until we finally started shooting when it all came together.

Thomas is one of the top high school players in the country and has often been compared to LeBron James. The Ohio State recruit even has a photo hanging in the living room of his house of himself together with the Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar. Thomas has pictures from games played all around the country as he regularly travels to play in AAU tournaments. Next to all those pics is the edition of ESPN Rise magazine that features him on the cover. (I was a little disappointed I didn't get that portrait assignment, but that's the way it goes.)

In any case, the 6'-7" junior is immensely talented on the court. He has an strong inside game, can nail the three all day long and helped lead his high school team, Bishop Luers, to back-to-back Class 2A Indiana state championships, the first two titles in school history. Thomas averages more than 30 points a game and if he can push that number to 33 ppg next season he will be on track to break the all-time Indiana state scoring record set by Damon Bailey in 1990.

Our location, the third in three days, had unforeseen scheduling conflicts that took all of my set-up and light test time, but Thomas was a good sport about it. He started dunking and letting some of the kids at the location take pictures of him then he posed with the young players so the parents could grab a quick photo.

After I got the set all ready to go we started shooting but I decided quickly to go a different direction. So, I got reset and things starting going smooth. I had some good pictures in, and tried a few others that presented some new thoughts. Finally I was ready to wrap, but Deshaun was worked up now and he wanted to try a few other things. Next thing you know, he was showing me action poses he liked then I would throw in other suggestions that I liked and we were rolling again. I finally had to cut it off after an hour and a half so I could strike the set, grab him some dinner and get him back home.

Despite my frustrations with uncontrollable circumstances, doing nearly the entire project on my own time and dealing with others around me who don't understand why I do what I do, we made some pictures that both Deshaun and I like. There are things I would have done a bit differently if I'd had time to test, but we made it happen under tough conditions.