I'm Actually Glad It Rained

July 9, would the FIRST time ever for me to actually watch [and photograph] the UAAP Opening Day Ceremonies.  This time, though, 'twas going to be a risky one.  Rain was the only thing on the menu.  Host Ateneo, as Mr. Palou mentioned  at the July 4 UAAP Press Con,  would be prepared none the less.

That rainy first half experience at the Azkals win a week previous was still fresh on my mind on that Friday evening, July 8, I just couldn't help but feel frustrated, knowing that more likely than not, the opening would be a wet, wet, wet one.  Well, just have to deal with it - I thought. 

In hindsight, now, looking back now on Saturday [Even though I lost A WHOLE LOT of potentially Good Images due to a technical oversight - Bad Trip, Bad Day at the Office] - I am somehow weirdly thankful it rained.

Rain & Mud put a totally different dynamic [drama] to the UAAP Opening Day Ceremonies.  The more difficult the shooting conditions were the more one had to adjust [quicker], and to be more resourceful.  The Unexpected can make one a better photographer - That's what I say - if one Learns from it, that is.

BUT, enough of that.  It's over and done with at this point.  Those who attended will probably remember the event for different reasons.  Maybe some dancers will remember the "fun" of doing their routine  under the rain, with mud on their feet, some organizers might never forget many anxious moments, maybe one or two photographers will regret not having prepared for the rain, some might have even regretted attending in the first place -- who knows.
Everyone of us will have their OWN favorite and not so favorite moments from that afternoon, [Fortunately, as a photographer, I get a chance to capture the moments I like {and then some}] Well, point is -- different strokes for different folks.

Now, if it's down to my four favorite photos, er, I mean moments - They would be: a shot of some UST UAAP Basketball jocks passing in front of me, a shot of some Lady Eagle UAAP Volleybelles with their light blue umbrellas, a shot of the Ateneo Choir singing and some cadets holding a huge Filipino flag, with the image of Jose Rizal on a big screen serving as a backdrop, and snap of Bianca Gonzalez. [Who knows, one of these days I'll get to meet her, and make on-the-spot portaits] 


All in all, Saturday was real stretch for me because of the weather but in some weird way I'm glad that it rained.

 UST Growling Tigers Melo, Kevin & Jeric

V-League Champs Fille, Alyssa, Gem, Natasha, Carol, Gretchen & Denise.

 The Immortal Atenean, Jose Rizal.

Bianca Gonzalez --- True Hues of Blue.

 Greg Slaughter -- Leading the way Fourward.

 Sponge Cola -- "Soaking" it all up.

A "drizzling" routine no less.

 

 July 9, 2011 --  Fire and Rain.

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Family Snapshots [No game faces here]

A day after the Azkals-Brave Reds match, though I could spend a whole day at home, taking my sweet time editing JPEGs, and in between playing PS3 games. Turns out the UAAP Press Lunch was to be held at The Topaz Room at the Gateway in Araneta center on that day. 

Seeing my media colleagues again, having a catered lunch, getting souvinier tees, getting primed for Season 74 [Opening Day ceremonies were to be held 6 days later at the Marikina Sports Complex], possibly making  new acquiantances, and of course taking photos [this time I brough a handy cam too], having some participating hoopsters from all the 8 Universities all together in this salo-salo of sorts is something a sports photographer and die-hard UAAP fan like me simply couldn't miss. Not only that, being relatively new to the UAAP Basketball circuit, it would the FIRST time ever for me to attend such an affair.

There are only a small handful of hoopsters that I address by their first names - JaiR, SimonA, EmanM, JustinC, ChrisC, AlexN, LesterA plus acouple more guys that I occasionally have small talk with.  I call Boom  Gonzalez "Boom".  I address TJ Manotoc as Mr. Manotoc.  I don't want to be "presko". That's just me.  Maybe, after Season 74 I can have a couple of more acquiantances in the UAAP "family"- and so the more fun it'll be for me come any UAAP event.  My media colleagues, those guys, I call by their first names of course.

Botom line -- Archer, Bulldog, Eagle, Falcon, Maroon, Tiger,Tamarraw, or Warrior -- hoopster, footballer, swimmer, volleyball jock, or softballer -- die hard fan, coach, TV crew, photographer, commentator, writer, referee, -- all have roles to play in making the UAAP work, promoting  different sports, while upholding the Ideals & Values of the league.  I look at it as one big family, where school fanaticism gives way to sportsmanship and fair play, where concern for one's ego gives way to teamsmanship, where one doesn't have to know everybody, - one just has to do his part the best one can - in order for the league to stay healthy, [also for some organizations to generate business] and for everyone to be better athletes, photographers, trainers, TV producers, students -- at the end of each day. And if one makes a few or a lot of friends along the way - Great.  Even better.

Here are some RANDOM snaps from that lunch.

 Jerich [Ready as he's ever gonna be]

 U.P.'s new courstide reporter [a looker no less]

Simon [On his last playing year]

Kirk [Keeping the faith] 

Chris [Jay-R look alike].

 Janus & Lester [Proud . . .

 Alex & Jeric  . . .Falcons]

 Coach Austria [Enjoying the moment].

 Coach Altamirano [Cautious optimism?]

Coach ["Itagalog mo na lang"] Flores.

 Coach Codinera [Now a Warrior]

 Coach Pido [Hands down, the most humorous of them all].

 Mr. Hard Ball himself  [Boyet, the Sison]

 Asst. Coach Trillo [Light moment]

Mike Gamboa  [Still haunted by Season 73's nightmare?]

 Mike Silungan [Time to move On].

 Coach Black [Looking Fourward].

 Coach Pumaren [Rarin to go]

 Coach Dandan [Break the streak Coach!].

I just love this guy !  Must be great to have a few beers with Coach Pido.

 Joey Villar [Grizzled columnist].

 Bacon [In focus].

 The Dynamic Duo [Terence & RR].

 Once more, for the photogs.

On the eve of the UAAP Board decision -- [Bobby P Jr.-2nd fr the right]

Will this Bulldog be let out to play ?

 Mr. TJ Manotoc [Take five].

 U.S.T.'s new courtside reporter

[She's on the cov of the latest issue of Sense & Style].

The Board [An unguarded moment].

The Ball is in your Court, Gentlemen.

 [Roughly 2 years ago, It was Mr. Richard Palou 

who gave me my first Official UAAP Media Pass - for soccer]

Gotta thank this man, Mr. Olivares, 

for giving me a lot of Opportunities.

[I wouldn't be where I am now if not for Rick]

Someone once said, good company makes any meal a FEAST.

Rightfully so.

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Flagrancy Photographed

Above is a 4-Frame sequence of the Sri Lankan foul on Stephan Schrock.  This tackle earned the Azkals a free penalty kick, which Phil Younghusband promptly converted, to seal our 4-0 triumph over the Brave Reds last Sunday.

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P.S.

AFTER a few postings dealing with UAAP Season 74, I will release my PHOTOS of the 4 GOALS by the Azkals.  Those points were netted by Chieffy Caligdong [Goal #1], Phil Younghusband [Goal #2], Angel Guirado [Goal #3] , and Phil Younghusband [Goal #4].  Abangan.

A Few More

Here are a few more photos from the match.

What the the Sri Lankans sorely lacked in their home game vs the Azkals

--People Power--

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A Kiss from the Captain -- and a Few Images from July 3

Things in the Rizal Memorial Media Room didn't turn out frenzied or uncomfortably congested as I had predicted in my previous blog entry  --  It was relatively comfortable -- but it was the weather that turned out to be the party spoiler on the Azkals-Brave Reds match on July 3.  As if ON CUE, once the match got underway - it rained - not only that - it poured !  Luckily, I was prepared, having invested in a "pro rainsleeve" for my DSLR.  I had used that rainsleeve last May, in a rain-drenched soccer match - the result -- No Problemo.  Was pretty much soaked but my DSLR remained dry.  The ONLY thing that got wet was the exterior of the lens hood. From the hood screw backwards everything was secured, AIR-TIGHT and  DRY. 

This time, it rained so hard, that even with a hood on my tele, the lens filter was smudged with water droplets -- of course one never points his camera up when it's raining -- my viewfinder too was constantly wet, not to mention my glasses [which I had to keep on wiping] -- but, well, all that was just part of the "fun" that afternoon. My backpack was so soaked but fortunately it wasn't enough for my other DSLR and laptop to get wet.

Photos that could have been so many times sharper, if not for the rain, turned out hazy. Fortunately, by the 2nd Half the sky had cleared.  Photogs without camera waterproofing were good again to go [I heard of 2 photographers whose cameras simply stopped functioning, after getting their equipment wet.   Lottsa Guts but No Glory]  

Had more "normal", decent action pics by the 2nd half.  Despite the hassle of shooting under a strong downpour - at least now I know that my rainsleeve is not enough to protect my DSLR in a real downpour [improv has to be made].  If I'm a smarter, better photog, after July 3, even just a wee bit, I'm happy with that.

Here are some random favorites from the Win.

The Captain sends a Kiss to his Lovey Dovey just after the Triumph.

Three Stars & the Son

Stephan

Drenched to the Bone

Angel Sidesteps

Aly Attemps

There'll be a few more postings of random pics from July 3 soon.

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