Saturday, October 23rd 2010 by Stephen Brashear
US President Barack Obama works the rope line following a get-out-the-vote rally for US Senator Patty Murray at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington USA 21 October 2010.
President Obama came to University of Washington in Seattle to campaign for incumbent Senator Patty Murray. The last time I covered Mr. Obama was during the campaign in 2008. Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to the ‘pit’ in front of the stage, so I made do photographing the event from press risers across from and adjacent to the stage. Fortunately, the President spoke for a while so I was able to move between the risers a few times. Here are few photographs from the event.
US President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a get-out-the-vote rally while US Senator Patty Murray watches at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington USA 21 October 2010.
US President Barack Obama and US Senator Patty Murray acknowledge the crowd during a get-out-the-vote rally for the senator at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington USA 21 October 2010.
Wednesday, October 20th 2010 by Stephen Brashear
The Starbucks wine selection from a high angle.
A detail photo of Starbucks-branded wine glasses. I really like the stemless glasses.
On Sunday, I photographed a newly remodeled Starbucks on Capitol Hill in Seattle that will serve beer and wine in the evening. It’s a great idea to try and boost business during what are under-utilized time for Starbucks stores. Because of east coast deadlines, I had a about half hour to photograph the ‘friends and family’ event and a half hour to edit and transmit pictures. I prefer to spend more time shooting and less time transmitting, but this was not to be one of those assignments as it appeared the wi-fi and cellular gods colluded and conspired against me. I arrived early set up my laptop and tested out Starbucks new wi-fi hotspot, which was pretty quick. I also had Verizon data connection and had four bars. After shooting for about a half hour (maybe a few minutes longer), I had a nice selection of images for my editors. I tried hard to show the the differences between this Starbucks and other Starbucks in a couple of frames. Here are a few of the images:When it came time to transmit, I could not get transmit using Starbucks wi-fi network. My connection kept timing out and then my computer kept trying to connect to the old network, which for some reason was still up. While I like to use wi-fi hotpsots (I buy a cup of coffee and a pastry, so I’m not completely freeloading) and am grateful for them because they tend to be faster than my Verizon broadband connection, I have a back up that (usually) works. However, on this day my backup failed me … mostly. When it came time to transmit I had no bars. No bars. I think I was transmitting at 6KB/sec. After struggling for a few minutes, I found myself wandering around on Capitol Hill with a laptop in one hand tethered to my cell phone in the other hand, starting and stopping as bars would spike and my transmission rates would increase. It drew more than a few stares from drivers and passers by. I was able to get the photos transmitted, only a little after my deadline. After packing up, I decided to send one more photo (Deadline had passed, but I thought it was a photo they might be able to use online) and sure enough, like clockwork, the Starbucks connection worked again and I looked at my cell phone signal strength and it was at full strength. Here are a few more pictures from the assignment. Some are redundant, but I like to give editors options.
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Sunday, October 17th 2010 by Stephen Brashear
The Seattle Sounders FC came back from a one goal deficit to defeat the only team in Major League Soccer that they have not previously beaten … Chivas U.S.A. Here is a photograph of jubilation by the Sounders with what I am leading myself to believe as dejection by a Chivas player in the background. When shooting reaction shots, I’m always trying to get both in the same frame to better tell the story. Not the best, but it comes a little close. I would have like to have seen more faces of the Sounder players, but they all ignored my pleas to celebrate more.
Seattle Sounders FC players including Blaise Nkufo, second from right, celebrate a goal by Osvaldo Alonso during play against Chivas USA on XBox Pitch at Qwest Field 15 October 2010. The Sounders won the game 2-1.
Friday, October 15th 2010 by Stephen Brashear
I covered the Oregon Ducks against the Washington State Cougars in Pullman Saturday. WSU put up a pretty good fight for the first half of the game, but Oregon was too much. The game also featured one of the biggest collision on a kick off I’ve ever seen and heard. No, unfortunately (maybe fortunately) I did not get a picture of Kenjon Barner getting knocked out cold. I wasn’t in the right spot for that. Though I did get a particularly telling image of LaMichael James’ reaction to his teammate’s injury. Barner stood up before leaving the field in an ambulance and played later in the season.
Here is a shot of Oregon wide receiver Jeff Maehl hurdling a defender. It seems he does that a lot.
This was one of my first games shooting with my Canon 1D Mark IV, which is a really nice camera … really nice. The file sizes are large and look really good, especially when upgrading from a 1D Mark II (I stayed away from the Mark III).
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Thursday, October 7th 2010 by Stephen Brashear
The Seattle Sounders FC won their second consecutive U.S. Open Cup Tuesday against the Columbus Crew at Qwest Field. I came away with a somewhat unique action shot from behind the goal. It would have been better if the the post to the left wasn’t there, but I will take it as they are hard to come by. It almost has all the elements convergering: Steve Zakuani’s face is framed through an opening in the net, he is taking a shot on a diving Columbus Crew goalie.
Seattle Sounders FC forward Steve Zakuani takes a shot on Columbus Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenbaum during the U.S. Open Final on XBox Pitch at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington Tuesday 5 October 2010. The Sounders won the game 2-1.
Here is a photo of Blaise Nkufo, one of the Sounders two designated player, raising the World Cup after the game.
Seattle Sounders FC forward Blaise celebrates winning the the U.S. Open Final on XBox Pitch at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington Tuesday 5 October 2010. The Sounders defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1.
