Santa Barbra Polo Club

 
The  Santa Barbara Polo Club had a special memorial weekend tournament. Since there where tons of clouds in and out the sky for most of Sunday morning. I decided to drive up to Santa Barabra  and shoot Polo, something I have never shot before. I thought for a while that I wanted to show the classiness of the sport, but at the same time do something unusual, something that wouldn't first come to your mind when you see polo photos.  I always wanted to try a new technique of shooting, called RAW. I went home later that day and didn't know what to do with all of the RAW images I shot. So I converted it to HDR . (If you look back at the Canada photos from July, those are HDR) something I have never seen before with Polo, or any sport rather. so I went for it. Im not sure how I feel about the photos in HDR. but it is different so I think I kinda like it. I hope you do too!

On Sunday, May 25 2008 2 members of FIB polo club watch their future opponents as the tournament progresses. into the finals. at the Santa Barabra Polo Club.

Team Long Beach takes hold of the ball to eventually assist a teammate for the victory goal over team Windsor 12-11

Long Beach polo, gets ready to play the finals, with their boot shined and helmets ready at the Santa Barabra Polo club. Sunday May 25,2008

Team Gehetche is upset when they are defeated in the semi finals to team Piocho. one player says '' The refs where not on our side today, we played well but could have played better.''  

Players fight for the ball. In the finals of the Memorial Day Polo Tournament at the Santa Barabra Polo Club on sunday, May 25 2008.

Red Bull Air Race San Diego

Red Bull Air Race was awesome. The pilots are among the best in the world. They're traveling at over 250 mph at 15 meters above the ground. Going to the show was a last minute decision . I figured that I could not get my own credentials unless I was with someone, like Getty or iconsportsmedia.com. So I did my research and located the tallest hotel on the bay over looking the course, knowing  it would provide me with the best vantage points. And it was!! The Manchester Hyatt  was a Great place to shoot from. I was level or above the planes and at some parts of the course it looked as if the planes were going to fly into the building in which I was standing. 

I want to thank Papa Doug, and Joe Jackson for there tremendous generosity at the hotel- I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate it.

And please check out Getty's photos from the event. The photographer was one who I really admire and respect. His name is Donald miralle.