Denver sports photographers | Peter Forsberg

"Peter Forsberg takes a shot on goal during a practice session with the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on January 22, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The 37 year-old Swedish star center who is mulling a comback ran drills with forward Ryan O'Reilly for approximately 45 minutes."

He's back.

Well...almost, sort of, we hope.

My alarm went off at 6:05 this morning and despite every intention to hit the snooze button a few times, I got out of bed and headed to Pepsi Center in search of Peter the great. I'm pretty sure I set a record for arrival time for a photographer and if I never break that record, that's fine by me.

After getting my gear and computer set up I waddled out to the tunnel above the Avs' bench to wait on Peter. He was a little surprised to see three photographers (the Post, AP and myself) as he made his way to the ice shortly before 8am.

The whole practice session was pretty lackluster. What I thought was going to be a complete pre-game skate with the team turned out to be just a 45-minute session with forward Ryan O'Reilly and an assistant coach.

I made a few pictures, transmitted and then went up to the catwalk with Avalanche team photographer Michael Martin to get the run down on the strobes. Getty now owns a set in the building so I wanted to be prepared for my next assignment there.

I hope it all works out for Peter. He seemed in great spirits during the press conference and I'm sure the Avs would love to have him on board if he can get in shape. Only time will tell.

-JCE

Denver sports photographers

Até Breve!

E aí gentes boas dessa blogosfera automobilística, como todos têm passado? Venho aqui para oficializar de vez o novo momento do blog. Como é possível notar esse espaço não é atualizado desde o ano passado, há mais de um mês. Foi falta de respeito da minha parte "abandonar" o blog assim, peço desculpas por isso, principalmente ao pessoal que vinha aqui direto, e aos amigos que comentavam com frequência.

Queria dizer que estou suspendendo o blog por tempo indeterminado, é melhor vir aqui e postar isso, do que simplesmente não aparecer mais. Não quer dizer que está cancelado, terminado ou encerrado, apenas suspenso mesmo até que eu possa voltar a me dedicar a este espaço como vinha fazendo antes.

O motivo? Bom, uma série de fatores me levaram a essa decisão e eu poderia não compartilhar, mas não é o meu jeito de ser. O principal é que eu dei uma desanimada boa com o automobilismo, não sei bem porque, talvez pela frustração em tentar ser piloto, ou por estar muito ligado em moto de um tempo pra cá. E também assumi novas responsabilidades no trabalho que me tomam muito mais tempo. Continuo gostando muito de carro de corrida, e tenho um arquivo gigantesco com ótimas imagens, por isso tenho certeza que volto daqui um tempo a atualizar o blog. Mas tem que ser bem feito, com imagens bonitas e diferenciadas, informações relevantes e etc, porque pra fazer de qualquer jeito prefiro não fazer.

Espero que entendam minha decisão, e queria agradecer a todos os amigos que fiz, e a todos que deram sugestões e me enviaram fotos. Não é uma despedida, mas apenas um "Até Breve", logo logo estarei de volta com gás pra tornar novamente esse espaço um dos mais bacanas para os fãs de Carros de Corrida.

Mas fiquem a vontade para olhar tudo que já apareceu aqui antes com o auxílio da pesquisa aí do lado. E quem quiser bater um papo ou falar alguma coisa é só enviar um comentário ou um e-mail que o meu acesso continua o mesmo.

Valeu gente! See you soon!

Ps: Ah sim, a foto em questão é do brasileiro Bruno Senna a bordo de uma das Lotus JPS que foi de seu tio, em alguma homenagem em um desses festivais pelo mundo.

Denver sports photographers | DU Gymnastics

"Denver's Amanda Johanson is introduced to the crowd before a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011."

"Denver's Melodie Pulgarin Linero launches off of the vault and scores a 9.60 during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011."

"Denver's Amanda Johanson celebrates her 9.675 bars routine with teammate Kristina Coccia during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011."

"Denver's Louise Mercer performs a gienger release on the uneven bars during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. Mercer scored a 9.850 to finish tied for second on the event and in third in the all-around."

"Denver's Louise Mercer celebrates her 9.850 performance on the uneven bars during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. Mercer finished tied for second place on uneven bars with BYU's Natalie Eyre."

"Denver's Melodie Pulgarin Linero spots her landing on the balance beam during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. Pulgarin Linero scored a 9.725 on the event."

"Denver's Louise Mercer, left, collects her thoughts as she receives some last minute instructions from teammate Amanda Johanson before competing on balance beam during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. Mercer scored a 9.525 on the event."

"Denver's Taylor Stanford, left, and Jaleesa Wilson during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011."

"Denver's Brianna Springer shows her flexibility on the floor exercise during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. Springer scored a 9.725 on floor to help her finish in fourth place in the all-around."

"Denver's Amanda Johanson tries to spot her landing on the floor exercise during a quad meet against Georgia, Air Force and Brigham Young at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. Johanson scored a 9.50 on the event."

As someone whose personal style is driven by strong graphical elements, gymnastics is easily one of my favorite sports to shoot.

A little creativity and a lot of preparation went into yesterday's meet and I think that it paid off pretty well.

Gymnastics is one of those sports where you can often find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time and thus, without a picture.

Knowing the routines is half the battle so taking something that I learned from friend and amazing sports photographer Dave Black, I went the day before the meet to watch the girls practice and chart their routines. I pretty much knew exactly where the girls were going to be and what skills they were performing so I was able to map out the ideal place to sit to make the best pictures.

Is it a lot of extra work? Sure, but it makes a world of difference when you only have seconds to make a picture.

I also took advantage of the opportunity to set a remote camera in the rafters above the uneven bars. This also cost me some time since I had to arrive nearly three hours before the meet to get it set up.

Shooting with a camera in my hands and subsequently firing the remote camera at the same time helped me create two completely different pictures of the same moment of time like the pictures of Louise Mercer above. I do remotes all the time at sports like basketball, hockey and soccer but since DU holds their meets in a different smaller gym this was the first time I was able to do one high and above the competitors.

Although I struggled making some amazing feature pictures (new year's resolution) I still think I came away with a solid variety of images. DU next competes in Magness Arena during regionals in April so I have some time to clean up my mistakes and improve upon my ideas, images for that meet.

-JCE

Denver sports photographers

Denver wedding photographers | 2010 Pictures of the Year

The thing that I love the most about photographing weddings is finding the unique, subtile moments that not only highlight my visual style but also the bride and groom.

2010 brought a myriad of fantastic environments from which to work. I experienced everything from rain in the mountains to gorgeous daytime light at a fine art center to the classiest, classic downtown hotels.

More than anything else, I love the opportunity to create amazing friendships through pictures. There is no better feeling than when I run into a former couple and they say, "remember when ____?" I get to spend the entire day with people on one of the most important days of their lives and making once in a lifetime moments tangible, through pictures, is enough proof for me that I have the greatest job on earth.

Cheers to a 2011 that hopefully include grooms with mohawks, endless color, brides who dance before 10am, bow-ties, breathtaking mountain light, and grand exits on a boat with my flippy-floppies.

-JCE

Colorado wedding photographers

Denver sports photographers | Pictures of the Year

2010 was a big year for me. I didn't have any internships to fall back on and finished oh so close to a staff job with The Denver Post but as my first full year devoted entirely to freelancing, I loved every minute of it.

While other editorial and wedding work kept me busy, this past year was dominated by sports. I covered everything from eight year olds to the professionals in just about every major sport you can think of and I endured the entire spectrum of weather doing so. Sometimes I was challenged to bring back the picture by one of my clients and others it was a personal challenge, just shooting for myself.

I made both significant personal and professional strides during the course of the last 365 days. I was published in Sports Illustrated for the first time, I secured a contract with one of the top sports photo agencies in the world but more importantly than anything, I strengthened my relationships with several local photographers, much better and wiser than I, who taught me so much.

It's amazing what can happen when you buy a round of beers and then just listen. Trust me, you'll learn a lot.

Going through my images from this past year also pointed out a weakness: feature photos. While I feel I had a great year capturing peak action, I need to point my lens away from the field of play more often and search out small, intimate moments that tell the story of the game in a way that most of the audience isn't privy too.

I think I've found my New Year's resolution.

I plan on keeping it.

My favorite wedding photos from 2010 are up next so stay tuned.

-JCE

Denver sports photographers

Denver sports photographers | Chargers vs Broncos

"Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers leads teammates center Scott Mruczkowski #63 and quarterback Billy Volek #7 out of the tunnel before a game against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado."

"Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado."

"Safety Eric Weddle #32 of the San Diego Chargers makes an interception on a pass intended for wide receiver Brandon Lloyd #84 of the Denver Broncos as they battle in the air with safety Steve Gregory #28 during the first quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The San Diego Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-28."

"Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The San Diego Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-28."

"Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd #84 of the Denver Broncos scores a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The San Diego Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-28."

"Wide receiver Malcom Floyd #80 of the San Diego Chargers makes a one-handed 41-yard reception for a first down against cornerback Perrish Cox #32 of the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The San Diego Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-28."

"Running back Ryan Mathews #24 of the San Diego Chargers is brought down by cornerback Andre' Goodman #21 of the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The San Diego Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-28."

"Wide receiver Kelley Washington #87 of the San Diego Chargers is tackled after a reception by cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson #22 of the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The San Diego Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-28."

That's all folks. After a combined 21 high school and NFL games, football in Colorado is officially over for me until August.

Although I wish I had the opportunity to shoot the playoffs, I really can't complain.

Pro Bowl bound quarterback Philip Rivers came to town so I wanted to focus on him and make a variety of images. Since neither team was in playoff contention I took a few risks. Some of them payed off, some didn't.

I went up to the fifth level of the stadium like last week but this time I chose to shoot the backlit side of the field. Invesco has some great light in the winter and creates a few nice pockets of light to work with. It worked out when Rivers launched a pass in the first quarter in a spot where only the top half of his body and the ball were illuminated by the sunlight, leaving the turf to fall to nearly black.

The second half was relatively lackluster until the Broncos scored two late touchdowns and recovered an onside kick with under a minute to play. Tebow heaved back-to-back 60-yard hail mary attempts but both fell short.

I guess we'll have to wait for him to become a hero next year.

-JCE

Denver sports photographers