Monster home run and the $73 socks
I began my morning (which I was supposed to have off) by heading out to shoot the supposedly undefeatable U.S. Softball team. It was generally assumed the U.S.A. would demoralize every team they played on their way to yet another gold medal. Somebody forgot to tell this outcome to Japan as they went eight scoreless innings (softball is supposed to be seven innings). I was nearly falling asleep with the boring pitchers’ match that featured exactly one play (which was garbage).
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
Nikon D3, 400mm, f4, 1/5000th
In Olympic softball when they go into extra innings each team starts with a base runner on second base to speed up the process of determining a winner. In the ninth inning USA hit a single that scored the base runner from second
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2500th
Prior to that happening I was hoping Japan would pull off the upset because it would make it a much bigger story than an excepted USA win. Bigger stories mean more image usage which means more sales.
I had been playing a game of musical third base coaches where no matter where I stood the coach ended up moving right into my shot when the pitch was thrown. See below.
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2500th
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
All thoughts of a Japan upset went out the window when USA slugger Crystl Bustos stepped to the plate with two runners on in the ninth. I lined myself up where I thought I would have a clear shot. Wrong spot!
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
Luckily that was a ball and I didn’t miss anything by being blocked. Now it was like a carefully thought out chess match where one wrong move would be my demise. I found a clear spot to shoot from and was rewarded with Bustos hitting a massive home run that nearly went out of the park.
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
Normally on a home run I pan to the outfield in the event of a great catch but this time I chose to stay glued to the batter and pulled a decent shot as she ran past her celebrating teammates.
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
Then I shot her going around second base before gluing my camera onto home where the entire team had formed up to greet her upon arriving home. I was very happy with the jube from the homer.
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2000th
Japan got one last chance to tie or win the game but only scored 1 run resulting in a 4-1 loss. I was hoping for crying players and all that but they didn’t react much.
Nikon D3, 400mm, 500iso, f4, 1/2500th
After a few minute wait for the media bus I was heading back to the main press center with about 6 hours to kill before my next shoot. I really needed to buy some socks and new shoes (my shoes were splitting at the seams). I went to the media help desk and had one of the Chinese volunteers write out in Chinese a mall or shopping center I could have a cab take me to. A one hour in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic later I arrived at the mall.
Walked around for awhile before I found the shoe district in the mall (all the shoe stores were in the same section). Bought some nike athletic shoes for about 85 US dollars. Then set out to find socks. This proved to be a much more difficult task than I ever would have thought as I walked the entire mall until I found a Timberland store that had a small selection of socks. Picked up a few packs and checked out. As I signed the credit card receipt I was staggered to see the total was about 73 US dollars for 8 pairs of socks. But I had already paid at that point and didn’t have the time or the energy to deal with a return and credit card reversal credit. As I was heading out of the mall I noticed a Sizzler restaurant.
As a child I would go to Sizzler a few times a week with the family and remembered loving it. At 28 years old now…not so much. The cheese bread I used to love many years ago made me wanna gag this time around. Oh well it was a welcome break from the media center McDonald’s….kinda.
Once back at the media center I relaxed for about 20 minutes before heading off to go shoot men’s volleyball.
Nikon D3, 80-200mm, 2500iso, f2.8, 1/1600th
I have shot at this venue a few times in the past and was pretty much over it. I shot for about 20 minutes before rolling out and going to bed. The beauty of an early round match is its not imperative to stay for the whole thing.
Nikon D3, 24-70mm, 1600iso, f2.8, 1/1000th
I know most stateside shooters who shoot high school/college volleyball would kill for these clean angles and bright lights but if I never shoot volleyball again I wont shed a tear….trust me!
-Mark J. Rebilas is a freelance sports photographer based in Arizona. His work is seen regularly in Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, USA Today and many others around the country. Visit www.markjrebilas.com to learn more about his work.
Leave a comment!