A Dunking Return with the Albany Patroons

I have to say this.  If it weren’t for the Albany Patroons ten years ago, I wouldn’t have gone full-bore into photography.

I shall explain.

Twelve years ago, when the Patroons returned to the area for their second iteration (Micheal Ray Richardson as head coach), I had a little Nikon CoolPix 800 camera that I used from time to time.  Nothing major, it was a bulky point-and-shoot that used big CompactFlash cards and a tonload of AA batteries.

I took the camera to a practice game.  Figured I’d get some action shots with it.

Yeah.  The shots I got … were painful.

A few days later, I bought my first digital SLR camera – a Nikon D70.

And we went from there.

Fast forward to yesterday.  I had made arrangements with Derrick Rowland, the Patroons’ current head coach, to photograph the team as they performed some post-practice dunking shots.  For me, I might want to use one or more of these shots in competition, and this would be my opportunity.

The players agreed.  And we got some really decent dunk shots.

Heck, I even lent the players my retro Albany Patroons game-worn jerseys so they could style and profile with them.

I turned some of the pictures into stitching shots.  Others, I fiddled around with various PhotoShop filters and disciplines and whatnot.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

That’s Xavier Moon flying through the air.  6’2″ guard from Morehead State.  A solid candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Let’s get some more.

You might remember Jerel Scott from his days at Bishop Maginn High School.

Sajie Pryor has been getting more minutes lately.  I think my kid may have gone to school with him back in Troy High…

Nick Evans is one of the Patroons’ new signees, a 6’11” center from Central Illinois who played for several years in Canada.  Figured I’d give him a “selective shade” treatment here.

And here’s Steven Cunningham, a 6’4″ swingman who starred at Troy University.  he’s also earned quality minutes throughout the season.

Right now the Patroons are 17-6 and are clamping down on the North American Premier Basketball League’s division title – and, if all goes well, the #1 overall seed in the playoffs.  Albany faces the Rochester Razorsharks at the Washington Avenue Armory this Saturday at 7:00 p.m.  Good seats are still available.

Much thanks to the Albany Patroons players and staff who helped put this all together.  It’s a long journey from my old Nikon CoolPix 800 to top-of-the-line gear.  But it’s a fruitful journey nonetheless.

You know what?  Sometimes it just feels good to have your camera and some great subjects to shoot.

It just feels good.

Yes it does.