I went to Anderson Arena on March 5th to take pictures of the Bowling Green State University men's basketball game, which happened to be the final scheduled game there before they begin play at the new Stroh Center next fall. Shooting the "final" game at Anderson Arena was the ideal event for my first sports photography experience. There was an extreme amount of activity available to get those pictures I wanted and it would've been much harder to get them at a more normal sporting event.
Overall, I was very pleased with the way the pictures turned out but did realize that in order to get better sports shots, I will need to buy a better lens. Small lens or not, I felt like I was treated like a professional photographer, sitting, standing, and "intruding" in the same places every other photographer, including my instructor, was. It was a very exciting adventure and I even was able to meet a few former professional basketball players, like
Nate Thurmond, and one of my favorite sports columnists,
Dave Hackenberg, in the process.
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BGSU player Mike Dabney, left, leaps to get to the ball before the Buffalo defender can. Dabney was one of three seniors on the team playing in their final game of their college careers. |
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BGSU head coach Louis Orr argues a call made by the refs in the 1st half of the game. He didn't have much to argue about in the 2nd half as his team rolled to a 73-63 win over Buffalo. |
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Head coach Louis Orr explains the teams strategy, specifically to Scott Thomas, #10. |
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Nate Thurmond, a 14-year NBA player and considered the greatest BGSU basketball player in its rich history, gives a speech following the final scheduled game at "the house that roars." Thurmond was joined by many former and current BG men's basketball players who starred at the university throughout its existence. |
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A jubilant BG fan celebrates following the win over Buffalo. Fittingly so, he held a sign up saying "THANKS FOR EVERYTHING SENIORS!" |