BYU wins national rugby championship

Approaching something from another angle - both figuratively and literally - can result in the worse decision you have ever made as a photographer or be one of the most rewarding moments on assignment. That being said, taking unnecessary risk at BYU's national championship rugby game adds further insult to injury when it comes to trying for something outside of the box. Luckily, it paid off. When the clock hit zero after BYU had pulled ahead, I darted out onto the field with a legion of other photographers. The team swarmed each other (like teams always do when they win stuff), and I heard the shutters start to go off. Rather than sticking around on the BYU fan side of the pigpile, I quickly navigated around to the other side. Lo and behold, the senior player, captain and game MVP had collapsed onto his back in a mixture of exhaustion and happiness. As far as I know, I was the only shooter who got such a picture, and it ran five columns wide on A1 the next day. Sometimes taking a risk for a different picture can pay off. Enjoy.

BYU's Mikey Su'a collapses onto the field while being swarmed by his teammates after winning the national rugby title against Arkansas State 49-42 on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. A crowd of media and sidelined teammates rushed the field at the sound of the final whistle as BYU field players hoisted the winning plaque skyward. As a medal was later draped around Su'a's neck, the faint glimmer of tears shone in his eyes.

BYU players rejoice with their trophy after winning the national rugby title against Arkansas State 49-42 on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

BYU players do The Haka war dance after winning the national rugby title against Arkansas State 49-42 on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

BYU Baseball + Utah light

Pitcher pictures are a dime a dozen, but I couldn't help myself. The late evening light at this time of year in Utah is godly. The 300mm was being used by editor on this particular evening, so I shot the game with a 400mm, which I've never done with baseball. The result was a much more expression-based game - either by way of pitchers, runners or base players. Enjoy the golden goodness.

San Diego pitcher Paul Sewald burns one down the middle during a game against BYU on Friday, May 4, 2012, at Miller Field at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Failures are just as good as victories...

...When it's regarding an athlete and you're a photographer. It is never good to wish failure on someone, but I'll be damned if a weird sports fail doesn't look cool. The image below stood out to me from the day's take; just the strange intersection of a moment and a unique shape from a BYU track meet recently. Enjoy!

Charity Fashion Show | Pre-show feature

Pulled this one out of somewhere in the last half hour before deadline at an event that hadn't even begun at the time this photograph was shot. Long story short: a miracle, and I am happy with it. If you look carefully, the Brigham Young University signature "Y" can be seen set into the Utah hills in the corner of the left widow pane. Enjoy!

Models practice their runway walks by the glare of a single spotlight before a charity fashion show to benefit Sowers of Hope, an non-profit organization started by two Congolese locals on Friday, April 13, 2012, in Provo, Utah. The evening's events marked the third year of the popular show.

BYU Men's Basketball vs. Portland | Final season game

It was a shame to shoot my last men's Brigham Young University basketball game a week or two back. The senior night, the tears and the energy on the court brought back my last days of photographing basketball at my own Western Washington University last June. The pictures below are more of the same - but "the same" is one hell of a pleasure to photograph. Enjoy!

Brigham Young University's Brock Zylstra, top, goes up for a layup while crashing into Portland's Tim Douglas, bottom, during a game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Brigham Young won the game 76-66.

Brigham Young University's Brandon Davies, center, calls for a timeout as Portland defenders scramble for the ball during the second half of a game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. BYU won the game 76-66.

BYU's Brandon Davies, center, hypes up his team in a huddle before a game against the Portland Pilots Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

BYU's Charles Abouo, right, watches as Portland's Nemanja Mitrovic, left, lays up the ball after a rebound during a game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. BYU won the game 76-66.