People vs. Gravity | Soccer in Orem, Utah

This turned out to be one of those games where every athlete is playing super aggressive. Flips, headbanging, flailing limbs, shoving... all the good stuff. While I'm not crazy about blogging sports images unless they are out of the ordinary moments, I figured I would throw a couple up from this particularly violent afternoon. Enjoy!

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.

Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs | Action & Features

NBA experience number two is in the books. It felt great to get back to the EnergySolutions Arena with a little knowledge of the lay of the land this time around. In addition to game action, which can found on the Daily Herald's website, I took some time at the beginning of the game to make some features. Enjoy.

Utah Jazz mascot, Bear, encourages the crowd to make noise at the start of a game against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.



Paul Millsap, left, of the Utah Jazz, body checks and cocks back to shoot over the arms of the San Antonio Spur's Matt Bonner, center, during the second half of a game Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won the game 106-102.

The Utah Jazz starting lineup takes a moment to huddle before the arena lights rose for the start of a game against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Brigham Young Men's Basketball vs. Santa Clara

Full speed ahead on the sports. This was one of the first games I photographed in Utah that I felt "in the zone" on.  Maybe it was the added pressure of sending to the Associated Press and Salt Lake Tribune at halftime, but something worked better for me than what I was doing before. Thanks to editor Mark Johnston for a light kick in the rear beforehand.

*NOTICE TO NON-PHOTOGRAPHERS: The next line down will seem incredibly geeky and leave you scratching your head.  Skip it, and go straight to the pictures.

*NOTICE TO PHOTOGRAPHERS: The light in BYU's Marriott Center is unlike anything I have ever seen or photographed in for indoor sports - it's insanely good.  Averaging 1/800th at f/2.2 at ISO 500 on one of my two camera bodies, life is great.  Come to Utah and see for yourself!