Beautiful daughters is the curse of the Delgado Family

August 2nd marks two birthdays in the Delgado family, along with the anniversary of one the coolest family weddings. This wedding was of my cousin Mariana and her husband Diego a few years back. Location : Uncle's Hacienda in Monte Escobedo, Zacatecas, Mexico.

With many more cousins in the family, future memorable moments will come. Beautiful daughters is the curse of the Delgado Family.

Photo Running at 2010 NBA Finals

This screen grab is why I enjoy running. Its the cover of the New York Times website. Photo is by Lucy Nicholson, staff photographer for Reuters. The immediate publication of the image after capture is everything for a wire. Speed is everything, and the biggest concern for any wire agency. You can have a better image but if you can not transit, its worthless. Seconds make the difference. I may not get a byline as a photo runner however this cover image on the Times site was my reward.

I simply want to thank Reuters for allowing me to return, as a runner this 2010 NBA Finals. The tile of the role says everything however, here is further clarification of my responsibility at the games.

Point A : the photographer.
Point B : the awaiting laptop.
Objective: safely take the CF card back and forth, on demand.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Also must thank two security guards at Staples Center; Henry and Robert for allowing me to zip by all 4 home games. Without their help, I would have been stuck getting checked every time a card needed running. I highly advised taking the time before tip off to become known and familiar with the layout and security personnel. A simple introduction:

Hello
My name is ********
I am runner for *********
I will be running like a mad chicken, at the end of game 7.
Please don't stop me.

Attached are some images from behind the scenes before game times.

Cheers !



My tradition photo of documentation photo with my trusty sandals. The usual rainbows actually came apart before game 2. In its place, the trusty back up, Birkenstock. FYI running shoes are a must, this is way before tip off.


Here is the Reuters editing area. From the floor at Staples, through the tunnel. Take a right, and another right and you will find the local media area. Laptops and photo editors waiting and stationed for transmitting. This was my view for most of the time.



Shawn Cullen, assistant # 1 for SI takes one of many hikes up the ladder for a remote setup. Watching the logistics of SI is simply amazing.



Here is the view from the Arch early before the game. This is when I make it a point to become familiar with the layout and the security guards. A media pass and runner badge is a useless piece of paper, when a security guard decides to stop you.




Here is me on the floor before game 7. One day I will learn to smile on command and iron my shirt. FYI, shorts are big plus when running. A beard, even if little helps clear the path to run.
Photo thanks to Lucy.

Assisting Manuello Paganelli

Simply wanted to share a few frames from Pag's shoot for Ebony. Frames were provided by Manuello Paganelli and show case a variety of the setups created and utilized for day's shoot. Several back grounds were utilize, many chairs, dresses and more shoes that I have ever own in my life were on set. Talent was Niecy Nash and the shoot took take place last week on April 15th, 2010 in Los Angeles. My role was assistant number 3. Ingesting cards, and keeping the cards in order was my primary role. However ipod duty and of course setting up and breaking down the set were on my list of shoot duties. It was blast to use so many dynalite heads and power packs. Shoot was just a blast from the start to the end.

I have been on many shoots however this one was unique thanks to Pag. It was an working assignment however I really enjoyed the one on one time instruction from Pag. I look forward to future assignments. To assist is a great learning experience on the job, and I recommend all to take on as many possible assisting opportunities as possible. There is nothing like pulling in traits from other photographers, then putting it to use in one's own shoot. Also take notice of the bearded assistant (me) handling the boom on the left. Its the last assignment for the beard.

All photographs from this post are from Manuello Paganelli and were granted permission to be displayed for this posting. For Pag's work, check out his site: www.ManuelloPaganelli.com

Cheers !

After a few years now, my story is on the top header on Sportsshooter

It only took a few years but I am finally made the top header on Sportsshooter site. This is a feat that I have been looking forward for some time now. Now that its here, I can for sure get used to seeing my name on the top banner. It will last for a day, maybe two on the site but thank goodness for screen grabs. They have a purpose outside of copy right infringement.

My First Game Editting for the Anahiem Ducks

Link to the Gallery from the Game I editted

Any photo with the byline by Debora Robinson went through me for editing on Oct 30th 2009. Game was before Halloween, and my first time editing for the Anaheim Ducks official photographer. Captioning under such a deadline is quite intense and my learning curve is improving . After a few games, I am actually learning these hockey players names. I had two games of training and now when called upon, I will be game for some hockey editting. I never knew so many K's and Z's could be utilized in one's name. And simply the game of Hockey is starting to grow on me. I can not even skate one lap around the ring, and to see this venue in person is pretty cool. I really like seeing the ice flying off when a player makes a quick spot, and of course the hits to the wall are intense.

It is not a shooting role but its work none the less. I learned a lot simply being on the scene. With this role, the priority is making the photo processing streamed line. Post production is a lot more manageable with items like Photo Mechanic, pre established set up actions in Photoshop, and simply weeding out excessive time and energy.

I look forward to future game down the road, and especially enjoy the constant cold temperature the ice has to offer. Best part is my comute is just down Katella for a few minutes. I actually timed my trip from car starting to when I entered the media office, 16 minutes. Now that is awesome !

New SSA VI Gallery on My Site

www.rafaelagustindelgado.com

SSA VI was simply a blast, and have no clue why I sat on these images. Since April of this year they sat on a hard drive. Looking over my whole take from Sportsshooter Academy VI brought back many memories and fond times from the workshop.

Hopefully soon I will be able to knock out all the funpixs as well. It was alot easier to make these with a 400mm in hand all week long during SSA VI. One again I would like to thank Nikon for the loaner gear and more important for flipping my bill for attending.

The images created during SSA VI really helped my stock images, especially sports related, and look forward to shooting similar events one day hopefully. The experience was simply priceless.

I am in this month's Sportsshooter Newsletter

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2311

This is simply SWEETNESS all the way. I made it the Sportsshooter monthly newsletter. Link above will take you to the article. The original email from Bert earlier last month was a wonderful surprise. Simply asking me to write down my experience this past MLB playoffs here in Southern California. Not to sure how many people care to read about my story this past October however it was fun for sure to use spell check excessively again .

The draft went through several rewrites and there were several points where the screen just became a giant blur. i literally made a point to come back to the piece after a day or two off the keyboard. The Yankees won and I sent it off to Bert after a little more editing. I knew I would never be fully satisfied with the draft. The more I sat with the article, the more change soon made it a point to let it be. Once I hit send, it was a relief and I let it be.

Mondays, are usually a mixture of routine and getting tings inline for the coming week. However to see my name outside of the realm of a funpix caption, on Sportsshooter, is simply amazing. It is a reality I can for become accustomed to for sure and hope others enjoy the story. Thanks again to Reuters for the opportunity to work the recent MLB Playoffs, and to Bert for asking me to contribute to Sportsshooter, the forum I enjoy immensely. I really hope the piece is cohesive article to others. Paragraphs, sentence, and let alone small groups of words, can be a challenge for this photographer.

Lets Go Blue !

Cheers !

My First Triathlon, Big Rock at Lake Perris

I covered my first Triathlon this past Saturday, Nov. 7th 2009. Location was Lake Perris in the Inland Empire, by March AFB off the 215. Photo above was taken before the race start at the swim leg. It was here on the lake shore I really wish I had a water housing but was happy to get a frame before my main priority.

I was contracted for this event and just happy to be shooting again. I have done quite a bit of editing during the MLB playoffs for Reuters here in Southern California and even a game at the Honda Center for a Ducks Hockey game. It was great to put a view finder back in my line of sight versus staring at the glow of a laptop.

Fellow Sportsshooter member Osamu Chiba hired me as an additional photographer for his company Opix that specialized with race coverage. Really cool character and hope to work with his one more.

Osamu's main site:

https://www.opix.net

Osamu's Sportsshooter page:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=2993

Objective is simple, clean, sharp images of the racers. Shooting was a lot wider than I was accustomed, however the assignment was a great learning experience. Shooting was all in jpeg so no room for error when exposing. Shooting the swim end was a little tricky but was able to keep detail of the racers faces and not completely blow out the highlights in the back ground.

A few recommendations that I learned from the event. Bring knee pads. Shooting from the floor helps clean odd items like race officials, other racers, tents, and banners. The course landscape is not forgiving and for a few hours I stood up for blood flow to return to my legs. Even if you do not have to utilize the bathroom. Go ! The race is a solid 3-4 hours event and there is not really much of a window to venture of for a break. Pack light, and for the race I used my Mark body with the 70-200 at 2.8 the whole time. My photo back pack was with me the whole time but while running to my second location, I really wish I had brought my bike or simply packed lighter.

Be sure to also pack fluids; water, Gatorade of what suites your preference, it goes a long time out on the race and makes for comfort. It was an over cast morning for the most part however if you are shooting one of these in the middle of summer, prepare for the elements. My take from the race will be coming later and I look forward to share a few frames of the action at the triathlon and cover another one of these races. Really hope I can take advantage of the different aspects of a triathlon race next time I cover one of these races.

It was pretty impressive to see people willingly and happily wake up at 5 and 6 am to race a triathlon at 7am. To see a lady with just one leg race was simply amazing. Even more amazing to see her ahead of others. One of these days I may actually compete. My sister has a few running races under her belt however its the swimming and biking that I would appreciate the most. That last leg dealing with the unfortunately force of gravity does not help my chances of becoming a participating racer.

Cheers !

USC Football Outing

http://www.sportsshooter.com/rdelgado

If you care to see more images from my game take.

Saturdays in the Fall is simply my favorite time of year. Usually get to dive in the morning then enjoy from College Football on the tube. However one Saturday early this Fall, I was fortunate to cover the USC opening home football game. The USC Trojans hosted the SJSU Spartans on Sept. 5th 2009, at the Los Angeles Coliseum. It was hot and my first game shooting Division I NCAAF. I have been to the Rose Bowl earlier this year however this time I got to pulled the shutter release. Great experience all around. I was able to see and chat with several familiar faces. I learned a lot from the outing. Got some keepers photos, missed a few frames changing lenses, but do hope to be back on the side lines soon.

If you want to shoot football, here are a few hints I hope improve your results. Position will dedicate your most likely images. Down and yardage helps predict the coming play. Bring knee pads. I never understood why people shoot this sport standing up. The image above would have been pretty weak and lame at I stay even knee level. I am 6,2 and to take advantage of perspective I actually laid down for this image. Just remember to anticipate alot of light in the background for exposure. But if you like to save your energy and stand all game, so be it. I highly recommend getting on to the field level and shoot from floor. If you are shooting with your mono pod all the way extended, that framing leaves a lot of empty wasted space and does not bring the impact of the game into the still image. Shoot low, USC is for one busy back ground. Being on the ground helps eliminate a lot of the busyness at a big game. The hundreds of VIPs on the side lines at a USC game with cell phones, point and shoots, while cheering does not make the shoot easier.

This is a venue where gear does help. I was really lucky enough to get a loaner telephoto. Nothing beats long glass for reach and knock down power. 2.8 at 400mm is nothing like my usual set up of a 70-200 with a TC. I did use the TC when play was way down the field of play. However I made it a point to use the 2.8 option available to me that day.

Many thanks to Wally Skalij (LA Times) for the access and Danny Moloshok (local freelancer) for the loaner lens. This update would have never occurred without their awesome help. Nothing is better than college football on Saturdays, this time of year.

My Biggest Tear Sheet So Far

One of my favorite papers, The Washington Post, let me grace their fire coverage from the Jesusita Fire. My coverage from the two day outing at the Santa Barbara blazed also made it to the following publications:

The Boston Globe
Scientific America
Yahoo News
Reuters
Rising Tide NA
Body By Bliss Media
Glendale News Press
Macon Daily

This is for sure my biggest node of a tear sheet to date. I look forward to more of course and there are still a few publications I would like to make my mark on down the line. SI, LA Times and NY TIMES and National Geographic are still on my list. Would also like to thank Reuters for making this happen.

Best part, was the timing that I noticed my photo making it to publication on Mother's Day. To share the moment with my mom was pretty sweet and memorable.