Novemeber 15, 2009 Atlanta @ Charlotte
by Sam Sharpe on Nov.30, 2009, under NFL
November 15, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Richard Marshall (31) makes an interception against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. Final score Carolina 28 Atlanta 19. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
The Panthers played really well this game. I was happy to see them win. It was a great day to shoot, the light was just about perfect. I really did not feel as if I was hitting on all that I could have, I feel that I could have done better than what I did. I did get some cool stuff, I just don’t think that I could have done as well as I maybe should have……………… (continue reading…)
October 25, 2009 TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway
by Sam Sharpe on Nov.16, 2009, under Motorsports
October 25, 2009; Martinsville, VA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
Denny Hamlin wins the TUMS Fast Relief 500! He had to battle all day against Jimmie Johnson to do it, but he was able to pull it off at the end. I was glad to see this. Jimmie has won this race the past 4 times that it has been run. I was glad to see someone else win besides Jimmie. Martinsville has become a very difficult track to photograph in the past few years……….
October 17, 2009. Jimmie Johnson wins the NASCAR Banking 500
by Sam Sharpe on Nov.06, 2009, under Motorsports
October 17, 2009; Concord, NC, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) wins the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
This race was not the best race that I have ever seen at LOWES Motor Speedway, but it did have its moments. After being dominated by Jimmie Johnson and the #48 LOWES Team, it is really hard to pick those moments out and remember them. The above image is about as good as it gets for a celebration. One thing is for sure about the LOWES Car winning at LOWES Motor Speedway, it is a Dream Come True for capturing an image that really makes the LOWES Corporation happy. I know all too well about that, I shot for LOWES for years. This image that is above always made them smile. To bad Jimmie has forgotten how to really celebrate when he gets out of the car……………
October 11, 2009 Washington at Carolina
by Sam Sharpe on Oct.19, 2009, under NFL
Oct. 11, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers safety Charles Godfrey (30) and corner back Dante Wesley (21) celebrate against the Washington Redskins at the Bank of America Stadium. Final score Carolina 20 and Washington 17 Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
Carolina finally won!!! I am so happy! It had to happen, if they had not won, shooting the rest of the season would be like getting a tooth pulled every time I would have had to show up at the stadium. I think that they are a much better Team than what they have been playing like, it just seems as if it has taken them some time to really find and turn up the intensity………… (continue reading…)
September 20, 2009. NHRA Carolina National at zMax Dragway
by Sam Sharpe on Sep.29, 2009, under Motorsports
Sept 20, 2009; Concord, NC, USA; NHRA top fuel dragster driver Brandon Bernstein during the Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
I really like Drag Racing, problem is, I just do not get to shoot enough of it. It is always either too far away, or it conflicts with something that I already have a commitment too. So when the NHRA comes to zMax Dragway here in Charlotte, I am ALL over it! Some of you may know that I shot Drag Racing on a pretty regular basis back in the early 90′s. I got my motorsports start with a small racing paper called Inside Motorsports. Inside Motorsports was a great little newspaper, but made the mistake of trying to cover too much “grass roots” racing with ignoring the big Series such as Sprint Cup, NHRA, IRL and some others. They skimmed over these Series, but never made any real attempt to cover them in the way that they should have been covered in order to generate cash flow. When they did cover them, they sent me. That is really how I got my start in all this crazy stuff. Anyway, least I digress. This is about the Carolina Nationals. I LOVE this event. I am so glad that NHRA has put it on the schedule twice next year. What a great move! But enough of that for now, lets look and see what I came up with………. (continue reading…)
Septemeber 13, 2009 Philadelphia at Carolina
by Sam Sharpe on Sep.22, 2009, under NFL
Sept. 13, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs (31) against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Final Score Philadelphia 38 and Carolina 10. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
This was the opening game for the Carolina Panthers. The day was beautiful for Photography, but that is about all you could say. The Panthers got beat 38 to 10……they seem to need a lot of work to get themselves to where they really need to be in order to be competitive. But this is not about the Panthers playing skills, it is about the photography of the day. I really did not feel too much on top of my game today. Maybe it was because of the Panthers poor playing, I do not know. But I did get some decent stuff from the day. Please take a look. Thanks!
September 5, 2009. College Football. Baylor at Wake Forest
by Sam Sharpe on Sep.11, 2009, under College Football
Sep 5, 2009; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons line up against the Baylor Bears at Groves Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
This was the very first College Football Game that I have ever photographed. I really did enjoy myself. The game was much more “dynamic” than a normal NFL Game, and the atmosphere was just really enjoyable. Wake Forest has one of the BEST Facilities that I have ever seen in Sports, PERIOD. They really know what it takes, and they do it. Way to go Demon Deacons!
August 29, 2009. Carolina Panthers Pre-Season Game against the Baltimore Ravens
by Sam Sharpe on Sep.02, 2009, under NFL
August 29, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers mascot outside the stadium against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
Well, as far as I am concerned…….fall is here. Even though it is just a Pre-Season game, it is the first real game of the Season for me. The Panthers did not look so well, but here again, they really did not play too many of their Top Play Makers. The suffered a loss of 17 to 13, but hey, there is always next week. It is only Pre-Season! The above image of the stone Panther was taken with my D300 and my 70mm~200mm lens. I shot at shutter speed 250 @ f20, this under exposed it by 2 stops. I thought it looked pretty cool. (continue reading…)
August 27, 2009. Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway
by Sam Sharpe on Aug.28, 2009, under Motorsports
Kyle Busch wins the SHARPIE 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway!
August 22, 2009; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) wins the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
Kyle Busch was able to hang around the Top 5, and when it was time to go……guess what, he went! (continue reading…)
August 21, 2009 Qualifying for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway
by Sam Sharpe on Aug.22, 2009, under Motorsports
August 21, 2009; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Mark Martin (5) during qualifying for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com
I LOVE Bristol Motor Speedway! The Night Race in August has a “Medieval” feel to it. There is no other race on the Series that really compares to it. I was unable to get to the Track in time to shoot either of the practices for this weekend, but I was able to get there in time to shoot Qualifying. It is mostly portraits, but that is really all one can get during the Qualifying. I can’t wait for the race tomorrow night. (continue reading…)
