Jan. 5, 2010 NBA: The Chicago Bulls at the Charlotte Bobcats

Sam Sharpe — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:12:47 +0000

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) drives against Gerald Wallace (3) while playing the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

This was a close game. The Bobcats trailed all night long until the last 3 minutes of the game, then they really started to figure it out. I was jazzed to be able to shoot this game. I grew up watching Michael Jordon, so there is a certain air about the Bulls…………..I can vividly remember watching Michael Gordon, Scotty Pippen, and the rest of the Chicago Team that dominated Basketball under Phil Jackson in the era of the 90′s. Watching these guys play when I was younger was one on the reasons I wanted to take up Sports Photography. So to get the chance to shoot them really did me good. All the images that are here were shot with my Nikon D300 Camera Body. All were shot at ISO 2000, and I bounced the shutter speeds back and forth from 1000 to 1250. The following set of images I shot from up in the stands. I have looked at this angle before shot by other photographers, but I really have never decided whether I liked it or not. True, it is something different, that is why I did it. Most of the shots did not work out in my opinion, but some did. I will do it again sometime soon, so here is what I got from “up top.”

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls center forward Joakim Noah (13) tips off the game against Nazr Mohammed (13) while playing against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

I thought this next dunk worked out well. It is of Gerald Wallace (3) taking it home after getting the ball and screaming down the court. I liked the way I caught him completely off of the floor.

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (3) slams a dunk home against Luol Deng (9) while playing against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

This next image is of Boris Diaw (32) fighting for the ball. I shot this from up top, and I thought that it gave it a nice angle. I shot this with my 300mm 2.8 lens.

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw (32) fights for the ball against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

In these next series of images, I shot some individual players. These are good sellers for magazines. Websites pick them up also at the end of the night if the player had a really good game. There were shot with both my 70mm~200mm 2.8 lens, as well as my 300mm 2.8 lens.

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard forward D.J. Augustine (14) against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Ronald Flip Murray (22) against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

This was something that I poped off with my 300mm lens. Flip Murray was standing near me during a time out. I framed this such that to leave room for text to the left of his face. I thought that his face was just a “tick” tight, but it was a 300mm lens, so that is what I got.

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Ronald Flip Murray (22) against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.theSharpeImage.com

Vinny Del Negro is a pretty interesting Character when it comes to coaches. Not as physically animated as is out Larry Brown, but he can have his moments. In the image below, I caught him talking with his team during a time out. The thing that I like about this is that I was able to capture him speaking so that you really knew that he was communicating with the team. I shot this with my 70mm~200mm lens.

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro talks to his team during a time out against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

Vinny trying to plead his case to a referee. Again, shot with my 70mm~200mm lens.

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro talks with a ref while playing against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

The rest of these images were shot with my 70mm~200mm lens.

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (3) drives to the basket against James Johnson (16) while playing against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

I really love this next shot. I caught Kirk Hinrich (12) basically just trying to “strong arm” Flip Murray (22) out of the Basket. I wish that you could see the faces better in the image……..but other than that, I think that it gets the point across to the foul that occurred.

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Ronald Flip Murray (22) is fouled by Kirk Hinrich (12) while playing against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

Here are some Lay ups from the game. This was not only a very physical game, but it just had some really great visual moments to it. Here are some. Again, these were shot with my 70mm~200mm Lens.

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard John Salmons (15) shoots against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

I shot this next image from across the court with my 300mm 2.8 lens. It is hard to really get this shot to work out, but I think I did it with this one. I just liked it.

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) slams the ball to the basket against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls center forward Joakim Noah (13) drives to the basket against Gerald Wallace (3) while playing against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas (24) shoots against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobtas win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

Here are some of the more physical moments of the game that I was able to catch…….this game was a brawl. This image below kinda reminded my of Dodge-ball from my childhood.

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls center forward Joakim Noah (13) gets ready to pass against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard D.J. Augustin (14) goes for the rebound against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) drives against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward James Johnson (16) looses the ball while playing against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (3) gets the rebound to win against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

I love getting something when the ball get loose. I have not been able to catch a “scrap” this year…..but the season is still not over. This was shot with my 70mm~200mm 2.8.

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (3) goes for a loose ball while playing against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard D.J. Augustin (14) passes against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

January 5, 2009; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) drives against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 113 to 108. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

Well, that is about it for this game. I hope that you can get out and sww the Bobcats if you have a chance. They are a great team……and probably the best value for your sports entertainment dollar in Charlotte.

Till next time, thanks for taking the time to read.

Sam

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Jan. 5, 2010 NBA: The Chicago Bulls at the Charlotte Bobcats