Pima Air & Space Museum

I hadn’t been to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson since 1989.  Lots to photograph!  Thanks to the good folks like Guy of Tempe Camera for supporting this photowalk.

There were B17’s, lots of small prop planes, helicopters, jets of all kinds… and not just from the United States.  

Planes hung from the ceiling of hangars.  Planes were lined up outside as well.  

And there was a whole hangar dedicated to space exploration, too.   

Until My Next Adventure,

(Neal McCoy in Wickenburg)

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

USC at Arizona Wildcats Field Level Photos 15 October 2016

Saturday 15 October I got back into media work by photographing the USC at Arizona football game from the field.   My first real job as a 16 year old was at a radio station and I worked in news for many years beyond that.  I fought taking a photo journalism class at the University of Arizona because, as I said, “I’m a radio guy!”  I came to photography around 2003 when digital became the rage and now I love it!

University of Arizona Athletics Departments’ Callista Balko Elmore and Tom “Theo” Theodorakis arranged this for me.  Quite a surprise.  I’m sure they knew I was a photographer (and college professor) but I never said anything about wanting to shoot a game. 

I tried to act really cool when Callista gave me the news, but hey after I hung up the phone I noticed my hands shaking, haha. 

There are a few shots I’ve included that Marni took of me on the field.  Makes me look like I know what I’m doing! 

I shot with a Canon 5d Mark IV on high burst rate, ISO 100 (bright sunlight), and at least 1/1000 second shutter.  Aperture priority most of the time at f/5.6.  I used the Tamron 150-600mm lens and a Manfrotto monopod. I edited with Lightroom, mostly cropping and dodge and burn stuff. 

It was HOT on the field.  At one point they put on the big screen that it was 137 degrees on the field.  I think it was hotter.  I do wish there was water on the field for the media people because this desert heat can be a killer. 

All in all a great experience and maybe you’ll find some photos here you enjoy!

Until My Next Adventure, 

See You On Down The Road!

Jim Patterson

Photos from Flickr ...and, here are all the keeper photos!

Tucson Rodeo February 2016

A beautiful February day in the upper 70s greeted fans out to see the Tucson Rodeo, or La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, or Festival of the Cowboys.

Since my college days, I’ve gone to this professional rodeo the most. 

I remember very cold rodeo days, and the last one I photographed in 2011 was downright windy, making lens changes especially difficult.

Before the big girls and boys competed, the young ones came out.  I might have enjoyed the young ones most of all.  The little ones gave it their all in riding sheep.  And, the one rodeo event for the ladies is barrel racing.  Note the little girl with her blonde hair straight out as she rode hard around the barrels. 

Maybe one of my favorite shots of the day was the lady holding the sheep on a leash, with the other sheep waiting nearby.

I shot with a Canon 5D Mark III body using a Tamron 28-300mm lens and a Manfrotto tripod for a bit more stability.  I did use at times a 1.4x Tamron extender.  I left at home, sadly, a lens I should have used:  the Tamron 150-600mm.  I ended up having to crop most of my shots.  I processed them using Lightroom and a few plugins from Macphun:  SnapHeal and Focus along with the plugin called Perfectly Clear.  I took nearly 900 shots and pared it all down to about 67. 

Until My Next Adventure, 

(Cave Creek Rodeo)

See You On Down The Road!

Jim Patterson

Here are all the keeper photos!