30 of my baseball photographs will be featured in a one-night only Slide Show Night at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles this coming Thursday night, February 11, 2010 at 7pm. The nice folks at the Annenberg Space for Photography asked many photographers from all over the world to submit 30 images to them last month, and out of all the submissions they chose 30 international sports photographers to participate in this one-time event.

It will be fun to see the work of some of my friends who were among the 30 photographers selected to be a part of the show. Colleagues in the show include Ben Liebenberg, Matt Brown, Robert Beck, Smiley Pool, Wally Skalij, Dustin Snipes and others.

Here are the details for the event:

Date: February 11th, 2010
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: 2000 Avenue of the Stars #10
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Admission: Free
Parking:  $1.00 with validation in visitors parking lot

This photograph of A's pitcher Rich Harden in spring training is one of my 30 baseball photographs that will be featured in the Slide Show Night at the Annenberg Space for Photography.

The Annenberg Space for Photography is a wonderful new gallery space that opened in Southern California less than a year ago. The Annenberg has already hosted gallery shows from some of the best names in the photography world, including the current exhibition SPORT: Iooss & Leifer, featuring the amazing work of Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer. I made the drive down south to see the show and to hear Sports Illustrated picture editor Jimmy Colton lecture at the Annenberg last month. I was blown away by the gallery space and the effort the Annenberg Foundation has made to showcase the work of sports photographers.

I love all aspects of photography and always enjoy visiting galleries to look at photographs. What has made The Annenberg so special is that they have gone through so much effort to feature sports photography. Most galleries showcase wonderful photography featuring everything from portraits to reportage. Recent gallery shows I have attended featured the work of Baron Wolman, Jim Marshall and Josef Koudelka (Invasion – Prague 1968). However, I have never seen a space dedicate itself to sports photography like The Annenberg, and that is why I am so humbled to be a part of their Slide Show Night this Thursday.

I have been published many times over the years, but I have never had my photographs featured in a gallery. When I was asked to submit 30 images I wanted to send them images that said something about me. I am a baseball guy, so I sent them nothing but baseball. This should make me stand out on Thursday night! I put together a slide show of my 30 images for everyone to look at below. I hope to see you at the show!

Annenberg Show – Images by Brad Mangin

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics in action during a game against Rod Higgins and the Golden State Warriors at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in Oakland, California in 1988. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Last night I went to see the Golden State Warriors play the Sacramento Kings with my good friends Humberto and Grover. I hadn’t been to an NBA game as a fan in many years, and last night was a wonderful opportunity to get together with friends for some pre-game food, beer and tequila before we found our seats to watch the ballgame inside Oracle Arena in Oakland.

I was very nostalgic when we got inside to watch the game. I regaled my friends with old stories about attending games in the old arena with my dad as a kid, and of shooting games when I started out as a young photojournalist in the 1980s. The arena we were sitting in was built several years ago inside the shell of the old Coliseum Arena. The new Oracle Arena is next door to the Oakland Coliseum where the Raiders and A’s have played for so many years. Because of this I had some deja vu moments last night as I walked into what looked like the old building, only to be surrounded by modern amenities.

I remember the first Warrior game I ever shot, way back in 1984 during my freshman year at Ohlone College. I was on staff at the weekly Ohlone Monitor newspaper and our intrepid sports editor Matt Schwab somehow figured out a way for the two of us to cover a Warrior home game against the Denver Nuggets. Those Warriors consisted of guys like Mike Bratz, Pace Mannion, Lester Conner (see below) and the truly awful Joe Barry Carroll. What an amazing experience! I can still remember Matt diving into the ice tubs full of cans of Budweiser they used to have in the press dining room before games. Matt was going to take advantage of every perk he could on our big trip outside of Fremont.

Lester Connor of the Golden State Warriors in action during a game against the Denver Nuggets at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in Oakland, California in 1984. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

When I look back at some of my black and white pictures in my archive from Warrior games I shot during this time I marvel at their simplicity and how clean they look. Back then I would shoot with my Canon F-1 film camera and my awesome Canon 85mm 1.8 SSC mount manual-focus lens. The arena was really dark back then and the goal was to try and get an exposure of 1/500th @ 1.8 at the lowest ASA (before the days of ISO) possible. I would shoot Kodak Tri-X (400 ASA black and white film) and push it to 1600 ASA in order to get the exposure I needed. Back then the arenas were lit differently, with the crowd disappearing in the background giving me an awesome black background behind the players. The pictures you see in my archive (and above) were not burned down to look cleaner. That is the natural light fall off that existed back then. Notice the lack of bright LED ribbon adds running through the pictures, etc. A much simpler time that allowed for simpler (and better) pictures.

I shot a few games in black and white during my internship at the Contra Costa Times in 1987-88, but then we switched to shooting color negative film after that. Once we went to color everything changed. The look and feel of the images changed, as did the backgrounds and advertising that started to pop up all over the arena. Being at the game last night brought it all full circle for me. As I looked down on the floor and saw the photographers working the game I thought back to when I was down there many years ago. How difficult it was to manually focus and rush back to the paper on deadline- but how exciting it was find one sharp frame in your wet film, knowing that you would make deadline with a good picture and not embarrass yourself in tomorrow’s paper.

Yes, it is much easier to shoot basketball in 2010. The available light is so good. This factor, combined with the incredible quality of today’s professional digital cameras by Nikon and Canon, make for great looking pictures even if you are not shooting on strobes. I still think it was more fun in the old days when I could get to the arena early, dump my Domke bag and cameras on the floor under the basket in the spot I wanted to shoot from, and head into the press room for dinner. The Bud and Bud Light was on ice and YES- every once in awhile I would throw one down before the game, just to loosen up. Made some of my best pictures on those nights. It was sure different back then, and my cameras were always waiting for me on the floor after dinner.

Old School NBA – Images by Brad Mangin

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 1/2500 @ 4.0, 200 ISO. 400mm lens with 1.4x converter. Josh Morgan #84 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the football during the game against the Detroit Lions at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on Sunday, December 27, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I had the chance to shoot with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV this past Sunday. Considering all of the focusing problems with their previous top-of-the-line professional camera, I decided to give it a proper test-drive at the Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers NFL game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

The camera had a big white sticker on the front with “SAMPLE” written in black letters. It was loaded up with firmware version 5.8.5.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 1/2500 @ 4.0, 200 ISO. 400mm lens with 1.4x converter. Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers throws the football while being chased by Turk McBride #75 of the Detroit Lions during the game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on Sunday, December 27, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I have been waiting for over two years to be able to shoot with a Canon camera that I could really depend on, so this test was going to be a real confidence-builder for me. It might sound obvious, but I really need a camera that is capable of delivering sharp pictures. To do my job as a sports photographer, I can’t be distracted by paranoid chimping all the time, worried if my pictures were sharp or not.

This camera performed flawlessly.

To be brutally honest, I found the Canon EOS-1D Mark III to be a complete disaster. I consider it to be the biggest lemon professional 35mm camera in modern photographic history. I have a considerable investment in Canon cameras and lenses, and was reluctant to jump-ship to Nikon.

With the Mark IV, it was do or die for Canon.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 1/2000 @ 4.0, 200 ISO. 400mm lens with 1.4x converter. Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions makes a catch during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on Sunday, December 27, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Mark IV felt good in my hands and I felt confident with it attached to a 400mm 2.8 lens and a 1.4x converter (if the action was farther away). We were blessed with that classic Candlestick Park screaming Winter sunlight and I spent most of the game shooting from the front-lit end zone to take advantage of the great light. This is the easiest light in thew world for a camera to focus in and the Mark IV did not disappoint.

In comparison, using a Canon Mark III with a 400mm lens and a 1.4x converter in this exact same situation was not an option. The results were embarrassing and upsetting. However, the new Mark IV seemed to like working with the 400mm lens and 1.4x combination and delivered some very nice, tack-sharp images.

Depending on how far I was away from the action, I shot part of the game with just the 400mm lens and part of the game with the 1.4x converter. It did not seem to matter much either way as my pictures were sharp with, or without, the converter. I’ve included a 19-picture motor drive sequence (below) of Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson running right at me with the football. This was shot with just the 400mm lens. All images are full-frame. Not every frame was sharp (but most were) – and some of that was my fault as he was moving very fast and it was difficult keeping him framed properly.

Canon Mark IV Motor Drive Sequence #1 – Images by Brad Mangin

The more I shot the more confidence I had. Each time I chimped (using the gorgeous new and improved screen) everything was looking real good. It was becoming quite funny as I was joking with friends during the game (both still using older Canon EOS-1D Mark IIN bodies) that all my pictures were sharp! They kept asking me after every play if my pictures were sharp. There was a funny vibe at the ballpark on Sunday as many photographers were asking me about the camera and hoping so hard that the Mark IV would actually work.

Canon Mark IV Motor Drive Sequence #2 – Images by Brad Mangin

I’ve also included a slide show (above) of a 16-picture motor drive sequence of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan running right at me with the football. This was shot with the 400mm lens and the 1.4x converter. All images are full-frame. Every frame in this sequence is tack sharp.

Sure, the Canon Mark IV can do many more things than take sharp pictures at a football game. It has many crazy custom functions that I did not use. It does video that I do not care about right now. I simply need a camera that will make sharp pictures. The files are big and amazing.

I shot RAW plus large jpeg and did not get a chance to look at my RAW files because I do not have any software that is capable of reading them (yet). For the techno-nerds out there, I am including an actual RAW file from this camera, shot during this game so you can download it and see the quality for yourself.

The photograph below is a full-frame image of Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton throwing a pass on the run. If you click on the image you will be able to download the original RAW file from my server so you can study it yourself.

*CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD ORIGINAL RAW FILE* Drew Stanton #5 of the Detroit Lions throws the football during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on Sunday, December 27, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Unfortunately I had to ship my Mark IV back to Canon yesterday. The camera is supposed to be released for sale very soon (first reports were that it would be on sale a few weeks ago but that never happened). You can bet that Canon will have an army of people in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics in February loaning out hundreds of Mark IV’s.

Canon should be able to keep long-time (and heavily invested) users like me happy with the new Mark IV.

I look forward to going to the ballpark and being able to relax knowing that I can keep my head in the game and not worry about cameras that can’t focus. 2010 is going to be a good year for Canon users.

Backlight is beautiful! Carlos Marmol #49 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the game at AT&T Park on September 26, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I love shooting day baseball games. There is nothing like a beautiful afternoon at the ballpark. It beats the heck out of sitting in the office. The only problem with day baseball games for a photographer, especially in the middle of the summer, is the awful light the games are played under. During the summer months the sun is directly overhead, shining very harsh light on the field down below. This causes heavy shadows on the ballplayers faces caused by shadows from the bills of their caps or batting helmets. A game that starts at 1:05 pm begins under the worst light of the day. It slowly gets better as the clock ticks to the later afternoon. By 3:00 pm the light is better, and by 5:00 pm it is awesome. That is why I love extra innings or 5:00 pm starts!

Ugly frontlight on the left. Pretty backlight on the right. Robinzon Diaz of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on September 7, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

When I have to shoot an afternoon game and the sun is shining bright, I always start the game off shooting from the third base side at my Bay Area parks in Oakland and San Francisco. I go to third base because this is the backlit side and by shooting over there I am able to photograph the batters, pitchers and infield action by shooting into the sun, allowing me to expose for the players faces and still hold detail in the backgrounds. If I shoot from first base during the same time of the day the ugly frontlight casts heavy shadows on the players faces, making the pictures look pretty awful. See above and below.

Ugly frontlight on left. Pretty backlight on right. Brian Bixler of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on September 7, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I will usually continue to shoot from third base until around 3:00 pm or so when the light swings around as the sun drops lower in the sky, causing the batters to become backlit from first base. I am constantly chasing the sun around the ballpark when I work, or running away from it as the case may be.

Shooting backlit from third base in San Francisco makes for real pretty light. Mark Reynolds #27 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats against the San Francisco Giants during the game at AT&T Park on October 1, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Next time you go to shoot a daytime sporting event look at the light and make your game plan. You want to make the best pictures possible and in order to do that you need some good light. If the light is bad shoot backlit!

Backlit football is beautiful too! Quarterback Steve Young of the San Francisco 49ers in action during a game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on November 1, 1998. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Whenever I shoot a San Francisco 49ers game and the light is harsh (usually in the first half) I love to go over to the visitors sideline on the far side (center field in the old baseball configuration) and shoot the pretty backlight. It is especially spectacular after a windy or rainy day and all the junk has been cleaned out of the air allowing for the backgrounds to go black so you do not have to deal with haze.

I always have a game plan when I go to the ballpark. If the sun is out and ugly I shoot backlit. If it is overcast I shoot from wherever I want. If it is dark I go home!

When it gets dark, I go home! San Francisco Giants home stadium AT&T Park in San Francisco, California sits empty in the late afternoon on May 11, 2007. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Ivan Rodriguez #12 of the Houston Astros fields a swinging bunt and throws to first base against the San Francisco Giants during the game at AT&T Park on July 5, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

There are many things I look for in a sports photograph. Is there a good moment? Is there a good facial expression? Is it sharp? Is there good light? Is there a clean background? Many of these things are beyond our control when we shoot sports. We cannot make an athlete have a great face when he or she is in the middle of the action. We can control the light a little bit by trying to make the best of what is available. But to me the easiest thing we can do to make our sports pictures better is to clean of the backgrounds!

Orlando Cabrera #18 of the Oakland Athletics turns a double play at second base against the Arizona Diamondbacks as Diamondbacks base runner Ryan Roberts #14 is forced out at second base during the game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 24, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

When I first get to a game I try and decide where I want to shoot from. Many times I will go to where the best background and the best light is and wait for the action to come to me. Other times when I want to break up the monotony I simply try and find a nice vantage point from upstairs that will allow me to shoot down on the action. This works great for a sport like baseball as the green grass and infield dirt can make a super clean background. This can be much better than an annoying white Chevron ad on the left field wall that gets in the way of all your pictures at second base. The double play picture above is a great example of this. I love the clean background of the brown dirt that makes the action pop so much.

Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game against the New York Mets at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on Sunday, May 17, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I absolutely love shooting a baseball game from upstairs. There are so many possibilities. So many angles to choose from. First base or third? What about high home? The picture above of San Francisco Giants ace right handed pitcher Matt Cain shows what you can do when you combine insanely great light with the high home angle. There is a real sense of symmetry when you shoot a baseball game from directly behind home plate.In San Francisco I shoot from a great spot at AT&T Park that the TV crew sets up in directly behind the plate. The backstop netting is just below rthe plate and out of view, allowing me a clean shot of any action around the plate. I cannot shoot from high home in Oakland because the backstop netting blocks the view of the plate area.

Daric Barton #10 of the Oakland Athletics is thrown out at home plate as Cleveland Indians catcher Wyatt Toregas #15 takes the throw and applies the tag during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 20, 2009 in Oakland, California. Home plate umpire Angel Campos #84 waits to make the call. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

My favorite overhead spot in Oakland is way up high in the third deck on the first base side. The third deck is closed off to fans and covered with an ugly green tarp, but I get permission to go up to section 313 several times during the season to hang out and hope that something great happens on the green and brown canvas below me, like the picture above from a few weeks ago.

So remember, next time your backgrounds are ugly, or if you are simply bored with your pictures- go upstairs! You might like what you see from up there.