Down the Middle

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

The Pro Angle

I've learned a lot about sports photography, by looking at sports photographs. Weather it be Cincinnati Reds, Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine or news Papers.

I've said before, that the lazy sports photographers that post to sports photography web sites, merely stand in one spot, sit in one place or stand on the side lines with a mono pod and shoot the same angle.

In Sports Photography, this is what I call the Pro Angle. Lower than the eye's of the standing player, and coming down the slope of the mound to give that "flame thrower image.

While shooting little league baseball in Eaton, Ohio, I shot this pitcher on the Eaton Bee's getting ready to fire a blistering 45mph heater. But it looks a whole lot faster. Parents love these shots.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Memorial Day

A special thanks to all Veterans on this Memorial Day Weekend. It's not just an extra day off, as much as it's a tribute to all the brave men and women than went far from home and put their lives on the line for us back home.
And a special thank to the men and women of WWII.

At a time when apathy and appeasement policies were considered the way to deal with tyrannical dictators that vowed to destroy and conquer for their own agendas, these brave and noble young men sacrificed all, to stand up for what was right versus popular and stopped evil in it's tracks. It is because of these men and women of WWII that we enjoy the freedoms and privileges that we enjoy today.


Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Fouled Off

Shooting sports photography in Madison, Ohio at a little league game. During a baseball gam, I usually like to set up down the 3rd base line and try to catch some of the batter turning on a pitch. In this sports photograph, I caught Monroe little leaguer Ryan Keppner, fouling one off.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

The Takedown

In shooting Sports Photography in Cincinnati and Dayton Ohio, one of the types of pictures that Dad's love is a sports photograph of their little bruiser taking down the opposing player. This particular shot, although not an award winner for me, was a Fathers favorite of his little guy with a tight grip and a look of determination.

I was shootin sports photography in a game that pitted the Centerville Wee Elks against the Beavercreek Ohio, Little Beavers.

I angled low and used a Nikon D200 with a Nikkor 80-200 2.8 lens.


Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Beyond Thunderdome

Ok, the title doesn't match, but I hate titleing pictures anyway. If you remember the last installment of Mel Gibson's Mad Maxx series, it was titled "Beyond Thunderdome" and co-starred Tina Turner.

While shooting Cincinnati Sports Photography at a Cincinnati Softball tournament last Summer, I started noticing more and more pitchers wearing face masks. A great idea considering this...




Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Locked In

One of the events that I get asked to cover in Cincinnati when doing Sports Photography, is the Annual Rumpke Park, Metro Softball Tournament.

As a Sports Photographer in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, I get to see a lot of sports. Softball players are a colorful bunch. However no less intense than a Cincinnati Reds ball player.

On this photograph, I was merely locked in on the 3rd baseman waiting for a hard shot to be hit his way. Although I never got the actual action photograph I wanted, I did get a sports photograph of a guy who was ready for anything that was coming his way.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Nuxhall Pride

In sports photography, one of the more profitable baseball tournament venues you can shoot, is a "Select Team" event. By "Select", I really mean all star. These are a group of very good youth baseball players that are picked to play on traveling teams.

It costs each family in the neighborhood of 2-3000 a Summer to play in these leagues.

With that being said, these parents really appreciate the high quality sports photography that a professional sports photographer brings to the field.

In this Cincinnati and Fairfield Ohio event, The "Nuxhall Pride", named after legendary Cincinnati Reds broadcaster, Joe Nuxhall were my subject of choice.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Hill Climb

In shooting sports photography, it's always important to remember that sports comes in many different forms. It's not always just Cincinnati Reds, Little League sports photograph's or football. In this case it's snowmobiling and this time it's in the Northern Rockies in Montana.

Cropping played a major factor in this photograph. The picture was a horizontal view, but as I studied it even more, the decision to go vertical with the crop made all the difference.

Part of making a great sports photograph, is done after the shot is taken. Too many aspiring Sports Photographers, at least in the Cincinnati and Dayton Ohio markets, simply upload 500 frames to a hosted site and force their customers to sort through hundreds of images to find a picture worth buying.

The worst thing about that, for the photographer, is that it becomes a portfolio of their work.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Beat the Throw

Today we stay on the "Luck" theme. But don't forget, luck can pay well. While doing sports photography in the Monroe and Cincinnati area, I was a beneficiary of a little luck and a good motor drive.

This was the only image that came out during this baseball players steal of 3rd base, but one his Mom and Dad thought was amazing.

When I am shootong sports photography, thes pictures are those "big catches" that I am thrilled to reel in.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Eye on the Ball

Sometimes in Sports Photography...you're just lucky!

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

What ever you say Coach

Some of my best youth sports photography in both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio has came from those extra special moments that few people actually notice. In this Eaton Little League coach pitch game, I caught this nice picture of a coach giving a little one on one instruction to a boy who just got his first hit.

Jell's Restaurant in Eaton, Ohio is a proud sponser of youth sports in the Preble County area. Owned and operated by Yoshiko "Yoshi" Gillette, they are the best eatery in Eaton, Ohio.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Line Shot

It's a very busy time of year in being a sports photographer in the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio areas. Little league Baseball is in full swing everywhere and every night is a chance to capture special sports photographs that parents love to buy.

I am in that fun time of the year where I come home, log onto my email and see new sales being made every day, though my web site.

Whe I am in the role of a Sports Photographer, I am always looking through the lens and wondering what kind of picture I would want to buy as a parent.

While photographing a baseball game in Monroe, Ohio, I happened to catch this perfect shot of an 8 year old hitting a single. I'm not sure how far the ball went, but I do know that the opposing coach was wanting him tested for Nutrilite Vitamins.
Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Bat Rack

$2100.00 worth of softball bats, resting up against a dugout fence. The average cost of these bats is $300 each. I was shooting sports photography at the Cincinnati Softball Metro Tournament in 2008. While looking around for gallery fodder, I noticed all the colors of the bats lying in the dugout. I simply grabbed all of them, arrainged them in the color order I desired and snapped a few pictures for the portfolio.

I am always looking for images of the game that I can use for featured photographs in my galleries. I have revisited this technique many times in little league, girls softball, mens softball etc.

"Picture takers" never do this type of work Photographers on the other hand are always looking for the unusual.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

The Wind Up

Since I started shooting Cincinnati Reds Photographs and then more predominatly, little league sports photography, I have been asked many times about the characteristics that make for great sports photographs and the kind of pictures that will sell on a web site.

I believe that a couple of the great attributes that a sports photographer can have is, number one, an understanding of the rythim and flow of the game or sport you are shooting, number two, anticipation and paitence to wait on the "big fish" and finally, an understanding of the angles that make for great shots.

This particular sports photograph of a Monroe Little League baseball pitcher would not have been nearly as dramatic with an angle from a standing point of view. The low angle gives the pitcher a fierce and dominating look as he winds up.

You wouldn't be able to judge by the picture its self that this 10 year old probably thre a 45 MPH pitch, but the picture could strike fear into the hearts of any 10 year old batter. (Not my son by the way,he ripped a line shot over the second basemans head)

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Line Hugger

While I like shooting sports photography, I still like to occasionally shoot abstract stuff or images of the game. This was a shot that I set up while everyone else was shooting 10,000 pictures of theur kids sitting in the back of pickup trucks for the Eaton Ohio Little League parade.

I used a 200mm lens, set my colr scheme on vivid and rolled the ball up to the line. I pruposely shot at an angle for effect. What I got out of the picture was a nice file photo that I can use in my galleries.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

You know it's time for a haircut.....

...I'm not sure that anything needs to be said.

That's the great thing about shooting youth sports photography. You never know what interesting things you'll see at the park. This picture will be one of my entries for Capture Cincinnati 2009 when the contest begins.

I was shooting little league baseball photographs in Monroe, Ohio during my son's game and this young boy took his turn at catcher. It made for a colorful photograph.
Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Sweet Spot

Traditionally, I am not an over zealous fan of "catching" the ball on the bat in a sports photograph. Personally I think it is very overrated. I do not recall seeing very many Sports Illustrated shots with the ball on the bat barrel. However, I talk to a lot of aspiring sports photographers that consider this type of shot the "Big Fish" capture.

I did like this shot however, due to the fact that the ball is squarely on the "Sweet Spot" of the bat barrel and the kid has very good form in his swing. On this shot, he ripped a long one into right center field and got a triple out of it.
Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Eye of the Tiger

I think that I may have shot a new favorite photo.

While shooting sports photography for little league in Monroe, Ohio, I was simply getting some good motor drive action on the 10 year old pitcher. It wasn't untill I downloaded all the images that I noticed the incredible stop action in this.

I usually get the best pictures of the pitchers because they tend to be the best athletes on the team. The intense look on this young guy will win him a place in my portfolio of Youth Sports Photography.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Payoff Pitch

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Baseball Bling

When shooting Youth Sports Photography, always keep an eye open for the bling of baseball. In this case it is a 10 year old with the pro style pants, kinnetic energy necklace and the top of the line ball shoes, and bat.

Look, lets face it, I'm a Dad of a ball player myself. And even though my little guy may not be a 5 tool player, I dress him up right. You don't think I'm going to buy this photograph off of you?

You can usually tell what kids Mom and Dad have a few dollars. I am going to make sure there are a few good ones of him on my site.

This sports photographer, shot this picture on opening day in Eaton, Ohio during a little league baseball game.


Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Close Ups

When shooting youth sports photography, I always try to keep in mind, "If I was a parent, what kind of picture would I be likely to buy?" Close ups like this, which have become a signature of my shooting style, are always shot with the thought of a good 8x10 picture, framed up and hanging on a wall in a house.

While shooting Eaton Little Leagues Coach Pitch division, I positioned myself just inside the dugout and brought my lens down to eye level of the subject.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Sports Extras

One of the things I am proudest of when shooting sports photography, Cincinnati Reds or youth little league, is the "eye" for the pictures that no one else thinks of. These make for great stock photos or website enhancements when building a gallery.

While shooting little league in Eaton, Ohio last Saturday, I went to the field and took some of my sons gear and set up a series of pictures before anyone had stepped onto the field. In fact, the whole town was lined up a couple of blocks away, waiting on the opening day parade...a huge tradition in Eaton, Ohio with over 400 kids and 40 teams participating.

This is what I call, "doing my thing". Shooting the stuff that no one ever thinks of or puts the efforts into. I'll share a few more on the next several posts.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295