The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series: Boston
So it's been awhile since I've written a new post, but I've been quite busy in the meantime, such as photographing The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series' stop in Boston, their only stop in North America.
I was very excited to be photographing this event, as since I saw it last year just as a spectator I was amazed by these athletes and this competition.
I got off the train at South Station, with a thousand thoughts running through my head of different situations and how to handle them and what my plan of attack would be. Before I knew it, I'm almost there, just another block or so. So first thing's first, find the media center and get my credentials.
After wandering a little bit, I find the trailer and meet with one of the Red Bull team, give him my name and he finds me on the list. I fill out a little paperwork, he gives me my bracelet, a media map and tells me to let them know if I have any trouble with access anywhere. Awesome.
I first scope out all the views and get a lay of the land so I know my options for shooting. I chose to start off inside the ICA Founder's Gallery, the large glass section right below the diving platform. This is where I'd start while they perform their warm up dives.
After I got my shots in there it was a race to get back outside for a new vantage point. I headed over to the "Splash Zone" by Anthony's Pier 4 to get some shots with the divers against the Boston skyline.
Now I'm not going to post all my photos of everyone of course, this is more like a Top....well Top "how ever many photos I end up posting" of the event :)
From here I wandered around looking for interesting shots then I found the Media Pier. I approached them and was told I couldn't go out there without an escort, so I went back to the Media Center and got a member of the team; Mike. We went back over, showed my ID, wristband and signed a waiver and I'm on my way out onto the media pier.
I only got a few shots off before I was approached by another Red Bull Team member who asked me if I had been out on the Media Boat yet, and if I would like to go right now, and indeed I would. So I hopped down into the boat and we headed out to where they were landing in the harbor. Awesomeness.
After I got off the Media Boat, I headed back to dry land to finish off my shooting for the day. The dives were done and now it was time to announce the winner of Boston, which was the amazing Colombian diver Orlando Duque (with the ponytail) !
All the divers were amazing, and are incredible athletes; I can't even fathom doing what they do. It's truly a spectacle to witness.
And as the last dive, Superman happened to stop by !
Then it was time to hand out the awards and the winners to have their "Champagne Toast" :)
It was truly an amazing day and an amazing experience to be part of, not to mention all the free Red Bull :) I hope they come back next year and that I could be part of this amazing competition once again !
And thanks again to the amazing athletes that compete in this event ! In no particular order, Orlando Duque, Artem Silchenko, Gary Hunt, Jonathan Paredes, Michal Navratil, David Colturi, Steven LoBue, Kent De Mond, Kris Kolanus, Kyle Mitrione, Blake Aldridge, Anatoliy Shabotenko, and Andy Jones.
The Magnificent City of Lights
Here I am, standing on the roof of the highest building in Paris for almost 3 hours now, freezing from the winds, while tourists are trying to squeeze between me and my tripod to take a photo from my spot. It seemed like forever for the sun to go down, though when you don't want it to, it seems to just fall right out of the sky, but this day, this day it lingered.
Finally the sun had set and I was waiting excitedly to feast my eyes upon the proclaimed city of lights from the best view possible....but it still wasn't dark enough, so the waiting continued.. Then about 45 minutes after sunset, the flights began to flicker, light by light the city emerged from darkness, as if the sun had never set. It was truly beautiful and awe inspiring. I was now living the moment I had been envisioning from the first mention of going to Paris, me and my camera perched on the highest place in all of Paris, looking out upon one of the most beautiful cities this world has to offer.
After I finished up and got what I needed I spent a little time in the lounge then hit the streets again at midnight, where I actually came across another American photographer wandering the streets of Paris and whom I chatted with for a few before we went our separate ways.
I walked home that night with victory in my step.
The Swirling Basin
I've been coming here since I was a small child, and to think of in that time how much water has passed through this fall.. it's mind boggling!
The Basin was formed by millions of years of water erosion that formed this marvelous sculpture. Of course water levels are much lower now than they were back then, but still it's carving an ever changing path through, little by little.
If you're ever in the Franconia Notch area, I highly suggest you check out the Basin !
Tides of Pink
This was at one of my new found favorite places in Miami, South Pointe Park ! This place is spectacular and it's just past South Beach ! It has a great beach, as you can see some of right here, with a long rock jetty that stretches well out into the ocean. There's also a beautifully landscaped park right behind it, which I'll be showing in the future !
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The State House
This is the Massachusetts State House, well, the newish one, as the original State House was a ways down from here and actually right next to where the Boston Massacre occurred, there's your little fact for the day.
I've tried photographing this building quite a few times but was never really satisfied enough to share them, besides one that did come out rather well which I took from Boston Common looking up, but this may be my favorite one yet !
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