Most people’s coverage of the World Series was slated to begin on October 22^nd, however my own coverage started the day before with picking up my credential and covering World Series Media Day and the workouts by the Astros and the National League Champions, the Washington Nationals. Quick back story: after a 19-31 start, the Nationals caught fire and qualified for the NL Playoffs. Despite being a wild-card team, Washington was undeterred all October long, defeating Milwaukee in the Wild Card playoff game. Next, Washington rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, ending the season of a Dodger team that won 106 games during the regular campaign. Finally, on the heels of that mega-upset, the Nats completely dismantled the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Not only did Washington sweep St. Louis, 4-0, they did not trail at any point in the series. By no means were the Nationals lucky participants in the World Series, so it made for a very intriguing narrative for the series, “Cinderella vs. the Juggernaut”. Anyways, Media Day was rather low-key as both managers and all players were available for interviews as the day progressed and it was very cool to get photos of the players in a relaxed setting. And I was relaxed as well……until I got on the field for the Astros’ workouts, and that’s when I encountered all the media on the field from across the country (and dare I say, from around the world). A multitude of TV crews, three stage setups (one for ESPN, MLB Network and FOX Sports), many still photographers, it finally dawned on me, the occasion and the task ahead of me. I was going to be front and center for history. And I was going to be alongside some of the photographers I had spent time admiring as well. I was ready for the series to start, and it would with Game 1 that next night.

 

 

October 22^nd saw the start of the World Series and I was unfazed by all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the opening game of the affair, though I was excited to get a wide shot of Minute Maid Park with a gigantic American flag in the outfield. I had always envisioned that shot, and securing it made me feel better about the night going forward. As far as the game, the Cinderella Nationals overcame an early deficit to knock Houston starting pitcher Gerrit Cole out of the game midway through. Though the Astros would make late rally, Washington held on to win, 5-4, snatching away home-field advantage. The next night, the Nats would rip the game open in the seventh inning, scoring six runs to break open a tie game amidst many Houston miscues. Washington blew out Houston, 12-3, taking a 2-0 lead back home, and there was a sinking feeling that Houston’s 2019 World Series stay would be a very short one.

 

 

However, in truly weird fashion, the Astros galvanized and rallied to win all three games in Washington by a combined score of 19-3, taking a 3-2 lead back home for Game 6. In the space of three games, the Astros went from basically on life support to coming home with two chances to win the series and regain the world championship. However in Game 6 (on Oct. 29), even with the entire city of Houston anxiously waiting for a celebration, the Nationals didn’t panic whatsoever. Behind the strong pitching of starter Steven Strasberg, the timely hitting of third baseman Anthony Rendon and being able to frustrate Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, Washington won the game, 7-2, to force a seventh game on Wednesday, October 30^th. Though I was beyond tired from all the work and all the action that the month had brought, I had to rally my strength for the final task of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

 

 

For the seventh game, my own stakes and duties were changed as I was being asked to shoot the game from a position in center field as opposed to my normal elevated position above the first base line. It was an adjustment, especially with a new camera body in use (which I procured on Friday, Oct. 25) and a much longer lens as well, but I was ready for it, to be front and center for the final baseball game of the year. As far as the game itself, the Astros were in full control for six innings, but in true Nationals fashion, Washington did their damage late, scoring six runs in the game’s final three innings, winning Game 7 by a 6-2 score to win the 2019 World Series, the franchise’s first MLB championship. While the mood around Minute Maid Park was a dour one except for the travelling Nationals fans, I was completely and totally exhausted. Exhausted yet fulfilled.

 

 

Though the outcome wasn’t exactly the result I wanted (an Astros victory), I can say that I was present during the clinching of a world championship and subsequent celebration. As I said earlier, being able to cover a World Series wasn’t a goal I had realistically envisioned, at least not until recently. And to finally achieve said goal was draining yet joyous, especially with the series going to the full seven games for an added bonus. Life is a journey and nothing worthwhile is attainable without hard work. And over the course of my time as a photographer, I’ve worked hard with no guarantee it would lead anywhere. Now I know that all the hard work, sacrifice, late nights, pain and such, it all did have an end result, a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, as it were. As of now, this has been the pinnacle of my professional career, and while I hope it’s not the only ultra-big-super-fantabulous accomplishment of mine, it’s the biggest so far. And for the opportunity, I am truly thankful and grateful.

 

 

I cannot end this entry without thanking the countless individuals who have helped, guided and assisted me over the last seventeen years. I hope that my work during the World Series was a great service to you all. To those who are reading this, I hope you found it enlightening and a little enjoyable. It’s been a wild ride and it was fun to share it with you all. Thank you immensely for reading this, do take care and fare thee well.

 

All images copyright 2019 Erik Williams/USA Today Sports Images

 

 

Two days later, the Astros were back at home for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series as they squared off against the New York Yankees. During the season, the two teams went back and forth regarding the best record in the American League, with Houston outpacing the Yankees during the final two weeks of the season, securing home-field advantage in case of an eventual playoff meeting. However, the Yankees were very quick to rip away that advantage in the opening frame, beating up on Astros starter Zack Greinke in a 7-0 victory. With a hint of desperation, the Astros sent Verlander on the mound for Game 2 on October 13^th, who had a better outing than Greinke. Still, the two sides battled long into the night, eventually going into extra innings. And in the 11^th inning, Astros shortstop Carlos Correa ripped a home run over the right field wall to give Houston and 3-2 win, evening the series at a game apiece. It was an emotional win for Houston as they rallied back into the series in dramatic fashion. It was also a straining game for me, as my main camera failed in the bottom of the ninth inning. Fortunately, I had a backup on hand and was able to finish the game with not much missed.

 

 

The series shifted to New York for the middle three games where the Astros won Games 3 and 4 behind solid pitching in Game 3 and taking advantage of Yankee miscues in Game 4. The consecutive wins gave Houston a 3-1 lead in series, leaving them on the precipice of advancing to the World Series. New York stayed alive with a win in Game 5 in the Bronx, sending the series back to Houston for Game 6 on October 19th. In that sixth game, Houston jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning behind a three-run home run by Yuli Gurriel. The Yankees shaved two runs off the lead, but were stuck at 3-2 for many innings. Houston tacked on another run to make it a 4-2 lead, heading into the ninth inning and Minute Maid Park was on the brink of a celebration. However, Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu hammered a two-run home run off of closing pitcher Roberto Osuna to tie the game at 4-4, and the mood went from anticipatory to extremely tense, all within a few minutes. And the sinking feeling grew even deeper when New York closer Aroldis Chapman retired the first two Houston batters in quick succession. The mood seemed to brighten in the bottom of the ninth inning when George Springer got on base after a walk, bringing up Astros 2B Jose Altuve. And on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Altuve hammered a pitch into the stands in left-center field, giving the Astros a 6-4 walkoff win to defeat the Yankees four games to two and advancing to the 2019 World Series.

 

 

My personal emotions on the Astros winning the ALCS were wide-ranging and all encompassing, and frankly, after Altuve’s home run, I was overcome by them. I was in the tunnel outside the Astros clubhouse waiting for the end of the game, as I was tasked to shoot the clubhouse celebration in case Houston won. And after LeMahieu’s home run, I was gutted as it seemed like the Yankees stayed alive and would seize the momentum to eventually win the game to force a winner-take-all Game 7. More than anything, I could see my hopes and dreams of shooting a championship series dissolve. (In 2018, I was approved to cover both the 2018 NBA Finals and 2018 World Series, provided that either the Houston Rockets or Houston Astros won their respective semifinal series. Alas, neither team was able to advance to their championship series and those hopes were dashed.) That’s why when Altuve hit the walkoff home run to win the game and the series in ultra-dramatic fashion, I was……shaken. And I’m not ashamed to admit it……I did cry. It wasn’t just a release of emotion, I was happy. No, I wasn’t just happy, I was overjoyed. The reality had hit me that I would be actually covering the World Series, a goal that I never envisioned not even five years ago, and I was sincerely grateful for the opportunity. As far as that night, the win was joyously celebrated by the team and it was interesting to be in the clubhouse to experience it as well. When I left Minute Maid Park that morning around 1:30a or so, I felt exhausted but excited. Excited for what was now before me.

 

Good day, I hope this finds everyone well. First off, I want to apologize for this rather lengthy blog entry, but considering the event and the journey and the time invested all October, I hope it proves entertaining and insightful. Having said that, this entry is so long that I will be splitting it into three parts, with part two coming out on November 9 and the third entry coming on November 12.

 

 

October 2019 was one of the most stressful and visceral yet fulfilling months in my career, and it was mainly due to the Houston Astros in the Major League Baseball postseason. Going into the regular season, the Astros’ stated goal was to reach the World Series and reclaim the title of World Champions, a title the franchise won two years ago. And after a regular season which saw the team set all sorts of records in offensive prowess and dominant pitching, confidence and excitement was building as the month of October began. As far as myself, I was looking forward to covering the playoffs again with a sense of tempered optimism. I was hopeful that the Astros could make a deep run or a title run, while also recognizing that its playoff baseball and playoff baseball can be VERY unpredictable because every single pitch, at-bat and decision matters greatly. Nonetheless, I was ready for the challenge at hand, especially since I wouldn’t be covering any playoff game from my normal shooting position in the on-field photo wells. Rather, I would be covering the playoffs from various elevated positions, shooting the action downwards. Fortunately, I didn’t have to worry about editing photos during the game as the team had remote (and later, on-site) editors taking care of our photos. (I do apologize, myself and two other Houston photographers were tasked to cover the games for USA Today Sports.)

 

 

October 4th saw the beginning of the American League Divisional Series, the first round of the Major League Baseball Postseason. By virtue of having the best record in the American League, Houston hosted the wild-card game winners, the Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-five series. In front of a packed and LOUD house, the Astros dominated the game almost from start to finish. Behind a strong pitching performance by Justin Verlander and key hitting by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, Houston won the opener, 6-2. It was a fast start to the postseason for Houston, and I got some viable shots from the game, which was VERY surprising as I was dealing with the onset of a very bad head cold/sinus infection.  Houston held serve at home in the first two games but the series turned when it moved to Tampa for Games 3 and 4 as the Rays struck back and struck often, winning both times in Florida. The stage was set for a decisive Game 5 on October 10^th as Houston needed a win to take the series and advance. The Astros jumped on the Rays in the first inning, scoring four runs, and rode the dominant arm of starting pitcher Gerrit Cole to win the game, 6-1, winning the series three games to two to advance to the next round of the playoffs.

 

With the start of the NFL season looming, I found myself looking back on the night of October 7^th of last year. There are some events and some assignments that take on a higher meaning for me personally, and Oct. 7 2018 was very important to me as the Houston Texans hosted the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. On paper, it was a crucial game for two teams looking to take positive steps in their seasons. But for myself, it was a chance to honor someone very special to me. On the night of October 5 1992, my maternal grandfather passed away watching his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, play the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. It was a passing that has stayed with me, and I promised myself that I would take full advantage of shooting a Cowboys game if the opportunity presented itself, especially if they faced off against the Texans.

 

 

The atmosphere during the game was electric as fans of both sides cheered loudly for their teams. But as far as the game itself, it was a bit of trench warfare between the two teams as both defenses reigned. Despite their prodigious talents, both quarterbacks (Deshaun Watson and Dak Prescott) found it hard to move the ball at times. Eventually the game went into overtime, and in the extra session, a pass completion and whirlish maneuver by Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins resulted in a 49-yard gain upfield. Once well within field goal range, Houston kicker Kaimi Fairbairn ended the contest with a 36-yard field goal to win the game for the Texans, 19-16.  

 

 

 

Afterwards, I was ambivalent towards the final score and the game itself, but I was just thankful for the opportunity to be at THAT game. And as sappy and overly-emotional as it sounds, I do feel like my grandfather would have been proud of me for shooting his favorite team, up close and personal. I guess the point of this entry is to say that regardless of family or just very close friends, never forget why you do what you do in life, and who it’s for.

 

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds everyone well. The year has been flying by that I hadn’t had a chance to put some thoughts down and such. With 2018 coming to a close, I’ve had time to look back on my exploits this year and what it’s brought in terms of experiences and such. And while this year has been lighter than in years’ past, I am grateful for a few things that I shot firsthand.

 

The first of such special moments was back in mid-May when I covered Game 1 of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. It was a highly anticipated series, the de facto NBA Finals to many people, and I was tasked to co-shoot the opener of the series. The gameplay was pretty even until the Warriors pulled away in the second half to take Game 1, enroute to winning a back-and-forth series which culminated in their third NBA title in the last four years.

 

 

The other special time came last month during the Houston Astros run in the 2018 MLB Postseason. On October 5, the Astros hosted the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, and again I was responsible for co-shooting it. Behind a solid pitching performance from Justin Verlander and timely hitting by Alex Bregman and George Springer, the Astros took the opener in convincing fashion.

 

 

Two weeks later, the Astros and the Boston Red Sox squared off in the American League Championship Series. After the teams split the opening two games in Boston, the series shifted to Minute Maid Park in Houston for three straight, and that’s when the Red Sox flexed their championship muscle. Boston rode timely hitting in Game 3, immaculate fielding in Game 4 and all-around power in Game 5 to win the series, 4-1. While it was sobering to see Boston celebrate the series win in Houston, along with dethroning the defending champions, there was no shame in being taken down by the soon-to-be champions, which Boston secured against the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 28. The two games I shot could have gone better, but it was still sobering to cover a soon-to-be championship team in the playoffs.

 

 

With an uncertain future looming larger by the day and a year that has been very eventful away from the camera, I’ve been looking back more and more on my exploits as a professional photographer. And now more than ever, I’m more grateful for some of my experiences and journeys thus far. I’m also grateful to know that hard work, sacrifice and perseverance did have its benefits down the line.

  

Anyways, thank you for your time and attention and. Take care and Fare Thee Well.

 

All images copyright 2018 Erik Williams/USA Today Sports Images

On March 30th, the Houston Rockets hosted the Phoenix Suns in an NBA regular season contest. With the top spot in the Western Conference locked up, the Rockets went up against Phoenix, who was sporting the league's worst record. On paper, it seemed like an easy affair for the Rockets, even without Chris Paul or Eric Gordon in the lineup.

 

 

 

The game was proved to be anything but a breeze for Houston as Phoenix rode some hot shooting and balanced team play enroute to building a 17 point halftime lead. The Suns even stretched their advantage to 21 points in the third quarter before the Rockets fought back, eventually tying the score on a three-point shot by James Harden with 12 seconds left in regulation, 101-101. Then craziness ensued.

 

 

 

 

With an entire arena rooting against them, the Suns stayed calm and took the lead on a Josh Jackson jump shot with 1.4 seconds left, forcing a Houston timeout. After advancing the ball to halfcourt, the Rockets looked to get the ball to James Harden, whom was double-teamed by two Suns' defenders. The double-team subsequently freed up Houston guard Gerald Green, who was wide open behind the three-point line in front of the Rockets' bench. After taking the inbounds pass, Green calmly reached back and fired a three-point shot, a shot that splashed through the net as time expired. The resulting three-pointer gave Houston a 104-103 victory, setting off a wild celebration on the court and in the stands.

 

 

 

All images copyright 2018 Erik Williams/USA Today Sports Images

There are very few assignments or jobs these days that I get truly excited for, but this past weekend was an exception as I was assigned to cover the NBA game between the Houston Rockets the Boston Celtics. There were so many storylines surrounding this game, most notably the Rockets holding the best record in the league and riding a 14-game win streak. It was also a game where Houston was looking for revenge as the Celtics beat them in Boston earlier in the year. And to top it off, the game was shown on ABC as part of the NBA Saturday Night Showcase, meaning a national audience would be tuning in. And the game didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

 

 

The game got off to a fast start as both teams were hitting their shots early on. Houston built an eight point lead, 28-20, before Boston closed the quarter on a 12-2 run to lead, 32-30. The Celtics continued rolling in the second quarter as their bench led the way with baskets all over the court, frustrating Houston’s defense. Boston’s lead reached as high as nine points (47-38) before Houston was able to tie it at 50-all with four minutes left. Again, the Celtics closed strong to go into halftime leading, 64-58.

 

 

Boston was able to keep the Rockets at bay during the third quarter, pushing their lead as high as eight points (70-62) before Houston countered by hitting two straight three-pointers (74-73), forcing a timeout with 5:51 left. As the play got more physical, the Celtics started to flounder as Houston eventually took the lead, 75-74. The Rockets’ lead was short-lived as the Celtics kept attacking inside AND out. The back-and-forth third quarter ended with Boston leading, 89-86, paced by their bench who had 45 points.

 

 

Both teams showed no signs of slowing down in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics’ bench kept Houston at arm’s length for the majority of the fourth quarter, and Boston still lead 113-107 with four minutes left. From that point on, the Rockets tightened the screws defensively, forcing two turnovers leading to five points in less than twenty seconds to take the lead, 117-115. After a plethora of free-throws, the Rockets sweated out a last-second miss to win the game, 123-120. Even with both James Harden and Kyrie Irving having so-so nights (Irving had 18 points on 6-for-17 shooting while Harden scored 26 points on 6-for-18 shooting), the play of the benches and the action down the stretch gave the matchup some real spice and flavor (Boston’s bench scored 67 points while Eric Gordon for the Rockets scored 29 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter).

 

 

 

Well, what more can be said? The game this past Saturday night didn’t just live up to the hype, it exceeded it and it could be a possible preview of the NBA Finals in three months’ time. A back-and-forth game, intense atmosphere, great crowd, it was a real privilege to be at the forefront of history once again.

 

 

 

All images copyright 2018 Erik Williams/USA Today Sports Images

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds everyone well. Been a while since my last entry, but it’s been hard finding the words after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in late August. While I was fortunately enough to not personally be affected, the suffering that others went through and have gone through was not lost on me. I certainly hope that everyone who has been affected by this is on the road to recovery.

 

Anyways, with October here, football season is in full swing among other things, and I’ve been hitting all over town shooting the Houston Texans, Rice University and the University of Houston. One of the games I’ve shot was the 2017 Bayou Bucket game between Rice and UH, and while the game was essentially over by halftime, it did bring back memories of the 2007 Bayou Bucket game between the Cougars and Owls, which was played 10 years ago today. It was a game that I will remember fondly for a myriad of reasons.

 

 

A quick summation: On a sunny Saturday afternoon at old Robertson Stadium, the Houston Cougars and Rice Owls battled each other in a game that saw nearly 1,200 yards of combined offense and 15 touchdowns between the two teams. Houston jumped out to a 28-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, only to see Rice battle back across the second and third quarters, scoring 34 of the game’s next 41 points. The Owls held a 48-35 lead heading into the final quarter only to see the Cougars roar back, both literally and figuratively, scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win, 56-48. (Oh, and for Cougar football buffs, it should come as no surprise that the comeback win was led by the legendary Case Keenum, but I digress LOL) For anyone watching the game in the stands, it was a heart-stopping affair with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster ride. But for me shooting the game, it was unlike anything I had experienced in my young career, at the time. (Oh a quick side note, it also was memorable because I covered the entire game while dealing with a sinus infection that left me bed-ridden the day before. )

 

 

Back in 2007, I was still trying to make a name for myself and was unsure of a real direction and purpose in photography. While certain jobs were enjoyable, I had no clue if this was something I wanted to do, long-term, and on a higher level. But this game was such a spark for me, a spark that changed my entire outlook and purpose going forward. Shooting that game and getting the images that I did, it convinced me that this is something I wanted to do long-term. And that desire got into me, like a highly addictive substance.

 

 

I’ve always regarded this game as the greatest college football game I’ve ever covered thus far, and a whole decade later, it still rings true for me. It wasn’t just an intense and memorable game, it was the game that led me to be a devotee to photography and set me on the path to where I am now. I do wish it wasn’t as expensive as narcotics at times, but that’s a rant for another day. Point is, just stay true to your hopes and goals, no matter the roads they lead to. It may take a decade to get to where you want, but keep walking the path and you WILL get there.

 

With that, I thank you for your attention and support. I hope to have another entry ready by November. Thank you for your time, and fare thee well. One last note, this blog entry is dedicated to my late grandfather, Connell Linson, Sr. Without your gratitude, kindness and generosity, I wouldn’t have become the professional I am now, and days like that sunny October day a decade ago wouldn’t have been possible.  

 

All images copyright 2007 Erik Williams

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds everyone well. It's been a very hot summer down in Southeast Texas and busier than usual for me, so I hadn't been able to keep up with the blog until this week. There hasn't been much to share since the last week of May, when I made my annual pilgrimage out to Sugar Land, TX for the Southland Conference Baseball Championship tournament at Constellation Field. This was the third straight year and fourth in the last five that I covered the tournament as the Southland's photographer, and it was a job that I'd been looking forward to once again. And I was a tad smarter this time around, securing a second shooter for some of the action on Thursday and Friday. Unlike the 2016 tournament, this year's action was not marred at all by the weather, which was great. The only issue with the weather was the heat and the crappy air, which contributed to my allergies flaring up like crazy. It sapped my strength and hindered me for the first two days, but thanks to some Claritin-D, Benadryl and a little bit of help from one of my associates, covering the action on Friday and Saturday was much better.

 

 

 

 

Anyways, the on-field action was as intense as ever with conference and personal storylines abound, such as the return of the Houston Baptist Huskies to the Southland tournament (two years after winning the title) or the top two seeds (McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana) getting beaten before Friday's semifinal games. Strangely enough, the one team that flew under the radar from the outset was the Sam Houston Bearkats, the defending Southland Champions. Despite being the third seeded team, they were ultra confident as they easily won their first three games to advance to the championship final. In the title game, the Bearkats faced off against the Central Arkansas Bears, who were Southland champions themselves in 2013. Riding an early flurry of runs, Sam Houston outgunned the Bears to win the final and repeat as Southland tournament champions, advancing to the NCAA tournament (eventually making the Super Regional round).

 

 

 

 

Overall, despite my allergies not cooperating early on, I think I had the best tournament in my four times shooting the Southland Championships. The adulation and such from the various SIDs and the Southland media officials was always good, but I felt internally accomplished as well. It’s always satisfying to have a plan of attack, executing it and seeing the results come to fruition.

 

 

Anyways, that’s all I’ve got for this entry. Many special thanks to the Southland communications staff and Maria Lysaker for their tireless assistance. Thanks for reading and as always, fare the well!

 

 

All images copyright 2017 Erik Williams/Southland Conference Media Relations

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds everyone well. I am sorry I haven’t had any blog entries to start 2017, but things have been rather crazy for me the last four months. And that craziness is thanks to a lot of basketball I had to cover in March, and a certain playoff game in April, but I’ll get to that later.

 

 

 

Basketball season is always an exciting time for me, because it’s my favorite sport to shoot, but this year I had a bit more action to cover from March onwards. In March, both Rice University basketball teams made it into postseason play, resulting in six extra games that I covered at Tudor Fieldhouse in the space of twelve days. While it got personally draining towards the end of that stretch, it did result in some pretty cool images from the action. Anyways, the men’s team had a good run in the CBI tournament, defeating San Francisco before falling to Utah Valley State. Meanwhile, the women’s team competed in the WBI tournament and ended up winning the title with victories over Lamar, UT-Rio Grande Valley, Idaho and UNC-Greensboro. I am confident that the two tournament runs will be the start of great things over on South Main for the Owls.

 

 

After the completion of Rice’s tournament play, I was fully expecting to be done with basketball until November. Then the NBA playoffs started, and I was assigned to cover Game 2 of the series between the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. I was hovering between excited and being petrified, not from shooting an NBA game, but shooting an NBA playoff game featuring both James Harden and Russell Westbrook, two of the three leading candidates for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. Anyways, the game was rather entertaining as the Rockets won the game, despite trailing by as many as 14 points. While Westbrook had the bigger night (51 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds), Harden (35 points) came away victorious as the Rockets won 115-111 to take a 2-0 series lead. Houston eventually won the highly-anticipated series, 4-1 to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.

 

 

Anyways, that’s what I’ve been up to for the first four months of the year, covering all the burning hardwood across town. (And may not be done yet, who knows.) Thank you for viewing and for your time, have a wonderful day and, until next time, fare thee well.

 

All images copyright 2017 Erik Williams/Rice Sports Information/USA Today Sports Images

 

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds you all well. Things have been rather calm for me as of now. I say “as of now” because August-November was a very stressful period for me with the bulk of football, volleyball and soccer seasons all going on at once. But now that football is over, at least for me, it’s time for basketball season. And that’s where I do shine in terms of sports photography, as I am a basketball lifer, having grown up around the game in the 80s.

Shooting basketball has always been enjoyable for me, but not only am I shooting college basketball this winter, I’m also shooting professional basketball. The NBA, the National Basketball Association, more specifically, the Houston Rockets. Shooting the Rockets was always an outside goal of mine, having done it twice in 2007, but I didn’t think it would be possible due to many factors. But this year, thanks to my association with USA Today Sports, the opportunity arose to start shooting a select number of Rockets games this season. Needless to say, I was elated to be offered the chance to shoot NBA games, since that had been a goal of mine, really, the final goal of mine in a while. But I was nervous about it as well, hoping to do a good job.

My first game was on November 12 against the San Antonio Spurs. Yea, my first Rockets’ game in nine years was a home matchup against the Spurs, one of the best teams in the league. It turned out to be a pretty entertaining game as San Antonio ended up winning, 106-100. In terms of the photos, I think I could have done better in terms of capturing the action. But for not having shot an NBA game in nearly a decade, I think I did a serviceable effort.

 

 

 

Five days later, I was back at the Toyota Center as the Rockets hosted the Portland Trailblazers. Regarding the game, it was a bit more entertaining as the Rockets used a spurt in the third quarter to pull away from Portland, 126-109. Regarding the pics, I was a lot more comfortable as I knew what to expect this time around, thus the photos were stronger. Regardless, I felt good about the two games I’ve covered this far, and am optimistic regarding future Rockets games this season.

 

 

 

Shooting the Rockets again has been a real experience, and considering it was the one sports team that I didn’t regularly cover until now, I feel a real sense of accomplishment. It’s an achievement that is a good way to cap off the last 27 months in my professional life. But now that December is here, I’m thankful for some quiet time. Granted, there’s still basketball on tap, but not much else, and I’m glad things can slow down for a little while. Now that things have slowed down, I’ve taken stock on a lot of things, and I know that I wouldn’t be where I am and done what I’ve done without a strong edict towards hard work and exerting control. And that’s the key to making it through life. Believing in God, having a positive attitude and holding joy in your heart is all fine and dandy, but at the end of the day, all that can’t supersede hard work. If you have a goal, attain it via hard work because no one is going to just give it to you. That may be pretty hard and unyielding, but considering where I’ve been in my life and the lows I’ve crashed to, it’s necessary, and it makes the successes I now enjoy all the sweeter.

 

 

 

With that said, thank you for reading another colorful blog entry. I wish to thank you all for your support this year and in years’ prior. And a VERY special thank you to my dearest friends, Michelle Miller, Jennifer Sacco, Helen Laird, Kerri Rapp, Dr. Susanna Mittermaier, Kyla Holas and Chantel Baptiste. I wouldn’t have survived the last two years without you in particular. Thank you all and fare thee well.

 

All images copyright 2016 Erik Williams/USA Today Sports Images

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds everyone well thus far this week. I've been all right since the end of July, when my regular work started back up again. And things have been challenging yet great. A recent highlight was on Saturday, Sept. 3 when I covered the Advocare Kickoff Classic at NRG Stadium between the University of Houston and the Oklahoma Sooners. It was one of the more exhilarating college football games I've ever covered, especially in terms of atmosphere as both teams battled in front of a sellout crowd of over 71,000 fans. The highly anticipated matchup more than lived up to the hype as #15-ranked Houston took advantage of two third quarter turnovers to pull away from #3-ranked Oklahoma, 33-23. It was a great game in all respects, and I took full advantage, getting many viable images from the game.

 

 

 

 

Strangely enough, it wasn't until I got home and unpacked that I realized the date, September 3rd. It was on this date five years earlier that I covered the NCAA football game between Houston and UCLA. And the similarities between the two days were pretty eerie: Houston was playing at home in front of a raucous crowd against a higher-ranked opponent and traditional powerhouse, and the Cougars would emerge victorious in both games. (UH defeated the UCLA Bruins, 38-34.) Pretty strange, eh? But there was also personal significance to that date as well.

 

 

Sept. 3, 2011 was the first NCAA football game I covered after a nearly two-year exile from shooting professional and college athletics. (Thanks to unfortunate circumstances and my own professional naievete, I didn't shoot any major professional or college athletics between Nov. 2009-Mar. 2011, and certainly no upper-level football during that time.) While I was "out of it", I lost faith that I could make it back to that place, professionally, and was unsure at to what to do with my business and even my life. But I kept at it and took advantage of various opportunities, eventually making it back on the sidelines for Houston Cougar football in 2011.

 

 

 

While I've hit other heights since then and continue to strive to bigger and better things, it was amazing to look back on where I was five years ago and see how far I've come, how far I've grown and what I've survived. Granted I’m still not where I ultimately hope to be, but goddamnit I’m glad I’m not where I once was. I guess if there's a point of this diatribe, it's that never stop working and fighting to achieve your dreams, and don't let anyone tell you they're worthless or not meritorious of your full devotion.

 

(taken during the UH-UCLA game on Sept. 3, 2011)

(taken during the UH-Oklahoma game on Sept. 3, 2016)

 

 

Well, with another diatribe concluded, I hope everyone has a good week and rest of September. Thanks for your time, and until next time, fare thee well.

 

 

All images copyright 2011-16 Erik Williams

 

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds everyone well. I duely apologize for no entries whatsoever since October of last year, but life kept getting in the way and with 1-2 exceptions, there wasn’t anything ultra special to write about, professionally. Well there was the AFC Wild Card Playoff game in January between the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs, but we won’t mention that game for obvious reasons. And I won’t mention the plethora of storms that have ravaged Houston the last eight weeks. Frankly, that horror speaks for itself as well and many thoughts and prayers to all those affected.

 

Anyways, this year has been a mélange of experiences and emotions thus far, and while I’ve been working less in comparison to this time last year, I’ve been able to put more of myself into my assignments. Two weeks ago, I reprised my coverage of the Southland Conference Baseball Championships at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. Once again, it was a daunting task shooting nearly a dozen baseball games in four days, but it was even more daunting this year thanks to a massive rainstorm that disrupted play on May 27, forcing the tournament to be extended a day.

 

 

 

While it was an unexpected inconvenience, playing the championship game on Sunday proved to be a memorable affair as Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana squared off in “The Dream Final”. I was hoping for a great matchup between the tournament’s top two seeds, and the game did NOT disappoint. After giving up a grand slam early, the Sam Houston Bearkats fought their way back into the game, scratching out seven unanswered runs enroute to a 7-4 victory. The win clinched the Bearkats the Southland tournament title (pairing it with the regular-season title) and a berth in the ongoing NCAA baseball tournament. (Also, Southeastern qualified for the NCAAs as well, securing at at-large bid.) Anyways, I don’t know what it was about the championship game, but I got into a real zone shooting and I captured some pretty good shots all along the way. Maybe it was an adrenaline rush or the oppressive heat and humidity, but I was pleasantly surprised by the images from the showdown.

 

 

Well, not much else to say. With summer here, things will be pretty quiet until August when things resume in earnest again. Always keep working hard to achieve your dreams, damn all who get in your way or don’t support you. Thank you for your attention and until next time, Fare Thee Well.

 

 

P.S. Many thanks to Diana Porter, Hardy Meredith, Angel “Rick” Leal and the communications staff of the Southland Conference for either helping me or putting up with me between May 24 and 29. It was all VERY much appreciated!

 

All images copyright 2016 Erik Williams/Southland Conference Sports Information

 

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds you all well, and I hope things are going well for everyone, as the year winds down. Things have been stop-start for me in the midst of football season, which is always the busiest time of the year for me. This past weekend, I covered Rice’s home game against the Army Black Knights. Shooting football is always fun, but not when the weather is inclement. And the weather this past Saturday was wet, or as I call it, two-of-every-animal-bad.

 

 

Between Friday night and Sunday night, the city of Houston (and all of Southeast Texas) was drenched from the remnants of Hurricane Patricia as perpetual bands of rain lashed all over town. And unfortunately, Rice Stadium was not spared from the deluge. As the game started, even as Rice jumped out to a 14-0 lead, the rain was showering the stadium, but it was as least tolerable. And yes, I took precautions beforehand, dressing for the precipitation and making sure my camera equipment was well-protected. Things held up until the start of the second half when the rain came down harder and harder. At some point in the third quarter, the sky just opened up and it started pouring hard, VERY HARD. The rain was so vicious that I could barely see the action on the field, let alone shoot it. And my main camera was nearly useless as water droplets completely covered the front element, making shooting very difficult. As the quarter progressed, I constantly dried off the front element to at least get shots in focus, but the driving rain made that difficult.

 

 

Oh yea, back to the game proper, Rice stretched their lead to 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but Army fought back to tie the slosh-fest with just two minutes and thirteen seconds left, right as the rain started to let up. On Rice’s subsequent possession, they drove 63 yards in 93 seconds, just as another strong line of storms passed over the stadium. Amidst the inappropriately placed heavy rain bands, Rice scored the game winning touchdown with 24 seconds left, winning the contest, 38-31. It was a great win for Rice, a truly memorably one, but it was simply the most miserably football game I’ve ever shot. I’ve shot games in extreme heat and cold and been reasonably fine, but never in rain that consistently fierce. And yes, every single part of my person and gear was completely soaked afterwards. But it was another memory created in a very long year, a year that has been a rollercoaster in many ways. Sometimes life involves doing things you don’t want to and doing things in VERY harrowing conditions. All you can do is push through and fight it out, even if you’re drenched into the stone age in the process.

 

Well, with all that said, thank you for your time and for reading my blog once again. I hope to have another entry online by mid-December if not sooner. Thank you for the support, and until next time, fare thee well.

 

All images copyright 2015 Erik Williams/Rice Sports Information

 

 

Good morning all, I hope this finds you all well today, especially with end of summer here.  It’s been a while since my last entry, and I had hope it would be something different after the one in June regarding the Houston Astros. However, last Friday night’s game forced a change in plan. Last Friday night, I covered the Houston Astros’ series-opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The game already had personal significance for me, as I grew up a fan of the Dodgers, which is weird considering I’ve lived my whole life in Houston. So seeing my favorite team as a youth was exciting, aside from the obvious matter at hand, as both teams led their respective divisions.

 

 

The game started out rather slow, but the Astros took an early 2-0 lead after two innings, eventually stretching it to 3-0 after six innings. As the game went on, a discernible buzz grew around the stadium as Astros starting pitcher Mike Fiers hadn’t allowed a hit. Seventh inning comes and goes, still no hits for the Dodgers. When Fiers retired the side in the top of the eighth inning, the roar in Minute Maid Park had grown to a fever pitch, and the crescendo built even louder as the Astros took the field in the top of the 9^th (still leading 3-0) and Fiers, whom had never pitched as long or as heavily in his career, retook the mound. And his task to attain the no-hitter was not an easy one, as he faced the top of the Dodgers’ order in Jimmy Rollins, newly-acquired Chase Utley and Justin Turner. Still bringing the heat after 130+ pitches, Fiers’ forced two consecutive fly-outs on Rollins and Utley, setting the stage for, well, history. And it was a moment I’ll never forget, with all the fans cheering and screaming, as Fiers at 9:43p, on his 134^th pitch of the game, reached back and rifled a pitch past Turner for strike three, his 10^th strikeout of the night, winning the game and securing the no-hitter. Needless to say, it was near pandemonium on the field and in the stands, and understandably so. It’s not every day there’s a no-hitter in Major League Baseball, so to be at one involving your two favorite teams (past and present) and to capture the moment is a humbling yet exciting experience.

 

 

 

The experience became crystallized for me yesterday when I learned that one of my images from the game (mainly the celebration) was printed in this upcoming week’s issue of Sports Illustrated, making it now seven times I’ve been published in S.I. since October 2012, and it’s my first “double-truck” shot of any kind. (In photo-parlay, a double-truck is a shot that extends over two pages of a publication.) And understandably, I am beyond overjoyed to attain an accomplishment like that, especially regarding such a momentous event.

 

 

With an uncertain professional future ahead of me, I am starting to cherish the grander and sweeter moments I now experience, moments that make the accomplishments stand out more. And what I’ve achieved is a testament to hard work, passion, respect, determination and dedication. With those things, you’re not guaranteed victory or success, but without them, you won’t get anywhere worthwhile in life. Put your best foot forward and love what you do, that is a start towards great things, and the occasional no-hitter. Anyways, that’s it for now. Thank you all for the support, the kind words, and the encouragement. Until next time, fare thee well.

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds everyone well. Things have been rather busy, but with summer here, I can expect things to slow down a great deal, which will be beneficial with a busy fall ahead. The spring saw me cover a lot of baseball, much more than I have this time last year. And a bit of my time has been spent at Minute Maid park, home of the first-place Houston Astros. No, that’s not a misprint and I am not inebriated. As of this entry (June 2^nd), the Houston Astros are in first place in the American League West division. Not only are they in first place in the AL West, as of this entry, they have the best record in the American League overall (and are percentage points behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the best record in baseball altogether).

 

Though the 2015 season is only at the one-third mark, it’s an incredible accomplishment for a franchise that had lost 100+ games three of the last four seasons. And it’s been pretty fun watching this young team grow together, led by the timely hitting of Jose Altuve and the solid pitching of Dallas Keuchel. (Oh, and speaking personally, it’s also been fun shooting the games with “new” equipment on hand, improving the image quality and results.) With four months left to the season, it will be very interesting to see if the Astros can keep this pace up and win the division, or in lieu of that, qualify for the playoffs as a wild card (either way, making the playoffs for the first time since 2005). But as it stands now, they are the most interesting story in baseball thus far.

 

 

Anyways with that, thanks for reading my blog, and I hope to have another entry online very soon. Thank you all for your support, and until next time, fare thee well.

 

 

Greetings to all, I hope this finds you well. Once again, I do apologize for a lack of entries lately, but the beginning of the year proved to be busy once again, especially the month of February. A lot has been going on, but things should slow down with my basketball coverage for the year now completed.

 

The month of March is always an exciting month, with the NCAA Basketball tournaments starting up, and the road to “March Madness” begins with conference tournaments. And last week, I was out in Katy, TX for the Southland Conference basketball tournament, covering the Lady Huskies of Houston Baptist University. A quick recap, after a rollercoaster season in which their best player was lost for the year with a knee injury, HBU won on the final day of the regular season to qualify for the Southland tournament as the #8-seeded team. Despite being the last team in the tournament field, the Lady Huskies were undaunted as they faced off first against the #5 seed, the McNeese State Cowgirls on Thursday, March 12. After building a 17-point first half lead, the Huskies had to hold on down the stretch to pull out a 70-68 upset victory, stunning the favored Cowgirls and advancing to the quarterfinals. The Huskies pulled out another upset the next day, defeating the #5-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 49-48, advancing to the semi-finals. (Personal note: Due to prior commitments, I was unable to attend and cover the quarterfinal matchup, hence no photos, many apologies.)

 

 

In the last four on Saturday, HBU faced their biggest test, the top-seeded Stephen F. Austin Lady Lumberjacks, the winners of the regular season title, led by Porsha Roberts, the conference’s player of the year AND defensive player of the year. The already daunting task for the Lady Huskies looked to be impossible when they fell behind by as many as 18 points in the first half. However, a hot shooting run saw them cut the deficit to four points by halftime, 41-37. The Huskies continued their torrid shooting in the second half while mixing in some timely stops on defense, limiting Roberts to only six points (on one made basket) in the second half. The end result was an upset for the ages as Houston Baptist won, 88-81, to advance to the tournament final. Without exaggeration, it was the best college basketball game, men’s or women’s, that I’ve ever covered. It wasn’t just the comeback that was memorable, it was the way it happened, along with the atmosphere of the arena AS it happened. For example, in the second half, members of the Northwestern State band (in attendance for their semifinal against Lamar) actually went to the HBU student section and cheered for the Huskies. Even the Lamar fans who were in attendance were cheering for HBU as the game came down to the wire.

 

 

With confidence at an all-time high and local and national media now attentive, HBU faced off against the #6-seeded Lady Demons of Northwestern State in the championship game on Sunday afternoon. Sadly, after a back-and-forth first half, the Cinderella Huskies ran out of steam as a cold-shooting performance doomed them to a 58-50 defeat. Despite the setback, two members of the squad made it to the All-Tournament Team, and interest in the program has never been higher. And it was symbolic of two things: 1) March Madness will always be awesome, even the conference tournaments, where a long-shot can ride a wave of momentum to glory multiple times; and 2) In March, much like in life, it takes more than talent to succeed, it takes passion, heart and perseverance, even in the face of nearly certain defeat. It takes all those things to survive, advance and succeed in any venture, especially in basketball and especially in the month of March.

 

 

Thanks again for reading my blog, and I hope to have a new entry soon. Until then, thank you for the support and fare thee well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings to all of you, I hope this finds you well amidst the bustle of the holiday season, wherever you are.

 

As the calendar winds down on 2014, and with a break in my work schedule, I've been looking backwards, not just on this year, but on the last few years in my life. More than anything, I've been looking back at November 2012, which was a critical juncture in my professional and personal exploits. I hated where I was in my life, yet a chance to change it all presented itself and I took it. I wanted to change my life, and I did in many ways and I don’t regret any of it for a second, even though many people who were present in my life two years ago are long gone. Rather than bemoan or prolong this pity party and such, all I have to say is this:

 

Don’t let yourself be anyone’s physical or emotional punching bag EVER. Never take any form of abuse in the name of “friendship”. If you have a dream, don’t let anyone defecate on it because their dreams and ambition don’t match yours. If you do have a dream, honestly pursue it with all your strength and passion and don’t let up until you attain it…..even if it means pushing everyone you hold dear away.

 

While I’m not a firm believer in astrology and the zodiac, I looked up the Chinese zodiac and 2015 is the Year of the Sheep, the sheep being a symbol of peace and tranquility. While that is commendable and I do wish for peace for the world and this country, for me, 2015 will be the Year of the Wolf. I love wolves, such mysterious yet deadly beasts, capable of beauty and savagery, be it alone or in a pack. And that’s my thoughts for the end of the year. If you have a dream, a passion, and you want to attain it, be a wolf and do it. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals along the way, or go it alone, but do it as best you can, with beauty or viciousness. Humans only get one life to life, go on and live it……with the heart of a wolf.

 

And that’s it, for the end of the year. Season’s greetings, many blessings, and best wishes to all of you. Until 2015, fare thee well.

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds everyone well today. I apologize for a lack of entries, but life has been a rollercoaster ever since the end of July, when regular work started back up for me. But things are tootling along at a breakneck pace. This past weekend was no exception as I had five assignments to cover over a three-day period. The hardest day over that stretch was on Saturday, as I had two football games to cover. While I love football, shooting one game a day is a sincere physical investment. TWO games in one day can be daunting, and that was the task that I faced 48 hours ago.

 

First up at 11a was Rice University hosting the Mean Green of North Texas at Rice Stadium. After a shaky first half, the Owls kicked it into gear in the second on BOTH sides of the ball, scoring 27 unanswered points to win 41-21 for their fourth straight win. The game was a bit fun, despite unseasonable warm conditions. Seriously, 86 degrees in late October was BS, but it’s Houston, so it should be expected, right?

 

Anyways, after editing and image delivery, I packed up my gear and headed to Houston Baptist University for their 7p game against the Nicholls State Colonels.  By arrival time (3:30p), I was already feeling the effects from the first game, as I had a slight headache and a sick stomach, to go with sore legs. But I got some quick rest and got ready for the nightcap. In the game, the HBU Huskies hammered Nicholls State on the ground, rushing for over 260 yards, as they rallied in the fourth quarter to win, 31-21. The win was HBU’s first home win in the program’s infantile history and their first Southland Conference victory as well. To say that Saturday was a long day would be an understatement. My day started at 6:30a, and I didn’t make it back home until 11:30p. Long days can be common no matter the profession, but a 16-hour day speaks for itself. But honestly, while Saturday was nothing short of a marathon for me, I would gladly take it over not having anything to do at all.

 

 

The entire weekend has made me realize how far I’ve come in the last two years, as a photographer and a man. I never realized how capable I am of doing what I have been, and while my has involved some painful choices, those changes have been necessary because they paved the road for better times and greater adventures……and the occasional 16-hour day on the gridiron. To those I left behind (well, MOST of them), thank you for your understanding and support.

 

Anyways, that’s all I’ve got for now. Many thanks, many blessings to you all. Until next time, fare the well.

 

 

Ever since the start of the FIFA World Cup this month, I’ve had this entry in mind. Well, it’s been on my mind for nearly eight years, seriously. The US National Team has advanced to the Round of 16 and nationwide excitement over the team and the tournament has been amazing. Aside from the players, the team has had a major identity shift thanks to their head coach, German-born Jurgen Klinsmann. (Quick bio, Klinsmann was the head coach of the German national team in 2006, leading them to a 3^rd-place finish. And his playing career was a decorated one, winning the Cup as a player with West German in 1990.) As the Cup has progressed, he has proven to be a great coach…….which makes U.S. Soccer’s decision to hire him in 2011 all the more puzzling.

 

Back in December 2006, there were reports that Klinsmann had accepted the USA head coaching job, but the reports were quashed and such, and those reports surfaced after the US’s disastrous World Cup campaign, being eliminated in the Group Stage. And over the next five years, US Soccer was a roller coaster, with a lot of downs along the way (the 2010 World Cup loss to Ghana, the 2009 and 2001 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final defeats to Mexico and the collapse in the 2009 Confederations Cup Final to Brazil). After the World Cup in 2006, it was clear that the US National team needed to go in a different direction, so it’s still bothersome to me that US Soccer didn’t hire Klinsmann then, especially with what he’s done since taking over and with a roster in transition. And not just with his team and the pundits, the energy he’s brought overall has been rather infectious and humorous. (Attached below is a “sick note” he penned to American employers on the eve of the USA-Germany Group Stage match on June 26.) It may be sycophantic to give such glowing praise to one person, but Klinsmann has been a definite shot in the arm, not just for the national team, but for soccer in America overall. All the watch parties nationwide and massive television ratings can attest to that.

 

 

Which brings me to Ann Coulter……..how and why, you ask? Well, in the aftermath of the US-Germany match, Coulter brought herself into the spotlight, essentially denigrating soccer fans nationwide, saying “any growing interest in soccer can only be a sign of the nation’s moral decay.” She also added that in soccer, “there’s no “prospect of either personal humiliation or major injury” and that soccer is only popular in the country “because of the demographic switch effected by Teddy Kennedy’s 1965 immigration law.” After reading it in full, I was nauseatingly amused by her remarks, and that’s saying something considering her track record, especially in the wake of her “trolling” Michelle Obama just a few months ago. Rather than dissect the ignorance and hate spewed out by Miss Coulter, I’ll just address it with the retouched pic below, a pic of Miss Coulter herself:

 

 

In short, I am enjoying the World Cup and the progress the US National Team has made under Jurgen Klinsmann, the confidence to dig in and fight and win games that they normally would have lost, and that progression has been great for the game domestically overall. Soccer may never unseat one of the “Big Four” in the US, but it’s growing more and more, and I do appreciate that. It’s a shame that in some circles it’s met with such divisive and juvenile vitriol. But that is the world, isn’t it?

 

Anyways, this has gone on long enough, so thanks for entertaining me. Best wishes for a great end of the World Cup over the next two weeks. Until next time, thank you and fare thee well.

 

 

Good day all, I hope this finds you all well today. First off, many apologies for no blog entries since last December. Work got incredibly busy for me for three-plus months with various assignments for various clients. And frankly, that strain and constant crush of work was pretty brutal from mid-March onward, but as of May 19^th, I’m done for a little while and am ready to enjoy the summer. That and watch a lot of sports on TV.

Anyways, enough exposition, time for the meat of this entry. For years, many people have been asking me how I got into photography and for advice on how to make it in the industry and make it profitable. That topic has been a point of contention for many years, especially since photography is almost exclusively digital now, for better or worse. But really, it comes down to about five simple things: Have realistic goals, be open to all genres, be smart with your money, be willing to sacrifice and be respectful to others. And despite what goes on in some parts of the industry, those simple standards can prove to be very beneficial in your long-term exploits.

 

Point by Point:

· * It’s best to be realistic about what you want to do with photography, be it keeping it as a weekend hobby or wanting to do it full-time. Have goals, but be realistic about them. Be sincere about keeping photography as a hobby or wanting more out of it because there’s no in-between.

· * Don’t limit yourself to just one photographic genre. The best photographers are multi-talented, and while they specialize in one field, they’re capable of variety as well (i.e. portraits, sports, with or without flash, etc.). And a well-versed background can lead to big experiences.

· * With any business, money is huge, and photography is no exception, in terms of income and equipment. Regarding income, SAVE YOUR EARNINGS, which goes without saying, and it sort of segues into the second part regarding equipment, only purchase what you will regularly use.  

· * The road to success is a LONG one, and there will be a lot of long days and, if necessary, LONGER nights. Photography isn’t just regarding shooting, it involves location scouting, driving to and from locales, meeting with clients, and editing, LOTS of editing. Even if you want to pursue photography just part-time, be prepared to give up gobs of your time.

· * With all things in life, it’s best to have a passion for it, and in photography you can express that passion in your images. But regarding the business side, especially when expanding a client base, be respectful of other photographers and their positions. Undercutting is a nasty and rather unnecessary part of the business, so if you’re starting out or wanting to do more, don’t look to “screw someone over” for any reason, as that is not beneficial to ANYONE involved.

 

All these points have been brought up before many times by many other photographers, some of whom have many greater experiences than I, but I hope these points prove informative for anyone looking to pursue photography, even if it’s a weekend fun-thing or a life-long profession.

I think I’ve gone on long enough, so I’ll end this entry here. I hope everyone has a great summer. Thanks for the attention, and until next time, fare thee well.

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds you well and with your loved ones this holiday season. December has proven to be a busy month, yet productive as well. The denouement of 2013 was one to remember, mainly because of three football games I covered. First was the Conference USA Football Championship between Rice University and Marshall. The game itself was memorable for two reasons: 1) Rice won the game in dominant and stunning fashion over Marshall, 41-17, for their first outright conference championship since 1957; 2) the game was played in viciously frigid conditions, around 36 degrees at kickoff. With a steady north wind blowing, it pushed the temperature well below freezing through the course of the game. It was easily the coldest sporting event I’ve ever covered. But it was worth it to cover an immense accomplishment by the Rice Owls.

 

 

The other two football games from December that I enjoyed covering were the final two home games of the Houston Texans’ 2013 season, first featuring the New England Patriots and three weeks later, the Denver Broncos. Of course, all the attention (mine included) was focused on the visiting teams’ quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Both QBs were magnificent in their victories, especially Manning, who broke (or rather, reclaimed) the NFL’s record for most passing touchdowns in a regular season. But it was very cool to shoot the two greatest quarterbacks in this generation, especially with another head-to-head postseason meeting looming.

 

 

The whole month has been rather interesting for me, but I see it as the culmination of the last two-plus years of my professional life, not just to be able to rebuild things and take them to the next level, but to be able to have rather epic days via my craft. And I’ve had a year’s worth of epic days since April 2012. My hope is that it continues in 2014 and onward. And that is my wish for everyone, to pursue your dreams no matter how difficult. I know I’ve said that many times, but that is a sincere hope for everyone in this crazy-as-heck world.

 

And with that, thank you all for the attention and the support, and all the best to you this holiday season and a Happy 2014. Until next time, fare thee well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good day all, I hope this finds everyone well today. Today is a rather special day for me, as it’s my birthday…….my 35^th birthday. For many adults, it’s no real concern, just another day. For me, it’s a day to be sure, but it’s a chance to reflect upon the last 12 months of my life, and it’s been an absolute roller-coaster of an adventure, wrapped up in multiple enigmas.

 

Looking back on where I was a year ago, I had no real direction and purpose in my life. Well, I did but I had no idea where I wanted to go with it all. But in taking advantage of a big opportunity that presented itself, I completely change my life. Aside from the financial improvement, I feel like within my craft, I can accomplish anything. In the last year, I’ve been printed in Sports Illustrated FIVE times, secured my positions with Rice and Houston Baptist and totally re-defined and revitalized my business. While I’m exhausted with the weekly crushes of work, I wouldn’t trade where I am right now for anything.

 

I do look back on where I was a year ago, and while I miss certain individuals and settings, most notably the student-athletes of Lutheran South Academy, I am confident that those same people would be proud of where I am now and what I have achieved in the past 12 months, well, MOST of the people, not all. For all those who were detrimental, disrespectful and dishonest towards me for so long………I sincerely thank you. I hold no malice towards any of you, but you’ve given me the confidence and fire to live my life my own way and achieve my goals amidst the cancer, toxicity, poison and laziness spewed out. And for those who believed in me when I lost faith in myself, words can’t express how grateful I am to you, especially three very special people who have touched my life and actually SHOWED that anything in life is possible.

 

One more thing, last year on my birthday, it was my sincere hope that people could come together and make the world a better place to live in. I do apologize for that unrealistic and Disney-themed bullshit. If I have one thing to pass along this time around, it’s this: If you have a dream, make it come true no matter what. If you have people in your life who love you, love them back with all your heart (within reason) and be honest. If things or people make you unhappy or frustrated in your life, fucking cut them loose and don’t look back. To loosely quote Marshall Mathers, “life’s too short to not go for broke."

 

And that’s that, thanks to everyone for the Happy Birthday wishes, and I hope to have another eventful 35 years, maybe longer. Take care, thank you all and fare thee well.

 

 

Good morning all, I hope this entry finds everyone well, especially with summer starting to wind down. (THANK GOODNESS!) Anyways, with the end of summer comes the beginning of an American tradition – football season. And this year looks to be a very busy one for me, shooting three different college football teams AND the Houston Texans. However, along with the Texans and Rice University football, the team I’m most looking forward to shooting is Houston Baptist University.

 

 

For those unaware, the 2013 season marks the inaugural season for Houston Baptist Football, as the school is starting a program from the ground up. And their very first game is this upcoming Saturday against future Southland Conference opponent and FCS powerhouse, Sam Houston State. While I’ve been an invested part of football teams in the past, on the high school and collegiate levels, this is the first time I’ve been a part of a brand-new football team. And the first few seasons for HBU will be building and establishing the program, to ensure competitiveness in the Southland Conference and in the region. But with all big things in life, it has to start somewhere, and Saturday evening will be the start of something big for the school. And it’s going to be interesting to be a part of it on the ground level.

 

 

Anyways, with a busy two months coming up, blog entries may be pretty sporadic until October. But I hope everyone has great days ahead. Thank you for viewing and the support, and until next time, fare thee well.

Good afternoon all, I hope this finds everyone well today, on the eve of U.S. Independence Day. I know it’s been a while since my last blog entry, but real life intruded for a while, especially in the month of May. Things got pretty busy in May, most notably my covering both the Conference USA and Southland Baseball tournaments in the same week (May 22-26).

 

 

One would think shooting a lot of baseball in a week would be fun. And to an extent, it was. But it was also very draining. All told, I shot 15 games in five days, splitting time between Reckling Park (where the C-USA tournament was being played) and Skeeters’ Park in Sugar Land (where the Southland tournament was). It meant getting up very early some days, long drives in between the stadiums, editing en masse, dealing with the BRUTAL heat and humidity. And in all fairness, by the day of the C-USA Tournament Final (May 26), I was completely exhausted, with nothing left to give. At least that’s how I felt before the game when trying to psyche myself up. And it also didn’t help that I was having knee and hamstring issues as well. In other words, I was burned out and beaten up. Even looking back upon it now, I have no idea how I got through that last game, especially in the searing heat, and especially with it going to extra innings, but I did. I guess that one day has been a microcosm of things lately for me, because even when things have been bad or I cannot go further, all that’s left to do is to just push through, no matter how hard it is.

 

 

Anyways, that’s pretty much it for now. I hope to have more entries and photos to share in the second half of the year. Thanks for the time and attention, many thanks and fare thee well.

(DISCLAIMER: This entry is full of personal introspection again, some of which could be offensive to those with sincere medial vices. For those offended by my thoughts, I implore you to close the browser and wait for my next entry.)

 

Good day all, I hope this finds everyone well thus far, as March comes to an end. As the month nears its close, I’m thankful for the slowing of work. Between the beginning of February and now, I was on a murderous pace that lent itself to both financial stability and health issues as well. In other words, I kept busy doing cool things, but I got sick three times along the way. Now that I have a short break this week, its only now that I realize what I’m capable of in life, but I’m also coming to terms with a “problem”.

 

I have an addiction, of sorts, an addiction to my work. I’m not content just to sit around and do nothing or rest on my laurels and accomplishments. But still, I take my work to an extreme and I push myself too hard at times, to the point where I frequently get ill. And I will never be content with where I am, I want to get better with each passing week.

 

Why succumb to this addiction? Well, I will never have a wife or a girlfriend, nor will I be a father in my lifetime. I’m just not that sort of person, nor do I wish to “just settle” for just anyone, that’s just making a “bad” situation worse. With what time I have left in my life, be it 70 years or 70 weeks, I will make an impact doing what I do best. It’s only now that I realize that I don’t have a choice in the matter. I have to work this hard.

 

I’ve now delved into rambling so I’m cutting myself off here. Thanks for the attention and the support. Until next time, Fare thee well.

 

 

 

 

(DISCLAIMER: This is going to be a rather disjointed and free-flowing entry on my part, so I apologize if my thoughts or words are a tad confusing or potentially offensive.)

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds everyone well this afternoon. I apologize for no blog entries in over two months, but things have been a tad hectic, mainly because of work. Not just that, I’ve had a lot of time to do some personal reflection as well, as 2013 has arrived with a vengeance.

 

In all fairness, while I hate certain decisions and such that have been made, I do appreciate where I am in life right now, at least professionally. I will never care for certain people and their crappy actions and crappier complaints about their lives, but as of now, I have the strength not to allow that types of people in my life any more. I have no time whatsoever for users, abusers, liars and hypocrites, and have made it clear that I will not have that in my life. I do hate the sort of collateral damage it’s has created, but to quote many athletes of the day, “it is what it is”.

 

As far as work, things have been busy, well January was busy, but this and next month are due to be exceedingly demanding for me. But I’m looking forward to it all, not just to keep busy and to make some serious bank, but to actually re-take my work to the next level, and push myself even higher. Even working towards next year, I already have some big plans regarding the 2013-14 football and basketball seasons for Rice and Houston Baptist, among others.

 

Anyways, I’m dry on words, so I’m signing off for now. Always hold onto your dreams and don’t be blinded by your fantasies. Those are fleeting, but achieving your dreams and goals, that’s long-lasting. Until next time, thank you and fare thee well.

Good morning all, I hope this finds everyone well. First off, my sincere apologies for no entries since the middle of October, but things have been a tad hectic between recently getting sick, the close of high school football season (at least, for me) and the completion of two weddings within five weeks. Not only that, but I have recently began a new venture regarding my business, shooting athletics for both Rice University and Houston Baptist University. Despite the plethora of work, it's gone good so far, especially shooting basketball for both schools (which is one of my favorite sports to cover), and I hope this venture continues into the 2013-14 athletics year. Below are some samples from the first few weeks on the job for both schools.

 

Anyways, with these new duties on my docket, along with the Texans games and other assignments included, I do have a bit of news to announce. Due to the increase of work on various fronts, I will no longer be shooting any Lutheran South Academy athletics. This is a decision that I have not entered into lightly, but between my new duties and a bit of unpleasantness during the high school football season involving the athletic director and other figures at the school, it made the most sense for me to terminate my relationship with the school until further notice. (And before I forget, I want to make it known that I DO NOT hold the student-athletes, coaches or the parents accountable or responsible for this severing of ties. My irreconcilable strife is solely with the athletic director and one other individual based solely on their disrespectful actions. There's no need to go into those actions in this online venue, but I wish to thank all others for their support over the years, especially the student athletes, it's been absolutely enjoyable to be of service to you all for the last few years.)

 

 

Well, with that, there's not much else to say other than I am looking forward to this new adventure in my professional life, and I hope to do right, not just by my new clients, but by all those who have supported me over the years, especially since 2009. Unless the Mayans were correct and we're all on borrowed time, 2013 looks to be a very exciting and busy year for me, and I'm looking forward to it. I hope to have one final blog entry online by the end of the year.

 

Until next time, Happy Holidays and fare thee well!

Good day all, I hope this finds everyone well thus far today. I know it's been a while since my last blog-tastic visit, but alas between an abundance of work and issues on the homefront, it's been an interesting time for me. Rather interesting, mainly because of all the football I've shot recently. Ah yes, football. What is football, well, AMERICAN football? Well, it's defined as "a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone by running with it or throwing it to a teammate." Great definition, but football is so much more than that. Honestly, where else can a person go to see all of what a football game offers? Athleticism, controlled violence, unity towards your team, angst towards the opponent, the fans who dress up, the fans who bring signs, all of that. Football isn't just a game, it's an experience, especially on the higher levels. (Forgive the complimentary fellatio, but I can now understand WHY the NFL is the king of pro sports leagues in the U.S. year after year.) Anyways, I have some shots to share from the last six weeks of games that I've covered.

Anyways, thanks for viewing the latest entry of my blog. I hope everyone has great days ahead. Thank you for your support and, until next time, fare thee well.

 

 

All images copyright 2012 Erik Williams

Good evening all, I hope everyone had a great weekend. This entry was a long time in the making, not just a few days or weeks, but really three years. As many of you know, the Houston Texans started their 2012 season yesterday, in front of a simply electric crowd at Reliant Stadium. And I was there for all the action, shooting my first NFL regular season game since 2009. And it was great being back, although I wish the first quarter had gone better for me. But once I got some VERY high angle shots, it was down on the field, amidst old friends and colleagues, covering the action up close and personal.

 

 

Even though the game is still pretty recent, and even though there are seven more home games left in the Texans’ season, I went to bed satisfied and with a sense of accomplishment for the first time in ages. It was a long road back to this point, and I had been worried about how I would do on Sunday, especially with added responsibilities for the game regarding my media outlet. But I pushed onward after a rough start and made it through. I mean, what else could I do? But I made it, and as I left the field after the game was over, I felt like I was part of something truly special again.

 

 

And that's that for now. I hope everyone has a great week ahead, and I thank ALL of you immensely for your support and kind words along the way. I hope to make you all proud of me in the weeks ahead. Until next time, fare thee well.

 

 All images Copyright 2012 Erik Williams/Cal Sport Media

Greetings all, I hope this finds everyone well this Labor Day weekend. I'm currently recovering from a rather hard stretch of completed work, including three straight football games in three days. The most grueling of which was the annual Kickoff Classic between Lutheran South Academy and Bay Area Christian School. The game eventually went into overtime before LSA pulled out a 20-17 victory, but it's a game that I'll remember for how much work went into it. As many know, football is my favorite sports to shoot, but it's also the most physically demanding, even under the best of weather and physical conditions. And on Friday night, even at 9:30p, it was still very hot and brutally humid outside. And with all the running back and forth across the field, I expended a great deal of fluid and was severely dehydrated and lightheaded from the fourth quarter onward, almost to the point of passing out, twice. Even consuming water and Gatorade proved ineffective as I sweated it out almost immediately after drinking it. But I somehow made it through and was there to capture the whole game and the aftermath, although it's something I hope not to repeat, because it was the worst I had ever felt when shooting a sporting event.

As I reflect on it now, and as arrogant as this may sound, I liken the game and my contributions to that of former San Diego Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow Sr. and his incredulous performance in the Chargers-Dolphins NFL playoff game in January 1982. (Backstory: In that game which was also brutally humid, Winslow logged 13 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown, along with a blocked field goal, despite extreme dehydration, a pinched shoulder nerve and a gash on his lip.) The shot below is of him being carried off the field after the Chargers' win.

 

Was there a point to this entry, aside from self-promotion or just bragging? I dunno, maybe just this. Sometimes in life, it's not about talent or equipment or skill to survive, much less succeed. It takes heart, will, desire and an unshakeable fortitude in crummy conditions (and especially in Houston humidity). Two teams showed it on Friday night, and I was glad to just be there. Anyways, I wish everyone a great weekend and great week ahead, especially this upcoming Sunday when the Houston Texans start their season. Thank you all for the support, and until next time, fare thee well.

Good morning all, I hope this finds everyone well ahead of another sunny weekend. Anyways, I have a bit of news to share. After a three year exile of sorts, I have been approved to cover all Houston Texans home games this season, with the possibility of shooting the playoffs as well. But I will be there for the preseason, season opener and all the action.

Needless to say, I am beyond overjoyed to be covering the Houston Texans again, in their biggest season to date. But it's also a sense of achievement in accomplishing the biggest goal I set for myself since 2009. A little backstory, I actually did cover the Texans a few years ago, shooting 14 games across four seasons (2006-09). But due to unfortunate circumstances, I was unable to continue shooting pro and college sports after October 2009. After a real down period, I was able to work my way back into that realm from March 2011 onward, covering mainly college athletics, yet I always had the NFL as a distant goal. Even as this calendar year has progressed with shooting more of the Dynamo and Astros, I still hoped to cover pro football again. And as of yesterday, that goal has been realized. I won't lie, I might be a little emotional at the regular season opener before kickoff, but it will be "earned tears". It's an accomplishment born out of hard work, sacrifice, hitting bottom yet willing to bounce back and fight harder for what one wants....and not settling for anything less. It makes it all the sweeter, but now I'm rambling.

Anyways, I just wanted to share this with all of you. Thank you all for the support, I hope to do you proud once again. Until next time, "Rock and Roll!" and fare thee well.

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds everyone well. Things have been getting rather busy for me, as the Astros and Dynamo seasons have been trundling along and with the recent start of Houston Texans training camp. And I recently had another Astros photo from this season published by SI.com.

Anyways, during this month, I've been debating  my future in photography and deciding what the eventual next step is, if there even IS one. Certain factors may not allow me to keep doing photography full-time (such as the fluctuating economy and unfortunate changes to the industry as well), so it's about time I have a new plan in place in case I can't be a seven-days-a-week shooter. While I'm not above getting a "joe job", an idea of mine that I have been seriously considering is eventually becoming a high school photography teacher, focusing on photojournalism, using my prior experience to instruct others as well. Granted, it would involve going back to school for another degree and/or teaching certification, which I'm NOT crazy about. But in terms of the future, this is a way to have an impact after my shooting days are done. And for years, people have been asking questions or asking for advice or whatnot regarding photography. Now even with a career change in place, that doesn't mean I would give up photography for good, just downgrading it with one eye on "tomorrow". But even with an uncertain future, I'm very thankful for the memories and to the people who stood by me from day one and through all the rough times.

Well, that's it for now, I hope to have another entry online this upcoming Saturday or Sunday, after "The Showdown" between the Houston Dynamo and New York on Friday night. Thanks for reading and until next time, fare thee well.

 

 

 

Greetings all, I hope this finds everyone well, especially those in Houston who are sweltering amidst the searing heat. Anyways, I've wanted to answer a question that various people have been asking of me, for a few years now: "Why do I push myself so hard?" Well......it's a question that took me a lot of time to answer.

I guess I've always loved photography, but around four years ago, I found a real love and passion for photography, not just as a means to support myself. Being a part of something special, ranging from sports to portraits, being able to create memories is a real joy for me. After a downturn in my efforts across 2010, I honestly lost confidence and faith in myself. But after some encouragement from an old friend and some strokes of luck, I regained my confidence and pushed towards the highs I experienced earlier. Also, I've taken to challenging myself and doing different things within the scope of my craft, such as setting up a remote camera for baseball or location lighting for portrait sessions. And all that is as much about thinking outside of the box as much as I don't want my efforts to become stale. Pushing myself to do different things is a built-in challenge, but it always lends results.

But most of all, I guess I push myself for reasons past professional. I seriously doubt I'll be fortunate enough to have a family of my own, loving wife, awesome children children, all of that. But I do know that I can be a hard-working photographer, capable of creating great imagery, so I've decided to put everything of myself into that and go from there. And while the path has been a very lonely one, it's been a productive one as well, especially thus far this calendar year. And that is my achievement, as good an achievement as one can hope for in life.

Anyways, that's it for now. I hope everyone has a great weekend coming up. Thank you for your time, and until next time, fare thee well.

Not much to say today, as I've been on a semi-break from work (thanks to road trips and away games by the Astros and Dynamo). But I do have some new images to share, involving the Houston Energy, the city's premier women's football team. This past weekend, they took on the visiting DFW Extreme in their regular season home finale. Here are some shots from the Energy's 30-0 victory.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great week this week and next. Thanks for viewing and, until next time, fare thee well.

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds everyone well this sunny Memorial Day. Before I get into my blog entry, I want to give  all the members of the U.S. Armed Services a heartfelt thank you, for what you've done and continue to do, at home and abroad. Freedom isn't free, and I salute those willing to protect it, especially those who have given their lives in that regard.

Anyway, as for my blog entry, quite a bit has happened in the last two weeks. I've been keeping busy with the Astros and Dynamo, and most recently, OTA practice with the Houston Texans. Shooting the NFL again has been a major professional goal for me. I've done it before, having shot 14 games across the 06-09 seasons, but to shoot the preseason practices is one step closer to that goal, in general. Aside from shooting the Texans' practice, the Astros and Dynamo action have lent positive results as well. Not only have the games been very enjoyable (aside from the blistering Houston heat), I've also been fortunate to have some of my images published online by SI.com and ESPNSoccernet.com.

This shot of Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was featured on SI.com on May 26, 2012.

 

This shot of Dynamo defender Andre Hainault was feature on ESPNsoccernet.com on May 27, 2012, the day AFTER the game.

After a long period of sincere hopelessness, I honestly feel like I'm almost back to where I want to be in my professional life. And even though I do feel like I want to do other things as I've stated recently, I feel like if I can reach my own goal and pinnacles, I can leave the industry on a high note, if I do decide to leave for good. But for now, I'm enjoying my recent run of success.

Anyways, best wishes to all of you this week and onward. Until next time, fare thee well!

 

 

May 12th was a long awaited day, not just for me, but for most of the city of Houston, as the day saw the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium, the new home of the Houston Dynamo. Since I became a soccer fan in 2006, I've been an ardent follower of the Dynamo, especially through their two MLS championships in their first two years in Houston, '06 and '07. And though it was sad to see them leave Robertson Stadium (which is a close drive from my house, tee-hee), it was very pleasing to see them have their own stadium. And a VERY nice one as well! Anyways, the stadium was packed for the Dynamo's home opener against D.C. United, and the home side took the win, 1-0.

 

 

As April has turned into May, I've been keeping very busy between my new responsibilities shooting the Astros and with the Houston Dynamo's home schedule about to begin as well. I've had various commitments come and go during the last few weeks, and I've done my best to fulfill them all to the best of my abilities, even at the expense of my own health.

 

 

For years, many people have asked my why I push myself so relentlessly, regarding my work. Until recently, I never had a definitive answer. I guess, it's because I know this is what I do best in life, and in life, one must do what they do best. And after a misspent youth, I know that I was born to be a photographer, it's what I enjoy and it's what I'm best at. Also, having reached a professional pinnacle once before in my life (shooting Texans/Astros/Dynamo/Rockets from 2007-09), I wanted to get back to that level again. And after the last year, I feel like I'm returning to that zenith. I'm not there yet, but I will be there in time, god willing. And if not, it won't be for a lack of effort.

 

Hope everyone has a Happy Mother's Day. Until next time, fare thee well and namaste.

 

 

 

Greetings and salutations, I hope this finds everyone well. This is a more introspective blog, after a rather big assignment yesterday, or Sunday, rather. I was able to cover the Houston Astros baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers from Minute Maid Park. It was my first of hopefully many assignments for a new client, a national wire service, and it was a joy to be back to shooting Major League Baseball after a three-year absence. More than anything, I view it as achieving another personal goal enroute to a much larger one. And it was great to shoot the game, a 12-0 Astros victory against my favorite team growing up, the Dodgers, alongside old friends in the industry, on an absolutely picturesque (yet warm) day. And it was special because it could be the last time the two teams will face each other, at least in the foreseeable future. Anyways, I do hope that this is the first of many baseball games this year.

Anyways, that's it for now, I hope to share more of my images and experiences soon. Until next time, fare thee well.

 

All images copyright 2012 Erik Williams/Cal Sport Media

 

This weekend, I covered the University of Houston's Softball team sweeping their Conference USA series against the Memphis Tigers, winning all three games by a combined score of 21-1. But being out at the Cougar Softball Stadium, I took a bit of time to reflect upon the season thus far. This is currently my sixth season covering Cougar Softball, ever since first conference title onto the national stage in 2007. And I've seen a lot of players wear the Cougar Red and White, a lot of fans cheer, a lot of home runs hit and a lot of big moments. It's been an experience to see the team and its supporters grow, evolve and change over the last six seasons, from humble beginnings and lean years to national TV appearances and NCAA tournament wins. While the names change, the end result remains the same, winning games.

 

 

 

During the past five days, between March 6-10, I spent most of the time in nearby Katy, TX, covering the Southland Conference Basketball tournaments (men's and women's), with the two winners automatically qualifying for the upcoming NCAA tournaments. It was a pleasure once again to be a part of the tournaments as I got to see some pretty exciting action on the courts as teams from Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas battled it out. Overall, it was a very exciting five days, with a few upsets, an overtime battle, a down-to-the-wire women's final and a runaway express in the men's title game. And along the way, I got some very awesome shots from all the games I covered. But more than anything, it reminded me of why I love basketball in the month of March. Every basketball game is an important affair, but in March, the games take on a bigger meaning, especially in the conference tournaments can alter a team's fortunes, or crush them altogether. If a favored team loses, it can be the abrupt end to a stellar sason, and maybe a player's career. If an underdog can get hot, they can ride a wave of momentum to a win and a title. Yes, in March, the games do mean more. And, once again, I'm fortunate to have been a part of "March Madness".

 

March 4 -- Stepping into history

 

On March 3rd, I took a road trip with my friend Kristen to visit Stewart's Mansion in Galveston, TX. For those unaware of it's history, Stewart's Mansion existed as far back as the early 1800s, when it was then known as Lafitte's Grove, an old outpost maintained by pirates. In 1821, after a battle with Karankawa Indians, the fort was abandoned then rebuilt upon in 1926 as a Spanish Colonial mansion. It was maintained through the century, until the mid-90s' or so. I'm unsure of its recent history, but I'm sure that the building hasn't been occupied or maintained in a VERY long time.

 

 

Anyways, upon hearing that the building is scheduled for demolition, my friend and I made time to go down there for an impromptu yet fantastic modeling shoot with three willing and awesome subjects. While shooting in this very dilapidated locale, it was very enriching to see a building that was once a beautiful landmark. And the shoot was a fantastic success.

 

As February winds down, I reflect on what was a very busy and VERY rainy month. The rain did mess up my schedule on more than one occasion, but in the midst of all the rescheduling and sloshing and mosquito slapping, I got some very viable images over the course of the month, mainly sports shots and a few "fun" ones as well.