Dear 2015, thank you! Thanks for a wealth of unforgettable memories. Continuing on the momentum built up in 2014, I hit the road with my camera gear documenting basketball around the world. From New York to L.A., the Bahamas to Mexico City, or Gersh Park in Brooklyn to Hoops in the Sun at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, I’ve witnessed the best that basketball has to offer and I savored every moment. I put together a brief video slideshow featuring some of the highlights of 2015 that I’m happy to share with you.
One of the biggest benefits of being a photographer has been the relationships that have formed along the way; I’ve met some incredible people and I am grateful for every single person who has sat, ran, or even jumped in front of my lens and especially to those who have entrusted me to craft their vision with my creativity.
Creating portraits of some of the nation's best high school basketball players at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA was a major highlight of 2015.
We had a blast at the Basketball Hall of Fame during the HoopHall Classic early in 2015. Here, VJ King poses for a teammate's aircam
The HoopHall Classic is an annual basketball showcase that features some of the top high school basketball programs across America over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. NCAA coaches from all of the most coveted programs descend on Springfield, MA to recruit their next classes of primetime players or diaper dandies as the inimitable Dick Vitale might put it. In 2015, I teamed up with the Basketball Hall of Fame to create portraits of the game's next class of hopeful inductees.
From Jordan Terminal 23 to the Elite Youth Basketball League with the NJ Playaz to the HoopHall Classic, Isaiah Briscoe (now a guard for Coach Calipari at the University of Kentucky) has been the subject of many of my photos.
When time allowed, I jumped in frame with some of the elite high school basketball squads who stopped by the Basketball Hall of Fame for a portrait session.
I create my images to be shared and it was truly a special experience to have my shots hanging proudly on the hallowed grounds of the West 4th Street court for a special pop-up gallery during All-Star Weekend.
When I was contacted to be featured in a pop-up exhibition called Raised Gallery during All-Star Weekend in NYC, I was amped. When I found out the location was to be the world famous West 4th Street Court I was in awe. I shared the gallery with New York Sunshine, Adam Lister, Justin Leonard, and my good friends Kevin Couliau and Bobbito Garcia, co-directors of the documentary film Doin' It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball NYC. Temperatures were well below freezing on the night of the opening, but that didn't stop New York from checking out the artwork in The Cage as the court is so affectionately known.
Despite frigid temperatures, passersby paused to admire the art work displayed during NBA All-Star Weekend at "The Cage" aka West 4th Street Court.
Christ The King High School standout Rawle Alkins took a break from the Jordan Terminal 23 Skills Challenge competition to pose for some portraits with me during All-Star Weekend.
I spent some quality time in 2015 roaming the sidelines of Jordan Terminal 23 where I have witnessed some memorable games, to say the least. If you missed my 2014 recap, which you can revisit by clicking here, I highlighted my adventures on the sidelines of Terminal 23 from that year—and there were plenty.
New York City announcer Dave "Cha-Ching" Teele got in character for this portrait at Jordan Terminal 23 during NBA All-Star Weekend.
In 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend traveled to NYC and Jordan Terminal 23 was the hottest stop in Gotham. I photographed Christ The King standout hooper Rawle Alkins and created some dramatic portraits with him. Chris Broussard of ESPN made an appearance while he was in town to cover All-Star Weekend and he can hoop! I also had the chance to create my shots from the sidelines while Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo prepared for the dunk contest. That brother can fly! I had a great time teaming up with Jordan Brand for All-Star Weekend in NYC. The events they put on were second to none.
ESPN analyst Chris Broussard stopped by Jordan Terminal 23 for the media run during All-Star Weekend.
Jordan Brand athlete and Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo practiced for the NBA All-Star Weekend dunk contest at Jordan Terminal 23 where I was on hand to create my shots from the sidelines.
I traveled back up to Massachusetts for a photo shoot with Milwaukee Bucks guard and 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams. The images from this shoot ended up in Kicks USA stores in Philadelphia, PA. MCW was great to work with, his energy was high the whole time despite shooting on a super hot and humid day with little cooling on location. I might as well have been hooping the way I was sweating out there, but the final images made it all worth it.
Milwaukee Bucks guard and NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams dons apparel for Kicks USA.
My friend and cinematographer Jay Morales captured this BTS shot of me with Michael Carter-Williams.
Former University of Pittsburgh standout Levance Fields shows some jubilation at Gersh Park in Brooklyn, NY.
Too much to cover in one post as I look back at 2015, but I will tell you all about my annual tour of the summer basketball scene in NYC during the summer of 2015 among the many other highlights of the year in the next post. Stay tuned!