Last weekend was filled with sports photography. I covered the Steelers at Bills game on Sunday. The day before I was in Garrettsville Ohio covering motorcycle racing. The Bagger Mayhem Racing Team invited me over to cover them. Here is Brian who is the co-team owner and primary driver. They have another driver in training, a couple of mechanics and a great sponsor in Hard Drive Parts.
Nati
I captured this photo when I was in Cincinnati last season covering the Steelers/Bengals game. Jake and I carpooled down there to cover the night game. The next morning before heading back to Pittsburgh, we went over to the Kentucky side of the river to get this photo looking back into the city.
Side note, Cincinnati has a bunch of nicknames including Cincy, The Nati, The Queen City, The Queen of the West, The Blue Chip City and The City of Seven Hills…….
Steelers at Browns
Here are some photos from today’s game. Steelers against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Ohio.
Chase Claypool diving for a catch
Rubber Bowl Stairs
I think this site was demolished shortly after my visit. It was a great explore and I’m glad I got to see it before it disappeared. This was the former home football field for the University of Akron.
To view a larger version, click HERE
PGH Cityscape
I hope you’re having a great weekend. We got a little snow in our area yesterday. I took this drone photo a couple of weeks ago from downtown Pittsburgh (pre-snow). Look how high the water is in the rivers…. Right up to the top of the river walk. Anymore and they’ll have flooding in downtown Pittsburgh.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Once Proud Stadium
Tonight’s post is another photo from the University of Akron’s Rubber Bowl. I heard recently that they are destroying this abandoned building because they’re concerned it isn’t safe. I understand why they’d take it down, but it’s also a little sad at the same time.
To view a larger version, click HERE
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Early Morning
You’d think with tons of photos to choose from, I’d have an easy time selecting a photo to post. Honestly, sometimes I struggle with the selection. I think my struggle comes from doubt about whether any of them are worth sharing. I’m never very confident with their quality or appeal. Unfortunately, I let self-doubt creep into my thoughts. With that in mind, I hope you like tonight’s photo.
I took this photo from the West End Bridge looking back at downtown Pittsburgh very early in the morning. Have a great day.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries. I update and add to them often.
Stadium
Blair and I met up with Mike today in Akron to do a little urban exploration. Honestly, we didn’t have much luck. But we got a chance to visit the former University of Akron Rubber Bowl stadium, which opened in 1940 and closed in 2008. It was named the Rubber Bowl due to the huge rubber tire industry (Goodyear and Firestone) that used to exist in Akron. The stadium is now scheduled for demolition in the near future.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries. I update and add to them often. PLUS….don’t forget you can get a free gift and 10% off great Think Tank camera gear by using this link: http://bit.ly/2FVW0eg
Line Of Scrimmage
Here is a photo from last season’s Steelers game in Cleveland. There is just something about the line of scrimmage in football games. That’s the battleground on the field. When the players are lined up helmet to helmet waiting for the play to start, you can feel the tension. Of course, the Browns don’t put up much of a challenge for the Steelers.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Don’t forget to check out my photo galleries. I recently updated them.
Big Ben
I’m switching things up today. No travel, architecture, or landscape photo. Besides, football is a year round obsession in America. I’ve never posted a picture of Big Ben (at least I don’t remember posting one of him), because frankly I don’t like him very much. Great quarterback, but that doesn’t necessarily make him a great person or good role model. Regardless, Steelers’ fans love him. I’ve captured thousands of photos of him over the years covering the games for the Observer-Reporter newspaper.
So for the first time, I’m posting a picture of Ben Roethlisberger for your viewing pleasure. I took this specific photo last season in Cleveland Ohio, when the Steelers were up there to play against the Browns. It was bitter cold that day (20 mile an hour winds making it -20 degrees), but I dressed appropriately and was fine the entire time. The Steelers won easily and went on to have a good season. This photo was taken in pre-game.
To view a larger version, click here: https://500px.com/photo/200331197/big-ben-by-brook-ward?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=3695440
Ben Roethlisberger
The Basement
As you may recall, last summer MJ and I met dear friends in Columbus to hang out for the weekend. While walking the streets, we got special access and a private tour of the Ohio Theater. You can see a few prior pictures here:
http://brook-ward.com/blog/2014/8/4/ohio-theater
http://brook-ward.com/blog/2014/9/15/ohio-theater-panorama
While on our private tour, we covered many areas that the public can’t access. One of our stops on the tour was this room in the basement. It was so unusual, that I had to capture it. I don’t know how to describe it….. What do you think?
To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.
Here is a behind the scenes shot from Seattle.
Here is the final photo from this location: http://brook-ward.com/blog/2014/12/16/seattle-skyline
Ohio Theater Panorama
Here is another photo from inside the Ohio Theater. We got a special tour of this spot when we visited Columbus Ohio last month. You care read more about that weekend and this building here: http://brook-ward.com/blog/2014/8/4/ohio-theater
This special panorama photo is an HDR image made up of 20 exposures merged together to give you an entire view of the theater from side to side.
To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.
Koala
This photo is for Kris. She loves these little guys and was so excited to see them in person last weekend. So I am posting it for her. I took this at the Columbus Zoo last weekend.
To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.
Ohio Theater
Last weekend, MJ and I spent time in Columbus Ohio visiting with some wonderful friends. Our friends live in Chicago, we live in Pittsburgh, and so we meet in Ohio to hang out. About three blocks from our hotel, was a very cool 100+-year-old theater called the Ohio Theater. Saturday night we poked our head into the lobby just to take a look. This resulted in a conversation with the facility manager, who invited us back on Sunday morning for a private tour and some photo time.
So you guessed it…..we went back on Sunday. Chuck gave us the private tour of the facility, which included some behind the scenes access spots. He also provided us with great history on the building and items within the theater. As we followed Chuck, I snapped a bunch of photos.
I’ve had the honor of photographing numerous theaters in the past; I’d have to say that this one is amazing. It is in the top 5.
To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click here.
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
I took this 7-exposure auto bracket HDR image of the Rock Hall late at night back in 2012. We had a great visit to the museum and Cleveland. If you haven’t been, it is worth the time to experience the museum, especially if you enjoy music.
To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo above.
Any Idea Where I Got My Free Stamp??
I was looking back on some of my recent pictures, looking for something interesting to post on a boring Monday night. I took this photo a little while ago while hanging out with some great friends (Kris, Scott, Kim, Tom, and my wonderful wife). Can you figure out where we spent our weekend based on this picture??? If you have a guess, feel free to post your guess in the comment area.
If not, just enjoy the picture and consider your ticket stamped "Free" for passing from Monday into Tuesday.
To purchase a print: http://brookward.smugmug.com/Landscapes/World-Outside-Pennsylvania/23425682_nx2xGw#!i=2239047239&k=XbQJJDX&lb=1&s=A