B-Ball

A boy plays basketball late in the day in Upland, Calif., Sunday, May 27, 2012.

Joel Rosario

Jockey Joel Rosario jokes with officials after finishing third on Dish the Dirt in the first race at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Friday, October 7, 2011.

Martin Garcia

Jockey Martin Garcia waits before the first race at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Friday, October 7, 2011. Garcia would win the race aboard Small But Mighty.

Friday Night Lights

Chaffey High running back Devon Samuels (8) outruns the Chino High defense to score a two-point conversion and give Chaffey a 22-21 lead in Ontario, Calif. on Friday, October 7, 2011. Samuels carried over 50 times and scored three touchdowns, but the effort was not enough as Chino regained the lead in the fourth quarter, winning 29-22.

Jay Cohen

Bugler Jay Cohen walks toward the main track to play the Call to Post before the 7th race at Santa Anita Park in Los Angeles on Friday, October 7, 2011.

Backstory, Part Two

I found a complete copy of the May 23, 1990 edition of my college newspaper, the California State University San Bernardino Chronicle, so I've scanned it to show to my photography students the type of work I did when I first started.

The issue, made when I was 23, included five of my photographs.

Above: on the cover, a photo of the celebration after game one of a three-game series. On the Sports page, two further shots: a home run complete with the ball in the frame and a pitcher mid-throw. Keep in mind that in those days, I was shooting a Pentax K1000 -- with no motor drive and no autofocus -- and developing my film by hand.

Backstory, Part One

I'm preparing for a new term of teaching Photojournalism online, so I've decided to take a look back at my earliest involvement in the field.

In 1988 I began working for my college newspaper -- the California State University San Bernardino Chronicle -- and stayed involved for several years. (I eventually worked there as a photographer, as a writer, as Managing Editor and as Photo Editor.)

I haven't saved many tearsheets from those days, but I found a complete copy of the May 23, 1990 edition and for fun I've scanned my contributions for that issue.

Above: In those days I shot baseball with a Pentax K1000 and Tri-X film. No motor drive, so just one chance to get the timing right. I don't remember what settings I used, but I like the shutter speed -- fast enough to freeze the bat, but slow enough to let the ball blur.

The Downside of Street

A skateboarder falls during the "Wild in the Streets" event at Lafayette Park in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 21, 2011.

And on my other blogs:

Wild in the Streets

First Day of Summer

Wild in the Streets

A skateboarder lands after a jump during the "Wild in the Streets" event at Lafayette Park in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 21, 2011.

Last Man Standing

A sudden rainstorm leaves one last player on the field at Kimbell Playground in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011.