I root for good pictures.
Kendrick Perkins (5) celebrates along with fans and head coach Scott Brooks, right, after Kevin Durant (35), left, hit the game-winning shot as time expired in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Oklahoma City won, 104-102. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
I’m often asked when photographing sports who I’m rooting for. I always give the same selfish answer, “I’m rooting for good pictures.” It’s nice to see the local teams I cover do well because it’s good for our community and our business here at The Oklahoman and NewsOK, but what I really want are exciting plays that make compelling pictures.
Last night’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks put me through the typical thought process I have during a close game that would probably seem completely foreign to most sports fans. With 1.4 seconds left, Vince Carter hit shot to give the Mavericks the lead. At this point, things looked grim for the Thunder and fans were probably not feeling too great about the team’s chances, but I felt good because I had a nice shot of the Mavericks celebrating. If the Thunder go on to lose, I’ve made a compelling picture of the key moment of the game. If Oklahoma City pulls out a win, I’ve got a chance for more exciting photos.
Vince Carter (25) and Jason Terry (31), right, of Dallas celebrate a shot by Carter with 1.4 seconds left to give the Mavericks a 102-101 lead in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Kevin Durant hit a shot as time expired to give Oklahoma City a 104-102 win. In the background is Jason Kidd. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Kevin Durant’s buzzer beater made the above photograph worthless for the next day’s paper, but provided some nice reaction too.
Oklahoma City fans react after Kevin Durant (35) hit the game-winning shot as time expired in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Oklahoma City won, 104-102. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Part of being a sports photographer is sometimes making good pictures that end up being worthless because of the outcome of the game. Sometimes what we wish could be the play of the game just turns out to be another dunk, turnover or touchdown, a nice shot graphically without much meaning to the story of the game. Lucky for me, in the process of ruining the need for my Dallas celebration shot, Kevin Durant gave me the opportunity for some new nice pictures.
If you’ve got the time, check out this photo gallery from the game.
-Nate Billings
A defense-free basketball exhibition
J.D. Sims (center) of Lawton, Gaylan Towle (right), of Edmond, and other fans watch Kevin Durant walk onto the court during the US Fleet Tracking Basketball Invitational at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Kevin Durant, a few of his Thunder teammates and other locked-out NBA players, put on an exhibition game at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. Here are a few of the pictures from the game that ended with Kevin Durant and the White Team ahead of Carmelo Anthony and the Blue team by a score of 176-171.
You can see more pictures from the game or read stories by Darnell Mayberry and John Rohde.
Russell Westbrook slams the ball during the US Fleet Tracking Basketball Invitational at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Michael Beasley (right) puts up a shot in front of Kevin Durant during the US Fleet Tracking Basketball Invitational at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. The White Team defeated the Blue Team 176-171. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
The Next Step is free
This photograph, featured on pages 20 and 21 of a new book called "The Next Step", shows Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook dunking in front of the Milwaukee Bucks' defense at The OKC Arena in Oklahoma City. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
A new book titled The Next Step, published by the OPUBCO Communications Group, features images and stories from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2010-2011 season. Graphic Designer Matt Clayton designed the book and filled it with images from staff photographers at The Oklahoman and stories about the team from staff writers in the Sports Department. Here are a few of the images that appear in the book and a preview of a few of the pages.
The Next Step will be available for free at convenience stores around the Oklahoma City metro area starting on Saturday, July 23, 2011. You can read more about the Thunder by clicking here, or you can follow this link to see more pictures by The Oklahoman’s Photography Department. You can also get a closer look at any picture featured on Alternate Crop by clicking on the picture.
This layout on pages 10 and 11 features images of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (left) by Staff Photographer Sarah Phipps and Kevin Durant in action against the New York Knicks by Staff Photographer Bryan Terry (right)
Oklahoma City Thunder fans cheer as the Thunder score the first points of the game during the first round NBA Playoff basketball game between the Thunder and the Denver Nuggets at OKC Arena in downtown Oklahoma City on Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) reacts during the first round NBA basketball playoff game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, April 17, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City mascot Rumble the Bison slaps the hands of Thunder fans during the NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Thursday, January 13, 2011. Oklahoma City won, 125-124. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Last Thunder game of the season
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) stands in front of the crowd during game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographer Bryan Terry was in Dallas last night to photograph what turned out to be the last game of the season for the Thunder. Oklahoma City lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, which means Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks will advance to the NBA Finals.
Here’s a couple of pictures from last night’s game that you may not have seen in today’s newspaper. You can see all the pictures that Bryan turned in from the game by following this link to the photo gallery.
Jason Terry (31) of Dallas goes between Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) and Kevin Durant (35) during game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Shawn Marion (0) of Dallas dunks the ball over Oklahoma City's Kendrick Perkins (5) during game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Jason Kidd (2) of Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrate during game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Game four loss for Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) reacts late in overtime during game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Dallas won in overtime, 112-105. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoma City Thunder lost game 4 of the Western Conference Finals to the Dallas Mavericks at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City on Monday, May 24, 2011. Here’s a few pictures from staff photographers at The Oklahoman. You can see more images by clicking here, or read more about the Thunder by clicking here.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a turnover in game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Dallas won in overtime, 112-105. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Tyson Chandler (6) of Dallas, gets an elbow in Kendrick Perkins' face and is called for a technical foul during game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. The Thunder lost game 3 to the Mavericks 112-105. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (9) reaches for the ball behind Tyson Chandler (6) of Dallas during game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
A Dallas Mavericks fan walks past Thunder fan Meghan Dailey (left) as she makes her way to the OKC Arena before game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Westbrook the photographer
Before the start of game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Russell Westbrook walked by my remote camera and pressed the shutter button.
It was nice of him to make sure my camera was working before the start of the game. Below is a picture I took of him taking a picture and the photo he took with the remote camera.
See our photo gallery of game 3 by clicking here.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook takes a picture with Oklahoman photographer's Sarah Phipps' remote camera before the start of game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Saturday, May 21, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook takes picture on Oklahoman photographer's Sarah Phipps' remote camera before the start of game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Saturday, May 21, 2011. Photo by Russell Westbrook, Alternate Crop special contributor
— Sarah Phipps
So you think you can dance…
I had a fun assignment Wednesday night in Edmond. Hundreds of Thunder fans gathered together for a “flash mob dance” tribute for Ellen DeGeneres. In case you didn’t know, the Thunder have been trying to get Ellen to commit to supporting the Thunder for the playoffs and get her court side for a game. Oklahoman Kristin Chenoweth was on her show and brought along Rumble to load Ellen up with Thunder gear.
The mob dance was organized by the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City to post on the “Let’s Make Ellen our #1 Thunder Girl” Facebook page. Thunder Girls taught the crowd a dance routine that goes with a Thunder song. If I hadn’t been there and seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have thought you could teach several hundred fans of all shapes and sizes a dance routine in 30 minutes, but they did. I was amazed at how in synch everyone became in such a short time. Great team work!
Tania Way-Garcia, left, and Ashlee Paul practice the dance moves during a Thunder mob dance to send to Ellen DeGeneres at Hafer Park in Edmond Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.
The crowd practices the dance steps during a Thunder mob dance to send to Ellen DeGeneres at Hafer Park in Edmond Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.
Girls with Ellen on their shirts learn the dance steps during a Thunder mob dance to send to Ellen DeGeneres at Hafer Park in Edmond Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.
The crowd practices the dance steps during a Thunder mob dance to send to Ellen DeGeneres at Hafer Park in Edmond Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.
Leah Sparks learns the dance steps with an Ellen mask on her head during a Thunder mob dance to send to Ellen DeGeneres at Hafer Park in Edmond Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.
A lot of energy and fun! To see more photos click here.
To watch video of the mob dance click here.
Go Thunder!
-Doug Hoke
Three photographers and thousands of Thunder pictures
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball as Russell Westbrook (0) celebrates near Mike Conley (11) and Shane Battier (31) of Memphis in the fourth quarter during game 7 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 15, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday at the OKC Arena. They’ll advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Three photographers covered game 7 for the Oklahoman. Using remotes, hand held cameras and one photographer roaming the OKC Arena for pictures of fans reacting to the game, we took a total of 8,916 pictures. Then we spent several hours sorting through the images that we use to tell the story of the game.
You can see all of our final images by clicking here or read more about the Thunder and their win over the Grizzlies by clicking here.
Wearing a foam finger and cheering from Loud City, Sabrina Darville, of Oklahoma City, celebrates a Thunder basket during the second half of game 7 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 15, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) takes the ball to the hoop past Marc Gasol (33) of Memphis in the first half during game 7 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 15, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Thunder
Kevin Durant dunks during game five of the Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA basketball playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Oklahoman photographers Bryan Terry and Sarah Phipps covered the Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies. See the photo gallery by clicking here.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) dunks during game five of the Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA basketball playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
See the photo gallery by clicking here.
Pictures from outside Oklahoma
Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Corey Patterson reaches for a bouncing ball hit for a double by Detroit Tigers' Brandon Inge during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, May 6, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)
I looked through Merlin this morning for pictures from around the United States and the world. There’s been plenty happening since May 1, including Osama Bin Laden’s death, tornadoes and storms in the South and fighting continues in Libya.
A little bit closer to home, The Thunder won in Memphis on Monday night. Check Alternate Crop late tomorrow night for pictures from game 5 in their NBA playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies. You can also see galleries by Staff Photographers at The Oklahoman by clicking here.
Iness Martez, left, of Newark, N.J., sells American flags at ground zero following the announcement of the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Monday, May 2, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Rebel fighters celebrate after coming back from the front line against Moammar Gadhafi's forces, in Ajdabiya, Libya, Monday, May 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Canadian popstar Justin Bieber takes his glasses off during his "My World Tour" concert in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday May 10, 2011. Bieber is in the country for a one-night concert. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Jimmy Talley looks over the destroyed home of his brother, David, and sister-in-law, Katherine, on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, in Vilonia, Ark. Both David and Katherine Talley were killed when a tornado hit Vilonia. The couple had taken shelter in a metal utility building, but they died when the building was blown across a pond. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha, of Switzerland, left, guard Russell Westbrook (0) and James Harden, right, celebrate after beating the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, in Memphis, Tenn. Oklahoma City won 133-123 in triple overtime. (AP Photo/Lance Murphey)
-John Clanton
