The Eyebrows Have It

A year or so ago, I started to "draw in" my eyebrows.

Yep, you heard me right, lol.

In order to get a good arch, I use a pomade (it's like a lightweight paste, see photo of it below) and I draw and fill in my eyebrows with it now.  (I can't believe I'm talking about this, lol).

But, it's the only way for me to get a pretty arch and a carefully sculptured eyebrow, as my own eyebrow hairs are chaotic and not shaped well at all, lol.

So, imagine my surprise one fine afternoon during a busy Omega Tour stop weekend early last year and checked myself out in the mirror as I washed my hands.  My left eyebrow was kinda smeared!

You see, I had been taking photos for a few hours of the players, snapping great pics for them.  Not realizing putting my eye against the camera to look through the lens was smearing my perfectly-shaped (not anymore!) eyebrow.

Hysterical!

So, I have learned from the several times of forgetting my eyebrows can smear against the lens all day, to take photos different now.  All in the name of beauty, right?  lol!

I used to take photos like this:

Now I take them more like this:

However, I actually lower the camera lens to about waist high - the best photos are level to the table, not above the table/player.

What's funny is, because I don't look through the lens anymore, I kinda point and shoot.  So, sometimes I will snap photos of the lights on the table or the legs of the table, instead of the player, lol.  But, eventually I capture several good shots of each player.

And in case you are imaging weird, fake-looking eyebrows on me, here is what my drawn-in eyebrows look like:

Photographer Lessons

Notice the title isn't "photography lessons" but "photographer lessons."

I had been the photographer for the OB Cues Ladies Tour for 9 years and now for the Omega Tour for the last 4 1/2 years.  I'm lucky to have a couple of friends who help me take photos the last couple of years, but today wanted to share some of the things we come across as photographers of a tour (or tournaments in general).

First Rule:  I always take a photo of the top 3 finishers on Sunday BEFORE the semi-finals match is played (i.e. for 3rd place).  Nothing worse than trying to take a photo of the top 3 when one of them just lost.  Usually the player who lost wants to bolt, or the player doesn't come across very photogenic because they are upset that they just lost and the last thing they want to do is stand there and be in a photo.  I take the pics of the top three preemptively to prevent that.

Second Rule:  Some players cannot have their photos published.  I have learned for 2 reasons: (1) they literally work for the police department undercover or (2) they are not really suppose to be in a bar establishment because they are on probation.  I sometimes make announcements at the beginning of the year for new players so they are aware we respect players' privacy's.  (btw, the undercover person was from over 8 years ago and doesn't play pool anymore, so no worries to the guys currently on probation lol).

Third Rule:  Some players are very particular about themselves in photos.  If I get a request to remove a photo, I never ask why, I just delete it.  I once had a friend in tears because of the pic I took of her at state.  All she saw was her tummy, all I saw was how beautiful she was.  We each see things about ourselves we don't like, so deleting a photo for someone makes them feel much better.

Fourth Rule:  If I take a photo of someone and it's unflattering, I don't post it.  Some photographers don't care and say that's how a person looks.  However, I would rather publish photos people like of themselves, not ones where they look terrible.  I think we all know certain angles create more weight or wrinkles or fading hair than others.  If I have two photos of a player and one is borderline unflattering, I will simply delete it and post the other one that's better.

Fifth Rule:  I take about 500 pics at an event and then only get about 250 good ones. They wont all come out perfect in the low light, and because obviously pool players move while shooting.

And the Sixth Rule:  Take non-action shots.  Those are the best!  Friends talking, or a player thinking in his seat.  Here are just a few of my favorites from the Omega Tour:

What You Can't Do With Pool Photos

Most photos you take you can switch them around to make them fit on webpages or print or whatever.

But not with pool players and photos!

Here is a photo of me shooting in a match:

If I was to take a photo of me and flip it horizontal, you get this:

All of a sudden I'm shooting right handed!

Yea, no good flipping photos of pool players shooting pool.   :)

Taking Pics of Finalists

As many of you know, I run the Omega Billiards Tour in the Dallas / Fort Worth area.

One thing I learned the hard way when I ran the OB Cues Ladies Tour for ten years was, taking pics of the finalists can be tricky business!

If you want the final two players of that stop in a pic, that is really pretty easy.  While one player will be upset they didn't win, the still will be okay temperament-wise to be in the phot because they will be all over the internet and in magazines still because they were in the finals!

Well....if the Tournament Director sends in that pic to the media (that's another story).... or even takes a photo of the finalists (that's another story, too).

Anyways.......back on topic:

I have always been of the opion that 3rd place should also be in the photo!  Le'ts face it, third (3rd) place is feat in itself, too!  Not just 1st and 2nd places!

However, two crazy things have happened too many times and so I have changed my photo-taking routine:

1. After the finals, the 3rd place person has already bolted.  Or, 
2. Sometimes they are still so pissed about losing, they don't want to really be in the photo because they are upset with themselves they didn't make it to the finals.  This can lead to a very unhappy face in the pic.

SO.....

I found a solution. :)

I take a pic of the final three players BEFORE the semi-final match is played!  This way, they are all happy and smiling because they are all still in the tournament!   

Many times in the past, even if the 3rd place finisher is still there after the finals, they turn down being in the photo because they are upset, so doing it BEFORE the semi-finals solves all these problems.  :)

Back to Photographing (and Sharing Team Pics)

When was one of the Tournament Directors (TD) for the OB Cues Ladies Tour / Hunter Classics Tour, I was the photographer for the tournaments.  That led me naturally to take photos for AZBilliards.com at other pool tournaments, also.

When I retired from the Ladies Tour to take care of my Mom, I had no energy to take photos anymore at tourneys.

For a few years, I would take my camera to events and never even take it out of the case to take pics.  I just didn't have the energy or desire to take pics because my mind was back at home with my Mom.

After 16 months of grieving over the horrible loss of my best friend, I started a tour in the DFW area, called the Omega Billiards Tour.  As the TD, I am taking photos of the players.

This has also led to me taking photos at other events, too.  :)

I guess I'm "back in the game" so to speak of taking photos.  And I'm back to enjoying taking pics.  For a while, it was tiring, now it's fun again!  I love it most when people change their profile pic on Facebook to a pic I took of them shooting pool.  Makes me smile!!

Most recently, I took photos at the BCAPL Texas State tourney and I have a few FAV photos I'd like to share with you.  They all happen to be team photos, but the teams were so fun, I just have to share these pics with you!

Below the pics, I will link to the recent photos I have taken at 6 tourneys, in case you want to check them out to see if you know anyone OR see yourself!  :)

 

I told them after some serious photos to act funny - love it!

 

I told this team, "Okay Ladies, up against the wall please"  LMAO!

Aren't these ladies fun!!  :)


Here are links to recent events I took photos at:

Omega Tour at JR Pockets, April 2013
BCAPL Texas State Tourney, April 2013
Omega Tour at The Billiard Den, Feb 2013
Omega Tour at Rusty's Billiards in Arlington, Jan 2013
Omega Tour at Speed's Billiards, Nov 2013
Omega Tour at Rusty's Billiards in Fort Worth, Oct 2012