March 9th 2018

Location: Crossfit S3

Nikon D750  70-20mm 2.8 Tamron G2 and D3s 24-70mm 2.8 Tamron G2

      Its time... 18.3.. and boy was it a nasty one!!! I would be fortunate to cover 18.3 at 2 different boxes. Crossfit S3 and Crossfit Steele Creek. First up is S3!!!!! I have worked with S3 for numerous events. I really enjoy shooting at S3, mainly because they have taken me in just like I am a member. When I receive an email from Becky, there is pretty much a guarantee I will say yes to covering the requested event. I have developed some great relationships with members of S3, so its always a great time coming back there. I already knew exactly how I wanted to shoot this Friday Night Lights. I was on the fence as to whether to use LED lights or my strobes. Then I remembered the lighting is so good at S3 that I won't need any lights at all!! Shooters Dream!!!

The Open announcement consisted of the following WOD... 

OPEN 18.3

2 rounds for time of:
100 double-unders
20 overhead squats
100 double-unders
12 ring muscle-ups
100 double-unders
20 dumbbell snatches
100 double-unders
12 bar muscle-ups

Time cap: 14 minutes

When I first heard this announcement my thought was.. ohhhh SO GYMNASTY!!!! My second thought was that I would have the opportunity to capture an athlete hitting their first Bar or Ring Muscle Up... possibly even a first Double Under. These are moments us fellow Crossfit photographers aim to capture. Seeing the excitement on an athletes face by hitting a movement they thought they would NEVER get.

I was scheduled to shoot at S3 for a little bit over an hour. I got there a early just to hopefully catch some athletes warming up and to get some Vlog content. YES I HAVE A VLOG!!!  It was a quick setup and before I knew it.. it was 3..2..1..GO!!! When I walked in they literally starting up a heat... so might as well start shooting right???

 I decided to cover a lot of the night with my 70-200mm 2.8 on my D750. Sometimes I forget how great it performs.  There were so many double unders going down so I knew I wouldn't be short on those images. My goal was to make sure I nailed overhead squats and of course the muscle ups. Check out some OHS shots below....

Its was so cool seeing the athletes walk up to the rings for muscle ups. You could tell those who were walking up knowing they were going to nail it. Then there were those who walked up with the hope of getting their first one. The facial expressions varied from intensity, smiles, laughter, and all out PUMPED. Check them out.

Boy do I LOVE DB Snatches. I wasn't fortunate enough to get to many of them, however the ones I did get turned out great. Majority of the snatch images I used my 24-70mm 2.8 on my D3s.

One thing I recognized is that there were so many athletes who were very efficient with their double unders. Controlled the entire time which made it very easy to get good shots of them. It was even better seeing the athletes who were stringing some dubs together for the first time. Or performed more dubs in a workout then they ever had before. Super Inspiring!!!!

The work these athletes were putting in really gets me fired up to attempt myself. So we will see how it goes for me on Monday. I shot for about an hour so time went pretty quickly. Wrapped up with some of my favorites of the night. Mainly because my 70-200mm was on point tonight!!!!

BY FAR MY FAVORITE FROM MY MAN RUDY!!!!!!! #CASTROSWAG

Crossfit S3  is crazy fun to shoot at. The athletes there are welcoming and super supportive of BAW Photography. So much that I am even a member of their athletes FB page.. I MADE IT!!!! Thanks Becky.  There are some shoots we already have scheduled for the future so before you know it you will be reading another blog in regards to S3. If I am ever available to cover an event as S3 I am in 100%. Multiple fist bumps and high fives all around. Sending thanks to S3 as always for their continued support and always reaching out to cover their events. THANK YOU S3!!!!!! 

Next up is Crossfit Steele Creek and by next up I mean today!!!!! Literally in hours!!!! Lets go!!!! Stay tuned Thank you for following my work and continuing to be supporters. BE BLESSED EVERYONE!!!!

http://www.crossfits3.com/