January Jam Men’s Invitational Basketball Tournament is an annual event and fundraiser put on by the Valley Center High School Basketball program. Each year teams from various parts of Kansas converge on the small town of Valley Center, Kansas to participate in this three-day event.
When I arrived at the event this year I couldn’t believe what was unfolding in front of me. There were two GWC’s (Guys With Camera’s) or maybe we should say CWC’s (Clowns With Cameras) running around the gym, acting like they owned the place. These two CWC’s were something else to say the least. It was utter chaos and quite amusing watching these two. If you have ever been to the circus and watched all the clowns getting out of a small compact car acting goofy, tripping over each other and running through the crowd you would understand exactly what I was witnessing.
Fancy high-end cameras, big lenses, strobes hanging off the balcony, remote cameras hanging off the backboard it really was a spectacle. Hey guys I hate to tell you this, but a big fancy camera does not make you an expert anymore then some clown getting out of a Le Car at the circus makes him the winner of the 24 Hours of Lemans.
Clown number one (Phil Zivnuska) a long time contributor and well know photographer hear on POTN was the first to start shooting this event a few years ago. I started shooting the event in 2010 after an invite from Phil who worked with me and showed me the ins and outs of strobing events in high school gyms.
This year we had the opportunity to bring in another great POTN forum contributor and a close friend. We will call him clown number two (Chico) or otherwise known here on the forum as xochi2. Phil and Chico have been life long friends attending high school and college together. I meet Chico through Phil via the POTN forums. Over the past four years I have communicated with Chico through the POTN forums and via email. I finally had the opportunity to meet Chico in person during this year’s January Jam as he was here in Kansas visiting Phil. I must say these are two of the nicest guys you will ever meet and they have always been gracious enough to share their knowledge and critique my work.
Both clown number one (Phil) and Clown number two (Chico) tried to get me to believe there was a third clown running around with his camera gear as well. I had a hard time believing them because I never did see anyone else running around the gym carrying on like these two. Of course I must be honest here I never really looked in the mirror.
I would gladly join any circus in the world with Phil and Chico these two are great photographers and are just a pleasure to be around. All clowning aside, it was fun spending the evening shooting with these two gentlemen and I thank them both for the opportunity.
Be sure to check out Phil and Chico’s post on the 2014 January Jam here on POTN.
1. POTN member xochi2 (Clown number two) in action
2. Valley Center High School students during player intorductions
3.
4.
5. Blue Valley North West coach Ed Fritz watches as one of his players goes after a loose ball.
6.
7.
8. Clayton Custer from Blue Valley North West has signed to play for Iowa State
