Week 9: Josh Spiers

ls: After a bit of a break we are back to feature our sporting superstars. This week we have Josh Spiers from the Cannons Basketball Club.

ls: What sports do you play?

js: Basketball & a little golf.

ls: What clubs do you currently play for?

js: Cannons.

ls: How many years have you been playing?

js: 12 years.
ls: What position do you play?
js: Shooting guard and small forward.

ls: How did you get involved in these sports?

js: My brother started playing when I was 2 so I had to go to training with him and I used to like bouncing the ball from a very young age. I did terriers at TBI and then started playing when I was 6
ls: What rep honours have you achieved?

js: u12- u18 Townsville heat, Northern School Basketball u12 (07, 08) Qld School Basketball (08) Northern School Sport u15 (10,11) Honary Qld Team (11) Northern Open School Basketball (12,13) Qld School Basketball (13), U16 Qld North (11) u18 Qld North (12, 13) u20 Qld Team (14), Townsville Crocodiles Sharp Start. QBL Townsville Heat.

ls: Ok you have achieved a lot in a short space of time, that is an impressive CV. How much time is involved?

js: Training every day for at least an hour or so and anywhere up to two hours. Sometimes I have multiple sessions a day.

ls: What is the best part of playing the sport?

js: The best part about basketball is just the game itself. It lets you play with friends and makes me feel good about myself. I could be having a bad day and as soon as I start playing nothing else matters.

ls: I think that is important, I know I still play sport for the same reason. What is the worst part?

js: There isn’t really a bad part about basketball, but I would have to say losing. Losing and the fatigue it puts on your body.

ls: What is your favourite event?

js: My Favourite event by far is the Australian Nationals. It allows you to play against the best in the country and allows you to play with other people from around the state that you normally wouldn't play with.

ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

js: My biggest accomplishment would be recently signing with the Loyola Marymount Division 1 University.

ls: So the upshot of this is Josh is headed to the college system in the united states. I have come across a few athletes with these ambitions, so all the best in america Josh. What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

js: Getting a lot of shots up and just working on the fundamentals.

ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?

js: My ultimate achievement would be to play basketball professionally. That’s the ultimate dream.

ls: What is the best advice you have been given?

js: Best advice I was ever given was that to be the best you have to push past your limits.

ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

js: No I don’t

ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from? 

js: My brother, as a little child even being 9 years older he would never let me win. I used this as inspiration to be better than him and still to this day I try to impress him with what I can do. 

ls: Are you sure you want him to know that? How do you set your goals?

js: I look at that is possible to achieve from the game of basketball and try and strive to reach that level.

ls: Great advise for anyone really. What do you like to do in your free time away from your sport?

js:Relax and just shoot around. I can’t really get away from the sport for too long.

ls: Do you have any pre-match routines? 

js: I try not to have any pre game routines, but I would say that I always imagine plays that I can make in the game before I do my warm ups

ls: A few quick questions for Rhonda, Josh's mum to get the parents point of view. Wondering how much time and driving is involved with travel and training?

rs: As we live not too far from the stadium it has not been too bad.  When he started to make state teams we had to travel up the coast a bit more.

ls: Are there limitations on the number of sports that Josh can play?

rs: He has played other sports at school but due to cost, basketball is his main sport and occasionally when he has time he plays golf with his dad.

ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?

rs: I think team sports are important to help the learn to work with others.

ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to the sport and in getting them to practice and train?

rs: Josh has always been quite dedicated to his sport, sometimes the early morning sessions were a bit difficult.

ls: Do you enjoy going to the game?

rs: Yes I try not to miss too many.

ls: How much impact does the cost of sport have?

rs: We have used basketball trips as our family holiday but usually only every second year.

ls: We wish Josh all the best in the future, especially with his move into the college system in the United States. There will definitely be an increase in standards, but what is obvious is Josh's passion for the game and desire to get to the top. I will say that Josh was one of the most nervous athletes that we have photographed, he will have to get used to it over there. Most Colleges have a very elaborate photographic and publicity machine driving their programs.

Week 8 - Sarah Hesp Basketball

ls: This week we have Sarah Hesp from the Cannons Basketball club.

What sports do you play?

cbh: Basketball

ls: What clubs do you currently play for?

sh: Cannons.

ls: What position do you play?

sh: Guard/ Forward.

ls: How many years have you been playing?

sh: 8 years.

ls: Who is your sporting hero?

sh: Olivia Thompson (current Townsville Fire forward)

ls: How did you get involved in these sports?

sh: My school principle/teacher at a small country town school of about 50 students was the Townsville Fire’s assistant coach. He used to bring the Fire team out and our family would take them to a cane fire. He also took me too some of the games. I wanted to play ever since. So I started playing in the Burdekin.

ls: This shows the impact that our state and national teams can have at grass roots levels of sport. It is important that we support teams like the Townsville Crocs, Townsville Fire and get behind the push to get the NQ Fury back into the A league. This has the double effect of providing local juniors a pathway into the elite sporting ranks that can be very difficult when competing in rural and country towns away from the main urban centers. Leiden studios has had a lot of experience photographing State events, watching local teams trying to compete against the city teams. It is often difficult for them to compete at the intensity that is required because they lack the competition in the local comps.

What rep honours have you achieved?

sh: Townsville Flames,U14, U16 & U18, Burdekin Wildcats U12, QLD North U16 & U18, School North QLD U12, U15, U18. Townsville Fire Academy, QLD North U15.

ls: You have to admit that it is an impressive list. How much time is involved?

sh: Each day I train for at least 2 hours. This includes fitness, games, shooting, individual and team training.

ls: What is the best part of playing the sport?

sh: Getting to play with people that you enjoy playing with and just playing the sport that I love.

ls: What is the worst part?

sh: Missing out on a lot of social events, parties, hanging out with friends etc.

ls: What is your favourite event?

sh: My favourite sport would have to be Nationals. To have the opportunity to play against the Nation’s greatest and then be able to make friendships with people who also love the sport just as much as you. And also the memories that you create.

ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

sh: Being named captain of the U16 QLD North team.

ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

sh: Being a good leader – by communicating, putting 110% into everything I do and secondly concentrating on the little things..

ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?

sh: To play for the Townsville Fire and win a WNBL championship. To play for Australia and go to college.

ls: What is the best advice you have been given?

sh: To not worry about all the rubbish that happens off the court, just do what I do best and leave it all on the court.

ls: What do you like to do in your free time away from your sport?

sh: I mostly study but I like to just relax and hang out with friends.

ls: Anything else that you would like to share?

sh: I go to boarding school in Townsville, so having to coordinate everything and organise lifts to training etc., really does show that I want to play and how dedicated I am and you have to be

ls: Thanks Sarah, I appreciate your time and you coming back to reshoot some of your photos. I did not realise that you were a boarder.

ls: A few quick questions for Sonya to get the parents point of view. Wondering how much time and driving is involved with travel and training?

soh: As I live 100kms away from Sarah, I drive at least 800-1000kms a week to come and get her  to take her to training and games. During holidays it is a lot more as she is at home then.

ls: Amazing dedication, hopefully all the time and effort will come with its own rewards in the future. Are there limitations on the number of sports that Caitlyn can play?

soh: Yes, Sarah attends a boarding school in Townsville and lives away from home. This school will only allow her to be out at certain times, it’s a real juggle to keep everyone happy.

ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?

soh: yes, vision on court, team work and different physical strengths.

ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to the sport and in getting them to practice and train?

soh: No problems with her wanting to play. Have trouble working out how to fit it all in. If I cannot take her we have to use taxis, buses and other parents. No help from school.

ls: Do you enjoy going to the game?

soh: Yes, my hobby is watching my kids paly sport/

ls: How much impact does the cost of sport have?

soh: The fuel I use and the Kms I do are extreme, big cost. Sarah attends a boarding school to try to make it easier for her to play basketball at a higher level. Sarah has a lot to cope with. She has to organise a lot of transport, then she has school requirements because she is a boarder and then make sure her school work is up to date. She has to organise her meals at the school when she trains late. I cannot do any of those little things to make it easier for her. Just drive.

ls: You can feel the pride in the answers. I must admit that I am a bit surprised by the lack of support from the school.  I also think the the second photograph is one of the best that we have produced from this series. Sarah actually came back to re shoot the image. I did not realise at the time how difficult that is for her so my thanks goes out to her.Thanks for your time.

Week 7: Caitlyn Biondi-Howarth Basketball

ls:  We have had a couple of weeks off to get images ready for the Queensland APPA’s. Images taken during this project have been submitted to the competition so we will see how it all goes. We are hoping to get a good result this year, but it will give us a guide as to how the images are shaping. We will continue to try to improve our images as the project continues.

This week we have Caitlyn Biondi-Howarth from the Cannons Basketball club. I first came across Caitlyn about 3 years ago at the Queensland State under 16 Basketball Championships that were held in Townsville. She continues to make representative sides while being in the Cannon’s A team. She is also putting back into the sport by coaching at Cannons.

What sports do you play?

cbh: Basketball

ls: What clubs do you currently play for?

cbh: Cannons.

ls: What position do you play?

cbh: Guard.

ls: How many years have you been playing?

cbh: 7 years.

ls: Who is your sporting hero?

cbh: Renae Camino (current Opals member)

Ls: How did you get involved in these sports?

cbh: Watching the WNBL inspired me to want to get involved.

ls: On that answer, there is an obvious improvement in participation when sports are shown on free to air TV. As proof look at how rugby, football and basketball have struggled in this country while only receiving coverage on pay TV. What rep honours have you achieved?

cbh: U14, U16, U18 Townsville Flames, U16 & U18 QLD North.

Ls: How much time is involved?

cbh: nearly every day.

Ls: What is the best part of playing the sport?

cbh: Being in a team playing with some of your closest friends.

ls: What is your favourite event?

cbh: U18 National Championships, winning gold for the first time in QLD North history.

ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

cbh: Representing QLD and winning the national championships.

ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

cbh: Working on my shooting technique.

ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?

cbh: Representing Australia and making the WNBL.

ls: How do you set your goals?

cbh: Physically and mentally

ls: What is the best advice you have been given?

cbh: Keep proving everyone wrong

ls: I like that. Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

cbh: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philipians 4:13

ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?  

cbh: The players I look up to, to strive to be as good as or even better than them.

ls: What do you like to do in your free time away from your sport?

cbh: Take my dog to the beach.

ls: Do you have any pre-match routines?

cbh: Eating bananas and listening to music.

ls: Thanks Caitlyn, We’ll have to do another shoot in your Aussie gear when you make the Australian Opals.

ls: A few quick questions for Jamie to get the parents point of view. Wondering how much time and driving is involved with travel and training?

jh: None now she has her licence.

ls: Are there limitations on the number of sports that Caitlyn can play?

jh: No only if time and priorities allow it.

ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?

jh: Yes to learn more skills

ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to the sport and in getting them to practice and train?

jh: Yes keeping them motivated is the challenge.

ls: Do you enjoy going to the game?

jh: Very much

ls: What costs are involved in sport?

jh: You don’t save much when you are continually paying for club, rep and state sport.

ls: Thanks for your time.

Professional Photographic Standards.

An interesting question for the multitude of "professional photographers" out there is the simple question, "What is the difference between broad and narrow lighting and which do you use to make a person appear thinner?"

The biggest issue with my profession is the the new photographers coming into it often do not take the time to learn the technical aspects of photography. If you do not know what the exposure triangle is, then before you call yourself a professional and start to charge for your services, learn what it is and how it affect your images. It is actually very important.

On my Facebook page it comes up with a lot of the local professional photography pages so I get to have a look at a lot of them. There are some amazing photographers out there, taking incredible images. There are a lot though, that have no idea about lighting and how to use it. It is one of the frustrations of professional photography because this lack of lighting ability is now becoming the accepted standard by the public.

As a profession we need to lift the standards and maybe have a benchmark for what is considered a professional standard photograph. The AIPP try to provide this but with 97% of professionals electing not to joining such organisations, we are fighting a losing battle.

Tom - Rugby Union, Cricket and Rowing.

ls:  This week’s sporting profile is Tom Smith.  Tom is another high achieving sportsman across a range of sports. While we did the shoot for his main sports in Rugby union, cricket and Rowing, Tom has also achieved in other sports like water polo and basketball. Currently attending Ignatius Park College in grade 11 where he is active in their rowing program.

Welcome to our studios Tom & Deb and thanks for your participation. What sports do you play and which is your favourite?

ts: Rugby Union, Cricket and Rowing

ls: What clubs do you currently play for?

ts: Brother Rugby Union and Cricket and IPC rowing.

ls: What position do you play?

ts: No 8.

ls: How many years have you been playing?

ts: Started when I was 8

ls: Who is your sporting hero?

ts: Scott Higginbotham (Melbourne rebels No8 and blind side flanker in the Super 15’s)

ls: How did you get involved in these sports?

ts: My parents wanted me to play a team sport and my friends did rowing so I joined in.

ls: What rep honours have you achieved?

ts: In Rugby Townsville 2011-2013, QLD Country in 2011, ARU Gold Under 17 in 2013. Cricket Townsville 2010, North Queensland 2012

ls: How much time is involved?

ts: 30 hours or there about.

ls: that is a lot of time, you would need to be very organised to get it all done while staying ahead in school. What is the best part of playing the sport?

ts: The feeling when I succeed at something I had not yet done.

ls: What is the worst part of playing the sport?

ts: The physical and mental exhaustion.

ls: What is your favourite event?

ts: Rowing State Championships.

ls: Why did you play these sports?

ts: They involve relying on friends to form a good result.

ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

ts: Being able to perform exceptionally at all sports.

ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

ts: Maintaining a strong mental attitude and a strong work ethic.

ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?

ts: To make national teams in all of these sports.

ls: How do you set your goals?

ts: I think realistically so that I can achieve them.

ls: What is the best advice you have been given?

ts: Live life to the fullest.

ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

ts: As above.

ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?  

ts: I draw inspiration from the hopes and achievements of those around me.

ls: What do you like to do in your free time away from your sport?

ts: Catching up with friends, Xbox.

ls: Do you have any pre-match routines?

ts: Chew on my mouth guard.

ls: Thanks Tom, good luck with your plans for the future.

ls: A few quick questions for Deb to get the parents point of view. Deb also has a high achieving daughter and is involved with Netball coaching so spends huge amounts of time going to a from training and games. Thanks for your time Deb, wondering how much time and driving is involved with travel and training?

ds: Lots

ls: Are there limitations on the number of sports that Tom can play?

ds: As long as there is balance and it all works.

ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?

ds: Rowing compliments his rugby and cricket.

ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to the sport and in getting them to practice and train?

ds: IPC helps with getting the boys to and from rowing and Rugby and cricket training are usually at the school.

ls: Do you enjoy going to the game?

ds: Always.

ls: Thanks for your time.