2019-20 Photos of the Year: Roger Hart
Michigan Athletics and Michigan Photography present the 2019-20 Photos of the Year! Starting July 21-24 and running through July 27-30, you will see what eight photographers from Michigan Photography deem to be their top images covering Michigan Athletics events in 2019-20, a year shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the words of the photographers, you'll read what can go into getting that perfect shot and just why they consider these to be the best of the best. Director of Michigan Photography Roger Hart continues our Photos of the Year by sharing some of his best images from the past year. Enjoy!
REVVING UP THE CROWD
“The pregame excitement that is Crisler Arena for a men’s basketball game is ramped up just a bit more for the annual Pink Out game.”
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CELEBRATING A ‘K’
“Softball is one of my favorite sports to shoot -- I was a baseball player back in the day, my youngest daughter played travel and high school ball, and I coached the game for years. Due to the pandemic, we were not able to photograph any softball games this spring, but luckily, I shot one fall-ball game Oct. 9 when Michigan hosted Michigan State. Here, junior pitcher Meghan Beaubien reacts after striking out a Spartan.”
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HAIL!
“Every now and then, a peek into what happens in the locker room after a game tells a good story -- like the women’s basketball team and head coach Kim Barnes Arico celebrating their 67-59 win over Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament on March 6 at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Winning is fun … a lot of fun.”
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DON'T RAIN ON THEIR PARADE
“The Michigan softball team was honored for its Big Ten championship last season during the Oct. 26 football game against Notre Dame in what probably was the hardest rain storm I’ve had to work in. After their on-field recognition, head coach Carol Hutchins and Faith Canfield share a moment. The soaked jackets, the soaked hair … it doesn’t matter. The expressions of joy here -- despite the downpour -- I think speaks volumes of why ‘Hutch’ has been so successful during her career at Michigan.”
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BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
Michigan Stadium -- The Big House -- is an iconic structure not only among Michigan fans but for college football fans everywhere. Our office works each year to try and get new, unique photos of the stadium, and I think this image made from a drone is among the growing list of great images we have made. The university strictly regulates drone flights on campus, and Michigan Media producer Bob Berg worked with the drone committee to gain approval to do several flights across the Ann Arbor campus. We used one of those flights -- the night before the summer solstice -- to fly over the stadium, and I was able to capture this frame with the empty, massive stadium lit up. Let's hope we not only see players on The Big House field this year but also some fans in the seats.
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CARING COACH
“The Michigan-Michigan State men’s basketball game is always exciting to photograph -- certainly one of the best rivalries we have. Because it is a big game, we will typically have two photographers at the game -- one focusing on game action, another on atmosphere and features. I was the “feature” photographer for Michigan's 77-68 win over MSU on Feb. 8, and I was following head coach Juwan Howard as he moved across the court for a postgame TV interview … and then I heard him calling -- loudly -- ‘David, David,’ and David DeJulius walked over and they embraced. I was able to get two frames and the moment was gone, but this was one of my favorite moments of the year.”
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ALL SMILES
"This is another of those special moments: women’s basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico (left) gives a smile to sophomore Naz Hillmon as she is interviewed on Big Ten Network following Michigan’s 81-75 win over Nebraska in the opening game of the Big Ten Tournament at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis."
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SHOWING ITS STRIPES
"Prior to the men’s basketball game against Ohio State on Feb. 4, each seat in the arena was draped in a maize or blue T-shirt. Visually, this is pretty striking -- no one in the arena and each seat is draped with a shirt. A 12mm lens helped capture the scene."
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TRUE (MAIZE AND) BLUE FANS
“Despite receiving a free T-shirt, these students found another way to show their colors during the men’s basketball game against Ohio State on Feb. 4.”
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MAKING A SPLASH
“Another shot from the downpour game. This photo caught my attention because of the amount of water being tossed in the air as Sean McKeon (84) blocks a Notre Dame defensive player.”
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