Shootin' Pool

Last November I joined a pool team and we play at a pool hall here in Charleston every Thursday night. It's generally a good group of people looking for some fun competition and a night out of the house with a variety of friends. I've grown to really look forward to my Thursday nights playing pool and decided it was a good subject to feature on the blog.

The lighting was pretty tricky in the pool hall, and flash really wasn't the way to go, for multiple reasons (too big of a dark room so it wasn't the best quality without slaving to other strobes, and also during play it's much more distracting to the players). I kept it simple with ambient light but after editing the shoot I decided it served better as a black and white piece.

Thanks to my teammates for being such good subjects and laid back about the photography, as well as the team we played - our team lost, badly, but we had a good time as always. Enjoy the pics and get out and shoot some pool one night.



Shot over-head that I got while standing on a chair. I was waiting for the moment when I could get multiple players shooting on table and I was happy with this frame.


Trae, one of the team's captains, practicing before the games started for the night.


Rob, a new member on the team, an old air-force guy, and a damn good pool player, lining up a shot. And yes, he's usually this serious.


Cues lined up along the lovely wall...but the three is a good number and it's a good detail shot to add to this collection.


Brian practicing on the empty table, letting me sit my camera right on the table before he takes his shot - a fun perspective.

Shooting Brian over-head with a hail-mary approach on my part. Came out well.


Dave, my fellow New Englander on the team, keeping score for 9-ball.


Thanks to Katja and Rob, I had some pics of myself from the night - nice work you two.


Trae getting serious lining up a shot in one of the last games of 9-ball for the night.


The over-all pool hall - there's more than 25 tables available.


John, captain of the other team, disappointed with missing a shot toward the end of the night.


Andrew, who joined our team this week, racks up the balls for his 8-ball game.


Trae in good position to make his shot and run the rack.


Trae chalking the cue, something that you see people do somewhat compulsively at times, but it makes a difference when you shoot, especially if you're any good.


Katja, one of the other "token chicks", and a member of the other team, practicing on the side during the game.


John, lining up the 7 during his 9-ball game against Trae.


Our 9-ball score sheet at the end of the night. There's a lot to keep track of, and this sheet reads that we lost.


Brian, Rob and Andrew looking over the score sheets and not looking too pleased with our team's performance for the night. Hope it wasn't because of the photo coverage.

Sunday Afternoon Drive

I went for a drive around downtown Charleston today, searching for primarily detailed architectural photos of many historic homes. It was a pleasant, sunny afternoon and I ended up with a few fun shots after about 45 minutes of cruising around town.

There is much more to photograph, and from many different vantage points, but the Charleston collection has begun and it's inspiring me and motivating me to continue shooting to build a complete gallery one day. Enjoy.


Looking down Wentworth Street, through the windshield.



Pulled over to photograph the empty horse and buggy tour guide passing by on Meeting Street. Loved the tree behind them.


An afternoon sun reflection in windows on Meeting street. Just liked the three windows and the yellow reflection and the scuffed walls.


A couple lays together, inter-locked, on a bench in the park at the Battery. I found this to be a unique and intimate moment.


An American flag hanging on a porch of one of the larger homes South of Broad, lit by the setting sun behind the home.


Two homes along Rainbow Row on East Bay Street.



Rainbow Row on East Bay Street.



A young girl reading a book with her bike laying on the grass in the cold, afternoon sun on Concord Street.


A side street off of East Bay with a beautiful wall and window on this home.



The Citadel campus, with cadets walking through campus in the background.



The Citadel as the sun goes down - heavily adjusted to bring out blacks and deep blue.