Hornets Welcome Trevor Ariza
Last week the New Orleans Hornets traded away their rookie phenom Darren Collison as part of a four team trade in which the Hornets acquired Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza. The trade came as somewhat of a surprise and although I hated to see a talented player like Collison depart from the team, in the NBA to improve when you are strapped against the salary cap you have to make trades, and Darren Collison was a big bargaining chip for the Hornets.
Ariza, a who brings with him a NBA Championship ring he earned with the L.A. Lakers is likely to replace Peja Stojakovic as a starter allowing the Hornets to bring Stojakovic off the bench and possibly keep him fresh and healthy for the 2010-2011 season.
I only had a few photos that I really liked from the press conference, the photos below showing Ariza surrounded by reporters in the conference room were my favorites. The lighting is poor and using my flash unit and a wide angle I made the shot below hitting Ariza and reporters with the flash, but since I used such a wide lens the light doesn’t fill the frame leaving the cool effect of a rim of light.
Aug 14, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets forward Trevor Ariza talks to the media during a press conference at the Harrah’s Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
I also got the standard holding of the jersey shot, unfortunately I was blocked by some video cameras from getting a center position.
The move to trade for Ariza was the first big move made by new Hornets general manager Dell Demps and the press conference was my first opportunity to get photos of Demps as well as new head coach Monty Williams.
Aug 14, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets general manager Dell Demps during a press conference at the Harrah’s Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
Aug 14, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets head coach Monty Williams during a press conference at the Harrah’s Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
There really isn’t much to shoot at a press conference, but clients need pictures of the new acquisitions by the team and the press conference was my first opportunity to get the images the next time I will likely see the Hornets is media day in early October.
