2017 Bay to Breakers

I love photographing the Bay to Breakers.

Once again this year I covered the start of the race.

 There were plenty of people running in costumes.

 There were also many people sneaking onto the course without paying the race fee.

 But actually, Bay to Breakers is not about the contest.

 It's an event that attracts spectators from all over.

 Many people had messages with their costumes.

 And some people don't have costumes.

 But later on in the course, the party gets started.

 Some really inventive.

 Even on the rooftops.

  It was a fun day once again.

 You can see more of my photos (and other photos) on SFGate.com.

Politico Playbook Exchange

 I was hired by Politico to cover one of their Playbook Exchange events at the Lyft headquarters in San Francisco.

 The event featured House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

 And he was hosted by and Anna Palmer, POLITICO Playbook Co-Author.

 She also asked questions from Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) 

Xavier Becerra, Attorney General of California at POLITICO Live Playbook Exchange event.

Photograph of Keith Greggor in Sunday Times

This past Sunday I had a photograph of San Francisco beermaker Anchor Steam's CEO Keith Greggor run in the Sunday Times in London. A clip of the article is above.  It was great to have my photograph featured in the largest broadsheet newspaper in the United Kingdom!

For more photos from my shoot of click here.

USA Soccer Fans - World Cup Qualifier USA vs. Honduras at San Jose

It was a dream night for the USA soccer fans in San Jose at the World Cup Qualifier against Honduras.  After a disastrous start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, the USMNT had to go all out and claim three points.

 The fans were all decked out at the pre-game American Outlaws tailgate.

 But the rain dampened some of the early celebrations.

 The fans marched into the stadium ready to support the USA.

 And there was some good natured heckling between the fans of USA and Honduras.

 After the national anthem...

 ...The USA fans were ready to bang their drums...

 ...and sing and cheer. It was easy too when your team scores two goals in the opening 35 minutes while playing some exciting soccer.

 And it was punctuated by a spectacular individual effort by Clint Dempsey for the third goal of the half.

There really were not any words to describe in words the feeling of a USA soccer fan up 3-0 in a must win game better than this picture does. So I won't even try.

 In the second half, the rain continued to come down.

 But the USA fans kept on drumming and supporting the national team.

And after three quick goals to start the second half salted away the result...

...the Honduras fans found themselves with little to cheer for.

 It even turned into a bit of a snooze fest for some of the American fans.

 But in the end, the fans held their pride up high.

And stood united supporting the national team as they continue their road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Photos for CrossfitMNL Goodyear

 While in the Philippines, I was hired by CrossfitMNL Goodyear to take photographs of their Boot camp and Crossfit classes.

 To see these athletes working so hard to start or stay in shape.

It was inspiring.

Candlestick seats fill SF’s Kezar Stadium, thanks to San Francisco Deltas

San Francisco is reclaiming some of its professional football history thanks to the city’s new professional soccer team.

More than 3,800 Candlestick Park seats from the former home of the San Francisco 49ers are being installed during the next two weeks at the team’s original SF home, Kezar Stadium. They’ll join the Candlestick seats already installed at Kezar during stadium improvements in 2014 and 2015.

The seats were acquired by the San Francisco Deltas, which won approval earlier this year to play its home games at Kezar Stadium from the SF Rec and Parks Department. The pro soccer team will start its inaugural season with a friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes in February.

The new seating is part of $1 million in improvements the team agreed to make to use Kezar Stadium.
Although the seats ended up costing being double the estimate, Deltas CEO Brian Andrés Helmick felt it was the right choice. “We have to make decisions as fans,” he said. “We are fans first.”

To read the rest of the story and see a video click on my SFGate Story.

Soccer Struggles to find its footing in the Philippines

During a February UFL (United Football League) Cup match, Global FC battled against Nomads at Rizal Memorial Stadium in the heart of Manila. The game, a competitive and entertaining affair, was also a case study of how difficult it has been to grow pro soccer in the Philippines.

Global, one of the best-funded and most successful professional teams in the country, was battling against Nomads, a 102-year-old semi-professional team. Despite perfect conditions for the game, only a few hundred spectators sat in the 12,000-seat stadium. Nomads held Global to only a first half goal but succumbed down the stretch, losing 4-0.

I watched the game in the stands with Bob Guerrero, a soccer journalist, and football supporter (Twitter account @PassionateFanPH) in the Philippines. He has observed firsthand the birthing pains from growing soccer in the country.

“It has struggled,” lamented Guerrero. “There are some fans, there is a niche support, but it hasn’t received wide mass support.”

You can read more of my article on SFGate!