Damian Strohmeyer's Favorite Shots

Damian Strohmeyer's Favorite Shots

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Strohmeyer's take: The Little League World Series is always a terrific event to cover because the kids are playing for the love of the game, and it shows. That was certainly the case in 2000, when Venezuela celebrated its championship game victory over Bellaire, Texas.

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Boston catcher Jason Varitek jumps into the arms of closer Jonathan Papelbon after the Red Sox won the 2007 American League pennant. He embodies what I think a professional athlete should be: Smart, dedicated, emotional and a good teammate.

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Strangely, with all the fancy equipment we carry, this photo of Sidney Rice making a catch over Jarrett Bush was made with a 50mm lens, the one that comes with almost any camera. Wide environmental shots gives readers a sense of place about a game.

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You never know what Manny Ramirez might do. I happened to be tracking him around first base in a June 2007 game to see what might play out. It was easily a stand-up double, but Manny, being Manny, dove into second.

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Randy Moss is one of those athletes you almost can't take your eyes off. He is such a fluid, graceful player that it often translates into good photographs, such as this sensational one-handed grab in 2001.

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The College World Series is probably my favorite event to cover. The atmosphere is always charged with enthusiasm, plus the opportunity to make unique pictures at the event is a photographer's dream. In 2000 Louisiana State won the championship over Stanford on the final play of the game. My overhead remote camera captured the thrill of the Tigers victory.

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One of the best stories I've ever worked was Boston's improbable march to the World Series title in 2004. During the dog days of July, an inside pitch to Alex Rodriguez sparked this scuffle between the Yankees third baseman and Jason Varitek. Many people point to this exchange as the turning point in Boston's season. I was glad to be there to record an image that is now part of New England sports lore.

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I was really pleased when I noticed the intensity captured on the faces of Duke guard J.J. Redick and Memphis forward Robert Dozier during a game I shot at Madison Square Garden.

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I was fortunate to get Cubs outfielder Moises Alou making a catch in the ivy at Wrigley Field. To me the striking image invokes memories of the movie "Field of Dreams."

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There is a lot to be said for women's basketball. The players aren't as athletic; don't jump as high or run as fast, but they play as a more integrated unit than many men's teams do. Here, Maryland forward Crystal Langhorne celebrates her team's upset win over Duke for the national championship in 2006.

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While working on a feature story on Cincinnati's Chad Johnson I happened to be at the right place for a nice touchdown catch. The brash Johnson is usually pretty good for pictures, but here the helpless look of Carolina's Chris Gamble really makes the picture.

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Maryland's Ekene Ibekwe goes right over the top of a Davidson defender in an attempt at getting to the basket during a 1st round NCAA tourney game in Buffalo. This is a low angle remote camera triggered via radio from beneath the press table.

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To do this photograph we mounted a remote camera high above the court in the catwalk of the arena and fired it remotely from the court via radio. The telephoto lens compresses the action during this Virginia Commonwealth game against Pitt in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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Another overhead photograph, this time from the McDonald's High School All America game in Louisville, KY. One of the many elements of photography we consider when we are setting remote cameras is the background. Here the red background really helps the picture jump.

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At the College World Series there is a period when the light at home plate becomes almost magical. It doesn't last long, maybe an inning or even less, but it is amazing. Here Oregon State's Tyler Graham escapes the tag of North Carolina's Benji Johnson to score a run during their run to the championship in 2006.

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Every venue we travel to has its own little flavor and nuances. At Jacobs Field in Cleveland there is a position directly behind home plate with a Plexiglas covered door, which enables one to photograph the pitcher almost head on. Here the Yankees Phil Hughes is framed between the cocked arms of a Cleveland batter.

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Boston second baseman Alex Cora dives flat out in an attempt to catch an Angel runner sliding into second for a double. From the third base photo box it is a little unusual to get action at second. With both players at peak action, I was lucky enough to keep it all together in one frame.

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Baseball photography requires a lot of patience. You wait and wait and then bam, bam, the picture happens and is over. This photograph of Boston's Eric Hinske being tagged out at home by Jorge Posada of the Yankees is one I almost missed. The logical play for the infield was to attempt the double play to end the inning. Instead the throw went to home plate. I adjusted on the fly and managed to put the frame together in time for the play.

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Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon plays to the crowd on the field after Boston won the American League Pennant.

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Notorious NHL fighter Tie Domi, then with the Toronto Maple Leafs, squares off with New Jersey's Lyle Odelein during a regular season match in February 2000.

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Arizona Diamondbacks closer Jose Valverde reacts after his team eliminated the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round of the baseball playoffs this past season. Closers in baseball are an emotional bunch, which is great for photographers.

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Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes hauls in a long pass in the Steelers win over the Cincinnati Bengals. It helps as a photographer to know when it's likely that a team will pass downfield.