Trey Ratcliff, a photographer specializing in high-dynamic-range (HDR) photos -- basically using software to combine multiple images of one scene to get a broader exposure range -- and travel photos, has a vid that starts out mini-tutorial then has a really nice sequence of Paris shots.
It's great to see Juan Martin Del Potro slowly getting working back into top form after missing about a year with a serious wrist injury.
Continue reading "Juan Martin Del Potro Wins First Title Since Surgery, Video of Strokes" »
Rising tennis star Milos Raonic has one of the best serves, already rivaling those of John Isner and Ivo Karlovic.
I cobbled together this video of Raonic's serve from images I took during Raonic's semifinal-and-final matches when he won his first title last week at the SAP Open, dethroning world number nine, Fernando Verdasco, whom he beat again yesterday in Memphis. This includes slow-motion at 120 frames-per-second and stop-action segments, using a couple of times of cameras at varying resolutions.
To best view this video, please click the four-arrow box in the lower right to enlarge, then select "720p", also in the lower right, to see in higher resolution.
Tennis great Rod Laver said, while at Roger Federer's fifth WImbledon championship, "Fans should take the time to just watch his feet. Ignore the point and the ball, just watch his feet. Federer's footwork is beautiful."
Continue reading "Watch Roger Federer's Footwork in Slow Motion" »
Make your mini-tennis warmup meaningful. FYB has a video with suggestions on practicing footwork in a serve-line-to-service-line groundstroke drill. They discuss alternative footwork for ground strokes: The "walking" forehand, moving forward into the ball as you hit, then returning; The "hopping step" to drive forward; and the carioca, where you cross the back foot behind the front, normally used on an approach shot so you can land in a stable position, facing the net. {If you view full-screen (4-arrow box) switch to HD rez from the pop up that appears next to the four arrows.}
Unusual video and photo essay at NYT.com, showing WTA players hitting in extreme slow motion, but stylized to feel almost balletic. (go here).
Via Google Reader: A template for comfy, risk-averse movies, starring Robert Pattinson or Adam Sandler, Natalie Portman or Sandra Bullock. Directed by Ron Howard or someone whose only previous work has been on YouTube.
Continue reading "Generic Movie Video - Build Your Own Now!" »
Don't blame Conan. Who's blaming Conan? In David Letterman's inimitable style:
I've been waiting to see a professional, tennis player try a volleyball-style serve -- running and leaping to hit a ball thrown in front of the server -- and Brian Battistone is the one.
Brian, a challenger-level doubles player, uses the jump serve: "I was trying to get more lift and explosive movement into the court. Growing up we had played basketball and volleyball. I thought if I can't get the same amount of spring into the air with my conventional motion, why not try it like a volleyball serve? I jump as high as I can and as far forward as I can to get the best possible angle. My main objective is to get a better angle and higher bounce to bring the guys off the court."
According to the ATP Tennis site: "Brian, 29, and his brother Dann, 31, ... have cut their doubles ranking by almost 1000 places to around 270 in the space of one year since resuming their careers after extended breaks.
"In early August the Las Vegas-based Battistones reached the final of the Binghamton Challenger – beating World No. 14 Lukas Dlouhy and partner Tomas Zib in the semis – that followed a semifinal showing at the Tunica Challenger and three appearances in Futures finals this season. But they are yet to crack their first win at ATP-level, most recently falling 6-3, 7-5 to Italians Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi in New Haven." Note: The Battistones' experiments don't end at serving; they also use two-handled racquets.
One of the main advantages tall servers, such as ivo Karlovich and John Isner have is that they can hit angles players don't normally see or practice against. At 6 ft 10 in, Karlovich can literally bounce a server over returning players.
If hitting a serve while standing still is considered timid in volleyball, will it become old-fashioned in tennis as well? {A video from the ATP site is embedded below. Click to play, although with the caveat that I have found video's on the ATP site less than 100% reliable.As an alternative, try this link.}
Fabrice Santoro, the man Pete Sampras called "The Wizard", played in a record 62nd Grand Slam tennis tournament this week in Melbourne, Australia. That he lost to top seed yesterday Roger Federer seems secondary to the sheer joy Santoro brings to the game.
