ryan dorgan | photographs

Trying to stay afloat during these past couple of busy weeks. Here are a few that caught my eye from April 30 through May 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was on campus Monday doing some work for the university when my little brother invited me to come watch his roommates’ Bookstore Basketball game early in the evening. Bookstore Basketball is big at Notre Dame – it’s actually the largest 5-on-5 outdoor basketball tournament in the world – annually drawing some 700 teams made up of students, staff and faculty from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross. The tournament had whittled down to the Round of 32, so my brother asked that I get a few shots of his roommates. It’s no small feat to make it that far.

There was a big crowd gathered around the court beside us, so after shooting for my brother I went to check out what was apparently a great game and saw Notre Dame senior forward Jack Cooley dribbling downcourt. That explained the crowd.

Very cool to see one of the Irish’s star players going toe-to-toe against his classmates out on the court, some of whom couldn’t even touch the ball had Cooley decided to palm it above his head. Fun game to watch, and another lesson in “always have your camera with you” confirmed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been going to Notre Dame games since before I could walk, but never before had I seen a game from the field. It was a dream I had as a kid – being down there on the sidelines and seeing the Irish up-close. Never thought I’d ever have a reason to be down there for a game. Never thought I’d find myself photographing one, either.

Sure, it was just a spring scrimmage, but it was Notre Dame football. It’s the stuff I was raised to die for. It was Brian Kelly and Everett Golson and Louis Nix and George Atkinson and Carlo Calabrese. It was Notre Dame Stadium. It was doing what I love, sitting along the sidelines with a bunch of my friends who were doing what they love. All in all, a pretty romantic day in terms of nostalgia.

I won’t be around during the regular season. I’m sure the luster would wear off eventually and shooting at Notre Dame Stadium would be just another day on the job. But this was exciting. This was really fucking exciting. I know I made some good pictures for print, but I still can’t help but feel like I let the excitement get in the way a bit. I know I could have done better had my head been focused 100 percent on the job. It’s a tough line to have to draw when you’re somewhere you love, somewhere you know you might never be again.

Here are a few that made the cut, a few that didn’t, and a few weird ones that caught my eye on second edit. Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worked a six-day week and it was a damn good time despite the miserable weather. Met some incredible people. Sport-heavy weeks tend to be good ones. I think all the predictable repetition of games and matches forces me to keep looking for fresh ways to shoot. Even got to cap off a Saturday shift with a nice dose of Notre Dame football. Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not knowing what I’ll be getting into on any given day, who I’ll be meeting and spending time with… That’s by far one of the best parts of this type of work. Some days can be a total crapshoot and some days can be like Monday, when I got to watch the Chicago Cubs home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers with Bob “Babo” Havlish.

Babo saw his first home opener at Wrigley Field in 1958 and was there every year since. He’s rehabilitating here in Elkhart now, so his tickets went to his daughter. The first time in 56 years he’s had to miss the game. Unbelievable.

Cheers to you Babo. Thanks for the stories. You can read Bill Beck’s story on Babo’s 56th home opener here:

http://www.elkharttruth.com/article/20130408/SPORT/704089902&source=RSS