What's up!? I'm Cody, I started photography when I was a freshman in college under the great tutelage of my current co-worker Kyle Wright. I now work for Vice President of PR and Marketing Brian Adler as SWOSU's primary photographer, covering everything from student pharmacists compounding in lab to athletes competing on the field.
 
Photography is just like a lot of other forms or art: easy to get into, hard to master. I'm somewhere in the middle of all that. I have a decent amount of experience in several different areas of photography, but still have an overwhelming amount of things to learn. Photography definitely pays the bills, but there are also a lot of fun atmospheres it has allowed me to be involved with and work in. Shooting everything from ZZ Top to Kenny Chesney and since the inaugural 2015 season I've had a second family in the OKC Dodgers Staff. Working in sports is like nothing else, definitely tough and you either love it or hate it, there's no in-between. Once you get that roar of the crowd from the sideline in your blood it's like no other job. I'm glad to be a photographer and privileged to be able to photograph your friends, family, sons and daughters.
   
"Lil Flipz"
 
Camera: Canon 5D Mk III
 
Subject: Alex Pimentel makes a diving stop 
 
What do I remember about this photo?
Alex Pimentel, outside of the diamond, probably one of the most quiet student-athletes you'll ever meet. Once he stepped in the box the game was too natural and he shined. This particular play was a little more special than others; man on first, good hitter at the plate. Hard hit ball in the gap towards second. Pimentel takes a step, I remember seeing him start to dive as I get my eye in the finder and with this particular camera body you have to pick your timings so carefully because it's not like newer camera bodies that you can just let the shutter fly and you know you'll get all the action. I think I got two frames off, the first one with the ball in his glove and the second (this one) as he starts to flip the ball out of his glove to the second baseman for the duo to turn two. It was one of those big league plays – SportsCenter Top 10 – that you don't see at this level. Needless to say the dugout erupted.
   
"Big Celly"
 
Camera: Canon 1Dx Mk I
 
Subject: Allie Hoang celebrates with Jenny Tackett
 
Thoughts on the photo?
Volleyball is just as tough as it is rewarding to shoot. The game is orchestrated chaos with a constant pattern. Once you find that pattern or get in a rhythm with the team shots start to happen.
The setter-hitter relationship is just like the pitcher-catcher relationship in baseball. One doesn't work without the other or it all goes bad. When the relationship is in sync, you get big hits and even bigger celebrations. Jenny was having a great night and Allie was a crucial piece of the pie. I love this big celly with a little bit of attitude behind it, with the finger point letting her know she did good!
   
"Light Rays" 1 and 2
 
Camera: Canon 1Dx Mk I
 
Subject: LED's creating a light ray
 
Thoughts on the photo?
I like this photo because of the technicality behind it; there's a lot of adjustments behind each shot. Myself the photog and you the model have to work together a lot more than normal. Here's the BTS of the shot. The 1Dx has a double exposure feature built into the camera. You take two separate photos and the camera combines the two into one. So that's how each shot is conceptually captured. We taped LED's (about the size of a Flintstones chewable) to opposite sides of a bat. Using the double exposure feature, first shot is captured as the player swings at a very low shutter speed to expose the blue light streaks. The player then has to hold their pose, while I run around and turn on three lights. First light is the blue fill light behind the player. Second and third light are in front of the player to illuminate them for the second frame. Readjust the camera for the second shot, push the button, wait for the camera to combine the two and you're done.
 
"Stretch"
 
Camera: Canon 5D Mk III
 
Subject: Hayden Proctor leaps to save a wild ball
 
What I like about this photo?
There's always a big rivalry between SWOSU and Arkansas Tech in baseball. Not sure why, but maybe because both teams always have a chance to be so good and take a little extra cockiness into the next series with a win. I just like how it seems like he put all the extra effort into snagging this errant throw that would have most likely resulted in extra bases in what was an important game for the season. 
 
"Cotton Candy"
 
Camera: Canon 1Dx Mk I
 
Subject: Sunset at the end of a football game
 
Thoughts about the photo?
Who doesn't love a good sunset pic during a sporting event? I probably get five or less opportunities a year where the stadium is full and a good game is happening. This landscape with those cotton candy skies just remind me of warm fall nights and puts a good feeling in your body. 
 
"Last Laughs"
 
Camera: Canon 5D Mk III
 
Subject: Coach Dan Cocannouer has his last pregame speech with the team
 
What do I remember about the photo?
I remember Dan and the boys running to midfield after the conclusion of Senior Day. I knew it was going to be a special moment since it was his last time on the field. A few inspirational words were said and then a quick joke that got everyone fired up. It's a special moment to me because it's not very often you get a coach in the middle of the huddle right before the game starts and the moment is light hearted. Something every one of them might remember and share when looking back at their time together. Plus you can't help but give a small laugh or smile when you see this photo!
 
"All Together"
 
Camera: Canon 1Dx Mk I
 
Subject: Taber Beer and fans at National Championship
 
What I like about this photo?
To set the stage, we're at the National Championship game and I've literally taken thousands of action shots by this time and it's important to show more than just the action in moments like this one. Students had traveled several hours with a few complications along the way and I wanted to show them being present and showing support for the team. 'All Together' is another double exposure in a very poorly-lit gym and somehow it turned out great. It took a few tries, but it was worth it.
 
"Sand Trap"
 
Camera: Canon 1Dx Mk I
 
Subject: Jacob Stoller chips onto the green
 
What I like about this photo?
This was another random idea as we were walking up to this green. I asked the group of golfers I was with if anyone would chip onto the green and Jacob gladly volunteered. The green is slightly elevated from this sand trap so it worked perfectly for me to lay down while Jacob chipped over the top of me. The sand is perfect to show the club action and the colors all around the course make everything look extra sharp. I'm pretty sure there's a video of everyone watching just in case we both had an epic failure!
 
"Family"
 
Camera: Canon 1Dx Mk I
 
Subject: Hailey Tucker leaves press room after loss
 
Thoughts on the photo?
This is a photo I will always be able to vividly recall. It's a tough moment; she just lost the National Championship after double overtime. About 20 minutes later, a handful of people are in the media room for postgame interviews. Presser ends and we walk from the media room down a lonely sterile, gray double-wide stairwell back to a set of double doors and down this short hallway before anyone can see us. What makes this photo so strong for me is the fact that Mad Dawg is holding her hand the whole way. She just lost the biggest game of her career, she has every right to be pissed and pout and not want to deal with him in any way. Most likely, he doesn't understand everything that took place, he's just happy to be along for the ride. Through it all though, she holds his hand and they turn the corner to talk with friends and family. What I'm getting at is Hailey and every one of the other girls on that team showed that family is bigger than the game and at the end of the day, that's what is most important.
 
"Forever Moments"
 
Camera: Canon 1Dx Mk 1
 
Subject: Hayden Priddy and Hailey Tucker embrace Coach Kelsi Musick
 
What I like about the photo?
This is a right place, right time photo. They just won their Final Four game, I think they were finishing up interviews and walking back to the locker room when I saw them going to grab Kelsi and immediately lock her up with these huge smiles. I still remember Hayden asking Kelsi "if she was ready to go to a National Championship!?" It's a special coach, player moment that happens so quickly and without anyone seeing, but can mean a lot later in life.