Gersh Photo Post | Max Gersh | Multimedia Photojournalist

I’m not one to hold too much weight in journalism contests. Especially photography. Everything is subjective. But don’t get me wrong. I love to pad my resume as much as the next guy.

At the end of June or beginning of July (it was so long ago I can’t remember), the newsroom at The Courier-Times went into a bit of a frenzy trying to get stories and photos ready for the Hoosier State Press Association contest. Anything from July 2009 through June 2010 could be entered. We filled out our forms and sent in our clips.

And then we waited.

I think it was some time in October that we found out which members of our newsroom won awards. Many of us did. However, they don’t tell you what you won. They don’t even tell you how many award you won. They just tease you and try to get you to come to the awards banquet in December. That’s right. You have to wait until December to find out what you won.

At first, I tried to guess what photo(s) won awards. A week out, I’d forgotten about the whole thing.

Then came December. I was unable to attend the banquet but got updates via text message hearing how well our newspaper was doing.

This year, The Courier-Times won 18 awards and finished second in our division. Good job team!

Much to my surprise, I racked up seven awards of my own.

I got third place in the multiple picture group for my series on the Titan 500 tricycle race.

I won second and third place in best picture story (with audio soundtrack) for my pieces on Memorial Day and St. Anne’s church, respectively.

I won first place and third place in best video story for my trick shot video and cooks contest video, respectively.

Lastly, I won first place in best spot news photo with my picture of officers transferring custody of someone who was involved in an armed robbery of a store.

John Michael Evans places his hands on his head as Henry County Sheriff's deputies and Indiana State Troopers transfer him into the custody of the Randolph County Sheriff's Department. Evans was caught at his residence after allegedly committing armed robbery in Losantville. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

To round out my seventh award, the photo above won the recognition of being the best in my division and was one of six finalists (one for each of the six divisions) for photo of the year. Pretty cool.

Like I said, I don’t hold too much weight in these contest. But that won’t stop me from entering.

While in a meeting with the newsroom earlier this week, I asked everyone if they had any upcoming stories that they would like me to try and add some multimedia to.

Our sports editor spoke up immediately with an idea. He was doing a feature story on a kid that shoots incredible basketball trick shots at the YMCA.

Yesterday, I met up with the sports editor and the trick shot champion, Michael Harsha.

Michael Harsha is a trickster on the court. He practices his shots at the YMCA in New Castle. He played for the Trojans and graduated from New Castle Chrysler High School in 2009. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

I have done backboard still shots like the one above but this was my first attempt at a backboard video.

I stayed on the ladder while he was shooting to keep the video camera from moving too much. I didn’t use a GOBO so you can see my head moving around a little in the reflection.

Aside from getting nailed with the basketball in the leg a few times while I was up on the ladder, I think the video came together pretty well.