tenthreeleader's photostream  

Josh Howard of the Utah Jazz finishes a slam dunk by swinging underneath the rim during a game against the Minnesota Timberwovles.

Rather surprisingly, Howard avoided a technical foul for hanging on the rim in this case, but the dunk made for a fun shot.

Taken 22 February 2012 at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN.

Al Jefferson (left) and Nikola Pekovic (right) jump for the opening tip-off of an NBA game between Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Taken 22 February 2012 at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN.

This was a fun picture for me to take.

Former teammates Al Jefferson of the Utah Jazz (at left) and Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves embrace at center court before a National Basketball Association game between their teams.

The two then proceeded to pound lumps on each other for 48 minutes of a fine basketball game, won by the Wolves 100-98.

Taken 22 February 2012 at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN.

My push for Round 18 came from Mary Evans Lavelle, whose wonderful stream can be seen here:

www.flickr.com/photos/marylavelle/6775446966/in/photostream

We both challenged each other in the same ways -- to shoot in the dark. Her push to me was as follows:

"My push to you - an action shot taking after sunset showing movement."

Well, Mary, you didn't say the shot had to be taken outdoors. :)

Herewith I present Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio introduced, in the dark, before a recent National Basketball Association game between the Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz. What I like about this shot is light, shadow and silhouette in the same frame. Highly experimental but a concept I like.

Taken 22 February 2012 at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN.

The copper and steel statue above the south (main) entry to the Minnesota State Capitol is known as "The Quadriga", or "The Four Horses".

The work depicts four horses pulling a cart with two women and a man. Installed in 1906, the statue was commissioned by architect Cass Gilbert.

David Chester French, who sculpted the world-famous statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial, was involved in this project along with Edward Potter, who sculpted the horses.

According to the Hennepin County Library: "The statue is symbolic of the progress of the state. The man atop the cart represents prosperity. The two women holding the reigns represent civilization and directing nature for the progress of the state; each of the horses represents a natural phenomenon: wind, water, fire, and earth. Each figure is 8 to 10 feet tall, and the entire statue is covered with a layer of gold leaf which is reapplied every 20-30 years."

Taken 16 February 16 2012 on a beautiful afternoon in St. Paul, Minnesota.