Flying over Dens

Flying over Dens, originally uploaded by dundeeladdie.

The view from 140 feet above Dundee Football Club's Dens Park as Alison McQueen of Dee Promotions 'zipslides' over the Bobby Cox Stand in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Awesome event and I'm grateful to Macmillan and the people who operate the zipline on their behalf that I got access to go up to the top of the crane to take pics

New Boy at Dens Park

New Boy at Dens Park, originally uploaded by dundeeladdie.

Former Clyde striker Pat Clarke is pictured after signing for Dundee on a three year contract.

Dens assistant boss Ray Farningham said of the player "Pat is hard working, good in the air and has an eye for goal, his arrival gives us an extra option up front, We've now got five strikers signed for next season and that means we can change things around much more easily."

Pat played 35 times and scored 14 goals for Clyde in season 2008-09 but along with many of his team-mates was told he could leave as financial troubles hit the Broadwood club.

"I'm delighted to be here" Pat said "It's taken a couple of weeks to tie everything up, just with the Clyde scenario and getting things tied up at that end but, eventually, it's been cleared and I've been able to sign the papers."

"There was interest from other clubs but Pat said that the decision to sign up at Dens was made quickly. Just as soon as I'd met Jocky and Ray Farningham, I went to meet them and within five minutes I was getting a good feeling - I tend to go with feelings rather than anything else when i meet people. I just had a good feeling about what they were saying about the club.

"It's going in the right direction and I just want to be part of that. I think I've got a lot of attributes but we'll just wait and see what the season brings - I'm just going into it with 100% focus and my mindset will be just to work 100% and take it from there."

Canon 30D - 18-55 lens at f8 and 1/100th of a second - Canon 430ex flash.

Picture David Young
davidyoungphoto@gmail.com

Was at Hampden to shoot the Homecoming Scottish FA Cup Final, 100 degrees Fahrenheit inside the ground. Not the best game to watch Falkirk were by far the better side but were pretty toothless us front so didn't take advantage of their pretty passing. Rangers looked tired but had a moment of inspiration from little Nacho Novo who scored a cracking goal to win the cup - here he is celebrating. Nacho is always fun to shoot, when I covered the CIS Insurance League Cup Final in which Celtic beat Rangers 2-0 I don't think I'd taken many decent pictures of Rangers player until the wee man came on as a substitute - suddenly I began to get loads - he makes things happen. Along with Aiden McGeady he's probably the most enjoyable footballer in the SPL to photograph.

Canon EOS 20D - 300mm F4 ISO: 200 - Shutter: 1/5000

Charlie Cooke comes home

Had the pleasure of watching a footballing superstar of the 1960's and 1970's with a ball at this feet again this week. Charlie Cooke played for Aberdeen, Dundee, Chelsea and Crystal Palace in that era and was pretty much loved by fans of all those clubs - he was back in Dundee for a couple of days and was invited to coach Dundee FC's under 15 and 17 teams - Charlie is Director of Coerver Coaching in the Americas and it was a delight to see him take the youngsters through their paces.

The following evening he visited a supporters club named after him and talked about his career and his views on youth football and the state of 'soccer' stateside - he's strongly of the view that it won't be long until 'The States' win the World Cup.

Canon EOS 40D Lens 70-200 2.8 at 200m and F4 ISO: 400 Shutterspeed : 1/400

Shot the title party

Was lucky enough to shoot Dundee United against Rangers at Tannadice Park on Helicopter Sunday - The Ibrox side set out needing to win to make sure of the title and they did it with ease, romping home 3-0 against a United side who themselves should have had plenty to play for - a draw would have earned them a place in the Europa Cup next season - but Craig Levein's men froze.

It was the second year running that the title has been secured at Tannadice - I shot Celtic being crowned champions there last year.

This was taken with my brand new 40D, which seems to create superb colours - I'm not sure how good the autofocus is though - seems a little hit and miss. The 30D will be around for a bit until I'm sure that the 40D will do the job.