NBA 3X Tournament, Caddebostan, Istanbul 2013

 

Opponents face off in the 3X Basketball Tournament in Istanbul

In between the two GEP Photography Workshops in Istanbul, I had the chance to practice sports photography. The NBA (National Basketball Association of America) and their official partner here, Avea Turkey, brought street basketball to Istanbul. This was a two-day event, to promote basketball for youngsters in Turkey.

The guest of Honour was Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues, at 5'3", 

the shortest professional player in the history of the NBA. 

Muggsy shoots a basket, to the delight of the crowd

Before the tournament began, we were entertained with some great acrobatics

A dynamic duo

Wow! That's a real high flyer!

We watched some great basketball

Each team really played a hard game

They were all very determined

We were also delighted to meet up with Henry Utku, the NBA's European, Middle East and Asian Events Manager, an ex student of ours at the British International School, Istanbul.

Henry with his proud father, Levent.

By Elizabeth Coughlan

Red Bull Flugtag 2013, Istanbul. Part 3

A flying camera?

I think the intention here was to fly the plane off the top of the camera. Unfortunately, it ended in a catastrophic failure..

 

Whoops!

It didn't even make it to the edge of the platform, as it toppled sideways. Fortunately, the pilot was rescued, and limped off, supported by her colleagues.

An Angry Bird with wings?

A ferocious-looking Angry Bird came next; ready to be catapulted off the platform. We all held our breath. Could he fly?

Surprise!

Everyone cheered when the Angry Bird fell into the water, and the wings stayed up, with the pilot still aboard. Although, in his enthusiasm, one of the assistants fell off the edge of the platform and plunged into the water!

The noise from the crowd was deafening, as the pilot continued to fly his craft..

...until he finally set down, gently in the water.

This didn't equal the world record, but we we all ecstatic at the Angry Bird's success!

The next contestant sets off.

This next craft looked really promising. Were we going to see another success? Could we see the world record beaten in Istanbul? We waited with bated breath...

...Oh, no! The left wing began to come apart!

...and he crashed into the water.

Everyone was really disappointed. We had high hopes for this one, but it wasn't to be. The left wing totally collapsed. I think they needed stronger glue!

The Red Bull Flutag may be coming to city near you this summer. It is going to the following countries: US, Sweden, Serbia, Ukraine, Canada and Russia. Try to watch if you can. It is such fun!

Red Bull Flugtag 2013, Istanbul. Part 2

The Launch Platform for the Red Bull Flugtag 2013, Istanbul

Thanks to my membership of the ITWPA (International Travel Writers and Photographers Association), and a rather recalcitrant gate guard, I was able to get a rather privileged view of the Red Bull Flugtag 2013, Istanbul. I had stationed myself behind a wall, next to a gate overlooking the launch platform, when the guard told me to move on.

I showed him my ITWPA journalists tag, (which I had slung around my neck as an afterthought as I left the house) but he was unimpressed. I appealed to an official-looking person walking by, who, on inspecting my badge, asked, "Wouldn't you rather photograph from over there?", pointing to a boat moored opposite the launch pad. How could I refuse? That is how I found myself on the Red Bull Hospitality boat, among serious-looking press photographers and news crews!

Red Bull Hospitality Boat

Slightly intimidated by the enormously long lenses that stretched out around me, I fiddled with my camera settings, then zoomed out my 24-105mm kit lens as far as it would go. (Note to self, "Must earn enough money to afford more lenses!) Although I felt like a minnow among sharks, I was treated the same as all the other photographers, as we were fed and watered throughout the day. What more could I want? I had free food and drinks, a great view, and the perfect position to photograph the attempts to fly from the launching platform. When I looked at the thousands of people thronging the shore, I felt very privileged.

Some entertainment to begin with

The entertainment began with a man on water stilts, a jet stream of water propelled him up. He came so close to our boat, that he was able to grab a can of Red Bull as he came past! "Look up at the sky!", came the announcement, and as we look up a helicopter came into view. Sky divers suddenly burst out into the sky, then drifted down above us. The crowd roared their appreciation as each one neatly landed on the launch platform.

A Daredevil skydiver

This one trailed smoke!

They landed safely on the platform

Now we were ready for the fun we had come to see. I could see an amazing assortment of flying craft lined up on the quay, ready to go.

Migros had a shopping trolly, and some green rabbits!

The first attempt was made by the Migros supermarkets group. Their craft featured a shopping trolly, supported by some green rabbits. The pilot climbed aboard, and the rabbits pushed the craft to the edge of the platform...

...epic fail!

Some spectators took to the skies for a better view!

This contraption looked rather more possible. It's a bird, but

can it fly?

No, obviously not...

...but it did float!

Going down! I think there is a design fault here!

Everyone was having so much fun, but not much success with achieving flight! there was one amazing success, though, which I will reveal in Part 3!

Red Bull Flugtag 2013, Istanbul Part 1

Advertising the Red Bull Flugtag

Tomorrow, the 26th of May, is when the Red Bull Flugtag will take place once again here in Istanbul. I so enjoyed the last one, that I will be down on the promenade tomorrow, watching as craft after craft plunges into the sea. We always hope that one will actually fly, but that is seldom the case (if ever)!

Today, we went to watch as the planes were being assembled. I didn't see my Kamikaze Pilot there from last time; I wonder if he is taking part again? For anyone interested in the rules, there is a fun video that explains them, while past would-be fliers try their luck!

We were amused at some of the signs. This one says

100% hand made

...and this one says, Look out! The pilot is concentrating!

This bird looks rather fierce! I hope to see it fly tomorrow!

This looks rather flimsy! But it just might do the trick!

I'm not quite sure how this green man fits in.

I'll just have to wait until tomorrow!

They built this tower with what looks like a foofy slide attached.

Here they are building the launch platform. Tomorrow

promises to be such fun!

These cars have been driving around the city, to

advertise tomorrow's event.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? We will know tomorrow!

I am so looking forward to a fun day at the Red Bull Flugtag tomorrow. By the way, I have an update to my last Flugtag blog. The world record now stands at 207 feet, that's  63.09 metres. You can see Major Trouble and the Dirty Dixies as they shatter the world record in this video! Can we beat this tomorrow? Oh, how I hope we can!