Hoop Dreams
I was taking some evening shots in an empty playground today when this kid came along and scrambled up and sat in this basketball hoop. The sun was just about to set and the moon hung in the southern sky – which was hazy and pink from the forest fire south of us. He seemed a bit surprised by how it felt to be up there and said he was going to go up there more often.
Eugene, Oregon
Challenge Winner – Good News Group – Best Candid Shot
Featured in Out of the Blue
and
_Good News Group
and
Cee’s Fun Artsy Friends
and
Once in a Blue Moon
and
Colors of the Rainbow – Blue
Published by Roger Ebert in his Chicago Sun Times Blog 10/5/09
Featured as Photo of the Week in JPG Magazine – December 9, 2009.
Hoop Dreams belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, "Real" Life Photography (2 per day), All Oregon USA, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Americas ~ Rural, Urban, Wild, Free, Backyard Photography (NO MACROS, DOGS, CATS, INSECTS, SKYSCAPES), Bits and Pieces , Cee's Fun Artsy Friends (no holidays cards or snapshots please), Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Everyday Life, Featured Features - For Featured Art, Photography, T-Shirts, Writing, Feminine Intent (LIMIT TWO IMAGES PER DAY), First Things, Friends of RedBubble, Good News Group - Sharing & Caring, Human and Nature, Live and Let Live, Live, Love, Dream: , Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Out of the Blue (75%+ Blue), Pacific Northwest , PEACE, LOVE & TRANQUILITY, Personal Meaning Photography, Photography Fun, Purple Passion Gallery. 2 per day , Shoot The Moon, Sports Photography, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please**, Tuesday Afternoon, Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day and Who are YOU to Judge? Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints and Framed Prints

poupoune
Absolutely stunning!!!
Love the composition and light!!!
Roka replied
Thanks, my friend! Happy you like it!
Trudi's Images
Amazing lighting and mood Roka and you have captured it perfectly
Roka replied
Aaw… thanks Trudi. So glad you like it! Cheers!
Tara Turner
an amazing capture!!!!
Roka replied
Thanks, Tara… In the right moment at the right time.
Martina Fagan
A lovely capture
Roka replied
Thank you, Martina! So glad you like it!
liamcarroll
love that , fantastic shot
Roka replied
Thanks, Liam. Happy you like it! Thanks for visiting.
autumnwind
Wow Roka!!! This is fabulous!!! xoxoxo
Roka replied
Aaw… thanks, Shar! You know I always love your sweet comments.
xoxo
Debbie Sanders...
Thank you for submitting this great work to our All Oregon Group, your support makes OUR group evolve into new areas & your hosts very happy.
Roka replied
Thank you, Debbie.
NikonJohn
Wow, nice moment!
Roka replied
Yes… it was. So glad I was there with camera in hand!
Thanks so much for you comment. And thanks for visiting.
Rebecca Cozart
Super cool…right place right time.
Roka replied
Thanks, Rebecca. Yes… very lucky day! Cheers!
x- pose Klaus ...
Cool!!!!
Roka replied
Thank you!
vadim19
Awesome!
Roka replied
Thank you so much!
jacqleen
AWEsomeeeeeeeeeeeee…..Love this!
Roka replied
Wow… thank you! Thanks for visiting!
-Lilith-
WONDERFUL!
Roka replied
Aaawww… thanks so much!
Tenee Attoh
Such a strong feeling from this image
Roka replied
Thank you so much… I really love this picture, too.
Bryan Freeman
Awesome capture.
Roka replied
Thanks, Bryan! Glad you like it!
vampvamp
how unusual & well done!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! So happy you like it! A wonderful moment when I downloaded it!
sonjas
Great work. Well done.
Roka replied
Thanks! I appreciate your sweet comments.
Megan Martin
WOW! Guess you couldn’t have planned it any better yourself! Fantastic capture…totally the right place right time! =) Stunning!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! Yes… I was sooo lucky!
reindeer
This is so original!!! Grand capture.
Roka replied
Thank you so much! Right moment – right time!
birdS
what a little dreamer. wonderful moment
Roka replied
Thanks so much! He was a bit of a dreamer, I think.
Karen Betts
Stunning, you were in the right time and place. A fav.
glad he did this as he will see the world differently.
Roka replied
Thanks, Karen. I think he is glad that he did this. He kind of when into a zone when he up there… right about the time I shot this picture. I have many others – he was laughing and talking to his friend and me, but he seemed to go inside himself a bit about the time I snapped this one. Then he quietly said that he was going to do this more often.
lozzar
Wonderful silhouette and character capture. Well done Roka.
Roka replied
Thanks, Lorraine. So happy you like it.
tego53
That’s just a great shot!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! Glad you like it!
Kaitlyn McLaug...
Amazing!
Roka replied
Thank you, Kaitlyn! Happy you like it! Cheers!
Nvision Ink
wow this is awesome nice capture!!:)
Roka replied
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you like it. I was very lucky to be there with my camera!
rodeorose
I love this so much. Great image and nice story.
Roka replied
Thank you so much! It was one of those “moments in time”. I love it, too!!! Thanks for visiting.
camera
viewed in ‘real’ a great image and a powerful shot..you would have to be happy with that!
Roka replied
Oh…yes… I’m thrilled with it. Thanks so much!
Susie Peek-Swint
Terrific image ~ this should be sold to a sports company ~ good luck with it! susie
Roka replied
Thanks so much! I do love it, too. It was quite a moment in time!
michalfanta
Perfect!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! Glad you like it!
RachelJayne
Great capture!
Roka replied
Thanks, Rachel! So happy you like it!
Clare Colins
You have my vote. this is a wonderful capture. Well done!
Roka replied
Thank you, Clare! I’m so happy you like it. I appreciate your sweet comment.
Amy-lee Foley
wow this is awesome! perfect shot :o)
Roka replied
Thanks so much! Glad you like it!
macro magnon
Splendid capture !
Roka replied
Thank you! Glad you like it! Cheers!
lorilee
WONDERFUL!!!!
Roka replied
Thanks, Lorilee! I appreciate your support! Happy you like it!
Cee Neuner
Awesome capture. Perfect!
Roka replied
Thank you, my friend. It was an awesome moment in time. Happy you like it!
Naveen Sharma
fantastic shot….
Roka replied
Thanks, Naveen. So happy you like it it. Thanks for visiting!
Jeff Burns
Fantastic
Roka replied
Thank you, Jeff. Glad you like it! Cheers!
trueblvr
Totally amazing. Up there closer to God…...This is prize winning, and I mean big other than bubble…. should be in a magazine. He is very at one with the hoop
Roka replied
Wow… thanks so much! What a sweet compliment. I would love to submit it somewhere, but I don’t have a release. I tried to make him unrecognizable…. but the more I do that, the less appealing the photo is. Thanks!!!
aussiedi
This is a stunning capture Roka, well done.
Di
Roka replied
Thanks so much, Di. I was very lucky that day. Glad you like it!
Jane Brack
Wow! What an amazing capture.
Roka replied
Thank you, Jane! So glad you like it! Thanks for visiting!
Molly O'Bryon-...
One of those images that you could have planned it any beter! A fav for me, he would probably LOVE to see it. Hope you go back and take more its AWESOME!
Roka replied
Aaaww… thanks, Molly. I do hope I find him. Hope his parents don’t get mad at him for climbing up there! I was so lucky!
Jean M. Laffitau
What a GREAT capture!!
Roka replied
Thanks so much, Jean.. Glad you like it! I was very lucky to be there at the right time with camera in hand.
kathy s gillen...
excellent capture
Roka replied
Thanks! Happy you like it!
Blair Wainman
What an awesome image!! You were so fortunate to capture everything you did in this one…lighting angle and composition are all spot on!!
Roka replied
aaaw… thanks so much, Blair! Soooo happy you like it. It is certainly one of my favorite shots.
Jan Timmons
Wonderful scene and lighting on his face and in the sky!
This is beautifully exhilarating! You surely must submit to a gallery, Roka.
Roka replied
Thank so much, Jan. I would love to, but I have to find him first! I was so fortunate to be there at the moment in time. Happy you like it. Your support is always waaaay more than welcome, my friend!
Deborah Parkin
so beautiful – so serene and peaceful.
Roka replied
Thanks, Deborah! Happy you like it! Cheers!
StarKatz
Fantastic! instant fav!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! Glad you like it! Thanks for favoriting it as well.
Cheers!
Auntymazza
This is fantastic, what a great capture of a young soul looking at life
Roka replied
Thanks so much! I do love this shot. Glad you do, too.
Barbara Brown
Cool shot!
Roka replied
Thanks, Barbara. One of my own faves.
Lewis Packman
Definitely one of my favourite photos on red bubble.
Roka replied
Wow… Thank you, Lewis! I really appreciate your support and sweet comments. One of my faves, too! Thanks for visiting!
pat gamwell
WTG! You got MY vote! Congrats!
Roka replied
Wow! Thanks so much Pat. Happy you like it. I kinda like it myself…LOL.
Roka replied
Another Wow… Hadn’t realized I won until now. WooHoo!
Jenni Atkins-S...
Roka replied
Thanks so much, Jenni. I am so honored! WooHoo!
luis ferreiro
Awesome capture, right place at the right time…...
Roka replied
Thank you, Luis! So happy you like it. Yes… it was a lucky moment to have my camera with me.
nadine henley
congratulations on this stunning shot, roka! and all the well-deserved accolades
Roka replied
Sweet..Nadine. Thanks so much! I really appreciate your support!!!
Cee Neuner
Congratulations!!! You have been featured in Cee’s Fun Artsy Friends Group

Cee and Chris
Roka replied
Thanks, Cee! What an honor!!!!
ellcot
Wonderful capture!!!!!!! Glad it got featured so I could discover it! Congrats!!!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! What a nice surprise that was! Glad you like it!
RRoca
Fantastic capture!!!! Congratulations on your featureS!
Roka replied
Thank you so much! So happy you like it! I’m thrilled about the feature! OH… I like your name!
PapasGirl
great capture..
Roka replied
Thanks so much! Happy you like it!
starikarp
good creativity!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! Glad you like it!
Georgie Hart
How extraordinary! This shot is just brilliant!
Roka replied
thank you so much, georgie! i’m very happy about it! glad you like it!!!
TaniaLosada
absolutely marvellous! it has the “wow” factor!!!
Roka replied
Thanks so much. I was extremely lucky that day.
Bruce Miller
How unusual! Good capture
Roka replied
Thank you, Bruce. So happy you like it!
laureenr
Roka replied
Cool! Thanks so much! It’s an honor!
annadavies
WOW !! This says so many many man things when you look at it. Congratulations on a perfect shot. (and on the feature too) – An x
Roka replied
Thanks so much Anna. I do love this image. Glad you do, too.
Deborah Eckroat
Wow – talk about being in the right place at the right time! This is fantastic, his expression is amazing. Good for you!
Roka replied
Thanks so much, Deborah. It really was somewhat serendipitous. Glad you like it!
Evita
♥ Beautiful image !!!Congratulations on your feature !! :D ♥
Roka replied
Thanks so much, Evita. So glad you like it! Cheers!
Taylor Sawyer
Congrats on your feature! You are now invited to enter
this piece into Best of BLUE
Roka replied
WooHoo! Thanks so much. What a no honor!
rubyjo
too cool, i love the feel of this image
Roka replied
Thanks so much. (I love the feel of it, too). Thanks for visiting! Cheers!
gabbielizzie
congratulations on your feature
Roka replied
Thanks! What a nice surprise it was!. Thanks for visiting.
Mari1980
STUNNING IMAGE…. STUNNING!!!!
- mari
Roka replied
WoW! Thanks so much, Mari. So happy you like it!
juellie
What a great shot! It’s amazing!!
Roka replied
Thanks so much! So glad you like it.
Kevin McGeeney
I could jump this high in high school, but long ago lost my “hops” :) great shot and image!
Roka replied
Ha… thanks so much, Kevin. I was thrilled when it presented itself to me.
maxy
WOW – he jumped pretty high I see!!! This is so unique! I love it! Congratulations on your feature – this is excellent and so well deserved! xoxo!
Roka replied
Thanks so much, Maxy. I’m thrilled with it. Glad you like it!
BigD
Wow, awesome
Roka replied
Thanks! Lucky me to have been in the right place and the right time WITH my camera!
Munggo
Excellent shot.
Roka replied
Wow.. thanks so much. Glad you like it!
Rosej
What an amazing photo – completely love it.
Roka replied
Thanks so much! So happy you like it!
collectivebydeb 29 days ago
such an engaging image Roka – love the comp & the natural light – instant fav :)
Roka replied 29 days ago
Thanks so much for your sweet comments. Happy you like it!
mekea 28 days ago
Love everything about this photo! Lighting is beautiful!! Great shot!
Roka replied 28 days ago
Thanks so much! It was an amazing moment. Cheers!
Alex Preiss 26 days ago
Excellent photo and concept!
Roka replied 25 days ago
Thanks so much! Happy you like it! It was an amazing moment.
eelsblueEllen 24 days ago
So wonderfully peaceful yet powerfully aspirational! :)
Roka replied 24 days ago
Thank you so much. It was a powerful moment. Cheers!
Joanne Bradley 23 days ago
What an amazing shot! Perfect timing and composition!
Roka replied 23 days ago
Aaaw… thanks so much. Cheers!
Silvijo Selman 20 days ago
stunning…
Roka replied 20 days ago
Thanks so much. It was my lucky day. Cheers!
Lorena Maria 20 days ago
just wonderful!
Roka replied 19 days ago
Thank you, Lorena! So happy you like it! Cheers!
Vi Le 19 days ago
this is so beautiful ♥ great image.
Roka replied 19 days ago
Aw… thanks so much. So glad you like it. Cheers!
BornToRoam 19 days ago
make that good !! LOL
Roka replied 18 days ago
Thanks so much! It was a goofy guy ;-)
photoloi 17 days ago
Really excellent
Roka replied 17 days ago
Thanks so much! Happy you like it. Thanks for visiting.
Georgie Hart 8 days ago
Just saw this again in a JPG email and recognized it – congrats on your ‘image of the week’ selection, this really is a stunner!
Roka replied 8 days ago
Thank you, Georgie! Oh.. yes… I’m over the moon about the JPG selection.
Thanks for your sweet comment.