After processing hundreds of track and field images from the USA Outdoor Championships, I looked forward to experimenting with different photographic techniques while shooting the Independence Day celebration at Tempe Town Lake.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 4th of July celebration at Tempe Town Lake ***

The Mill Avenue Bridge and Tempe Town Lake provide a colorful backdrop for Tempe’s annual Independence Day fireworks display.

The city lights reflecting off Tempe Town Lake…

Light trail from the light rail…

The 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships for athletes 14 – 19 years old, took place in Eugene concurrent with the USA Outdoor Track and Field championships for open athletes. The meet served as the selection meet for the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, which will be held at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad on July 31 – August 2. The top two finishers in each event qualified to compete in the Pan American Championships.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Days 2 and 3 (Friday – Saturday) ***

*** Click here to view photos from the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Day 4 (Sunday) ***

Curtis Beach literally ran away with the decathlon, finishing with 7,599 points. It was the best score ever by an American using the junior implements. Beach ended the two-day 10-event competition with a world junior decathlon best 4:07.85 in the 1,500 meters.

2008 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year Jordan Hasay won her third-consecutive junior women’s 1,500m title over 2009 NCAA finalist Morgane Gay of Virginia.