PORTLAND, Ore. – While the Portland Timbers were busy defeating D.C. United 4-0 to earn a spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Sunday evening at Providence Park, there was a special photographer working the sidelines.
Normally prowling the hard court across the river at the Moda Center, Portland Trail Blazers forward Moe Harkless attended the Timbers match as a photographer further practicing his craft.
“I just came to the game to take some photos and have some fun,” he said while editing photos at halftime. “It’s been great so far just to learn more about photography and basically what goes into it.”
Joined by Blazers photographer Justin Tucker, Harkless arrived at the match, took photos, and was even gifted a personalized Timbers jersey. The forward, a 2012 first round draft pick out of St. John’s University, is entering his third season with the Blazers who are set to tip off their 2017 campaign Wednesday night on the road against the Phoenix Suns.
Harkless set career highs in games started last season (69) and points per game (10.0), but he’s also developed a keen eye for photography over the last year and a half with sports as a natural subject interest. Joined by Tucker at the Timbers game to learn more tips and tricks, Harkless was eager to absorb more about the craft.
“With sports…it’s something that I’m obviously involved with so it’s something that’s easy to get into it,” he said.
“When I first got here, I could barely get a picture in the sun,” Harkless added with a laugh. “But [Justin’s] showed me a lot of different tricks with the camera and now we’re working on the editing side of it as well.”
Positioned behind the south goal for Diego Valeri’s first-half penalty kick goal, Harkless had an ace position to capture it and get a feel for the intense environment of a Timbers game.
“The atmosphere is crazy,” he said. “It’s a little more crazy than our Blazers games, I think.”
And with the Timbers win, Harkless had a great photography palette with which to work with. One he’s eager to embrace.
“I kind of want to learn as much as I can about it.”
