Another Season In Ross Ade Stadium

Last year after most of the players and fans had left the stadium I was still in there. I was taking it all in. After the past year I wasn’t sure how I could get back in there, but I knew that I wanted to. I had resisted the wires for years. I always think of them as taking images and not making them. I always just wanted to help out Purdue. When that avenue was gone though the wire services made sense. I could get into the stadium again and make images which is what is about. There is a learning curve for me for sure, but it is worth it to get back into Ross Ade. Last year for the home opener I was in the stands. This year was back on the field having a blast. I have never taken what I do for granted, but last year taught me to always take it all in. I made sure to do that yesterday.

The Runout

When they first announced the new Tiller Tunnel I had an idea for a photo. As I kept seeing photos of it I realized that the idea could work. This angle would allow me to get a lot of the new stadium elements into the photo. It also helped me make something different than many of the other photographers which is always a good goal. You can purchase this photo by clicking on the photo and going to my website.

A Quick Photo

After photographing the runout I ran down to grab my 200-600. The plan was to quickly switch from the 12-24mm lens that was on my camera to the 200-600. As I went to grab my camera this young man was taking a moment before the game started. Having that 12-24mm lens on my camera and being in that spot was very lucky. It was one of my favorite moments of the game, and it was pure luck for me.

To The Moon

In the last decade or so a lot has changed. For years I would be in the stands with the centerfold of Gold and Black Illustrated already knowing the Purdue players, but having the depth chart just in case. Now I realize except for a few local boys I really don’t know anyone on the roster anymore. Somehow until I was on the field I had missed that Purdue has a player with the last name moon. This photo was right in front of me and I made it because I thought that it just had Purdue written all over it.

A New Theme

When I worked with Purdue I would come up with a theme for every game. I always wanted one thread that would tie my photos together for the gallery. This is the first game of the year, and there are so many new things that my theme for the game was new. The purpose for me of the theme is to think of little photos to make throughout the day that will make my gallery better. I think that having that theme idea in my mind helped me make better photos all day. This one was one of my favorites with that in mind.

The New Guy

Here is a photo of Hudson Card the new Purdue quarterback getting a little air. One of these days I will be in the right spot for one of these photos. Here I am just a little too far away to get much separation from the background. This guy looks like a gamer though so I am sure he will give me a few more photos as this season goes on.

Local Boy Does Good

It was really cool to see former West Side kicker Caleb Krockover start the game with the kickoff. Hard work pays off, and seeing him be the guy to get things going was pretty cool. I tried to pull back a little to show Caleb and the student section with their keys in the air. Kickoff is an amazing time, but this was a cool local twist to it.

A Big Hit

There is another Thieneman at Purdue. Dillon Thieneman made his Purdue debut yesterday and definitely made his mark on the game. A very athletic interception was a key moment for Purdue in the fourth quarter. Earlier in the game though he made a stick on punt coverage for the Boilers. You always love a hit that knocks the sweat off of your opponent. Here is a fun series from that hit.

Always A Winner

In the past I made photos with a sense of helping out. They were made with the thought of how it would make Purdue look in my mind. This time though I could make any photo that I wanted to. As time was winding down I made sure to be in position to make some celebration photos after the game. In the past I would have been with the group with our heads down walking to the media area. With no team agenda I was able to keep making some fun photos after the game.