The Week That Was In Sports

This was a fun week for sports photography. As you read this I am probably in Ross Ade Stadium getting ready for game one of the season. This past week I was able to photograph high school football again, a little college soccer, and my first ever flag football game. This coming week is super busy. I have the game today and then games every day next week already booked. It was nice to get some photography for fun in before things start to get a little busy here. This coming week I don’t think that I have time for any high school sports. That is bad in one way, but good that I am booked this whole week. Below are a few of the highlights from the week.

Back At Folk Field

I really like making photos at Folk Field. It looks like this year I could make more photos here than I have in a long time. The match that I photographed on Sunday was a hard fought match between Butler and Purdue. The photo above kind of shows how hard the match was. It ended in a 1-1 tie and the game played like that. Both teams each scored a goal in each half. It was a pretty even game, and that makes for good photos.

Trying Things Out

With a new lens in the mix I am trying to find my gameday combo. For this match I had my Sony 300mm lens and my Sony 50-150mm lens. I think that this is my new field sports combo. I will throw in my 16-35mm lens for tight photos as well. The 50-150 fills a big hole in my lineup and gives kind of completes my kit for now.

A Nice Header Photo

This year I made it a couple of games into the year before getting my first nice header photo. In my previous three matches the players were facing away from me for them for some reason. If I moved spots they would face the other way. Luck was just not on my side. Here I got lucky to make this photo.

Flag Football

This week I was lucky enough to get to see the first home flag football game for Harrison. I will admit at the beginning I was not always following what was happening. I kept being told that it was just like boys football, but there are a few changes that put me a little behind. I felt like this game was all about just making the obvious photos. I didn’t do a great job of pulling back and showing the scene. I really had fun though, and if the schedule allows it I would like to see more. I can’t seem to find their schedule, but hopefully things work out to get back out there. This was a blast to make photos of. You have all of the fun of football, but without the helmets and facemasks to hide the emotion.

A Little History

Since this was the first home match for the team and the first win at home I wanted a photo to tell that story. Here you have coach addressing the team with the scoreboard showing the win in the background. One photo to kind of tell the story of the day.

A Quick Moment

In this sport a punt is just something that is said. The teams switch ends of the field. While that was happening here I was moving downfield to capture the Harrison offense. I saw these two defenders talking, and knew that I had a photo. I pulled my 50-150 up quickly and made this frame. It is one of those fun little moments that are fun to capture.

The Breakaway Run

The breakaway run looks so much better with no helmet. I don’t know if it is apparent yet, but I really had fun photographing this game. It was the same, but different. After years of photographing football I love anything that is a little different.

Playing With The Sun

I went to the West Side game early to have some fun with the sun. You only get so many chances to play with the sun before pregame is just as dark as the rest of the game. I had a ton of fun trying different things. For some reason this simple photo of a player stretching was my favorite of the day.

Good Practice

On Saturdays right now I photograph both teams. Working for the wire means that I have to move and move quickly. It can become a race to the next spot at times. The last two weeks of high school football have been great practice to get into that mode of moving. It sounds crazy, but it is a good skill to have so that you can get to the next good spot to make a photo.

What It Is All About

This photo didn’t make it on my Instagram, but it is one of my favorites from this past week. You have the West Side receiver helping a McCutcheon defensive back with a helmet issue. I loved the sportsmanship displayed here, and #3 on West Side gained a new fan.

When The Play Comes Your Way

Last night I felt like no matter where I was on the field that the play kept going the other way. That is just how it is sometimes. The week before my gallery had many more action photos in it. Last night though I would have had backs. When the ends flipped so did the runs it seemed like. I did the most with what I had though, but this gallery feels weaker than the one that I had the week before.