On being a Sports Photographer...

When I started shooting digital I started with sports, it was M's soccer matches. Of course I had been shooting long before that but it was the soccer matches that opened my eye to photography again. From there I learned and began to grow. I won't say I grew because I have much much more to learn yet in the world of photography. I never have been able to get away from the sports stuff though. I just love catching the thrill of the game. So even though I now shoot weddings, landscapes, animals and more I still shoot sports.

Most of the time when I'm out shooting at a game I am looking for the action and the drama of the event. The reactions of people are wonderful. Whether it is the expression of a Quaterback as he gets up from the field after being tackled.


Or the expression of a rain drenched cheerleader when she spots the camera pointing at her.



This past weekend however I took the time to make the image below. As I waited for the JV game to get underway I noticed the players sitting on the bench. They were all looking out at the field watching the coin toss to determine who had the ball. As they watched I felt and saw the moment below in my head. The anticipation, the nervousness. It was a timeless moment.



When I brought the image up later the moment was there waiting for me. I quickly converted it to a black and white. That was what I had saw in my mind, however on the screen it lost something. Then I decided to make it a slective color and bring your attention to the player on the end. Turned sideways yo make conversation as he waited, trying not to let it show to his nerves show to his team, wondering if he will be out there in just a moment or whether he will have to wait until the ball changes hands. As i sat and looked at the moment and realized what I caught I let my eyes rover around looking for distractions, I made a few more tweaks and called it done.

It wasn't until I completed the image and had the moment that I realized the player on the end was M!

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