First official football game

Six hours, three games, over a hundred cheerleaders and football players and 1469 images later, my first football game is over. Yes, ONE THOUSAND FOURTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE. That actually isn't my record for an event. I think a dance recital a few years ago I shot 1800 images. I could have shot more, but after 5 or six hours, things start to slow down. Mentally and physically. (BTW ~ Sports Illustrated photographers shot more than 300,000 at the Olympics).

I shot the scrimmage game last week with a player roster. But I forgot it yesterday. I felt lost with no direction. Even though I have worked the 4 years prior to this without a roster, once I started to use one, it was kind of a secure feeling. I shoot with a roster to make sure I don't keep taking pictures of the same players every game. It's easy getting pictures of the receivers, running backs and quarter backs as well as the safety's and defensive backs. But the center, nose guard, inside linebackers....not so much. Some players only play special teams like kick off and returns. It's my job as a professional to get the great plays and the obscure players. And for me to do that, I work with a roster.

It took two hours to get the pictures from the memory cards to the computer. I rename them on the import so I can put them into the right folder when I edit. SO all the midget football players are in the midget football folder. Nuts and Blots cheer, in their own, coaches and crowds, in their own as well.

It will take a two and half days to edit them and put them up on the sales web site. I also have to select 10 images from each team for the gallery. There are three football and three cheer teams for 30 for cheer and 30 for football. Then I have to narrow that down to 5 of each for the blog. Sounds fun huh?!

After that, I have products to create. In the below post, I have my poster example. It's been receive well and the first winner of the poster raffle for Potter and Raccoon is Vincent Dutcher. I'll see what I have on hand for his player, and highlight him in the next few games so I can get enough images to create a poster. I am donating one poster for each home game.

On game review, I feel that I am capturing good action shots. But my timing is fractionally off. I have not put my mind into ANTICIPATION mode. Where I click the shutter button BEFORE the peak action happens. The ultimate goal for an image is action, face, number and ball in every shot. Or face number and action in a defensive moment. I seem to be getting it just as the action starts to come down. You don't see it, but I know that's what is happening. Little details are hat I focus on. Still, I feel that my game is on at the start of the season and not four games into the season. That tells me I am working almost at the professional level. Now I just need the pay check to go with it.

Here are just a few shots from Sunday's games. More will be in the gallery later in the week.
Pittsburgh Steeler #76 Chris Hoke greets our Nuts & Bolt players before their first game.


Cheerleader showin' some moves


P&R Cheerleaders greeting the MidWestern Panther Cheerleaders


The 2009 Cheer Captain keeping an eye out


Groovin'


A P&R Red Devil player Slowing down #20 of the MidWestern Panthers


P&R's #58 getting the wrong end of a stick


P&R #15 dropping back


Making a catch


Good things come in threes


Nuts & Bolt Cheerleader tells who they are


Pittsbirgh Steeler #76, Chris Hoke watches the coin toss prio to the game between Potter & Raccon Red Devils and the MidWestern Panthers


Got his eye on something, or someone


Termite Cheerleaders


#99 is the winner of the Sport Poster for week 1


The Termite line up


Termite player #7 goes for a touchdown