Favorite Photos - From Mustang Game

Sometimes through no fault of my own I get good photos.  At a typical Outlaws game I'll shoot 700 images.  When I view them on my computer I'll delete the really bad shots.  Then I'll use Photoshop Elements, my photography editing software, and examine the remaining photos.  Most will be "ok."  Not great, not terrible.  Adequate. 

Then there will be a few that I really like.  That make me think maybe I do have the makings of a photographer somewhere inside of me. 

Sotonye Dikibo, out of action
today so I got this candid
portrait.  I just like this photo.

Today I'll post a few of my favorite photos from the Mustangs game last Saturday.  I'll tell you why I like certain photos.  See if you like them, too.

This shot of Sotonye Dikibo for example.  In my initial scanning, this grabbed me.  Maybe the reds - red shirt, red tones in her hair, red track.  Maybe the depth of field - you can see Outlaw Annie in the background but out of focus.  Maybe just the expression on Sotonye's face, the position of her hands.  Maybe just the contrast from all my action photos.  And maybe it is seeing her so calm and peaceful when I know on the field she is one of the best, most aggressive tacklers on the team.  I don't know exactly why but I love this shot. 



The next one that caught my interest is a one-on-one of QT Preston blocking.  I think QT is nearly 6 feet tall but she appears smaller than her Mustang opponent.  I like this shot because of the eyes of the Mustang player and the slight backward slant.  Clearly QT is winning this contest. 

QT Preston battling a would-be tackler.  The Mustang is
bigger but QT is winning.

Lucinda Benitez fighting a blocker, while the runner
adjusts her route.  CPR doesn't make the tackle but
does make the tackle possible by forcing the play
inside where the rest of the defense is waiting.

The next shot is Lucinda "CPR" Benitez fighting off a Mustang blocker.  CPR is one of my favorite players because she's always in the area of the ball.  She isn't very big but she has a lot of talent and a lot of fight.  I think #22 has the ball and she is definitely having to change her route toward the center.  Where the rest of the defensive players are.  Benitez isn't going to make the tackle but she is forcing the play to the inside where a lot of other Outlaws will be able to stop the runner.

I like the clarity, the eyes of the players, and the
suspense - will the tackler catch the runner?

I like this next photo because of pretty good clarity.  Technically it is almost perfect.  I like the depth of field, runner with ball and tackler in close pursuit right behind.  I like being able to see the eyes of the players, the focus.  The only thing I don't like is the Mustang is gaining yards.  I'm an Outlaws fan and I prefer photos where the Outlaw is winning.

The next three are photos where the Outlaws are winning.  They feature one of my favorite players, Tiffany "Crash" James.  Making tackles.  You need to understand that football is a whole lot more difficult than it appears when you're watching on TV.  These photos help you "see" just how hard it is to stop a strong runner. 

Tiffany tenaciously grabbing the runner and dragging
her down - on top of Tiffany.  Ouch.

Tiffany got her nickname, "crash," from her giving herself up for the good of the team, the way crash test dummies sacrifice themselves for science.  One habit Tiffany had, one she hasn't completely unlearned, was grabbing the runner and pulling her down, on top of Tiffany.  It is much better to be the one landing on top.  But often you just can't get a clean shot at an opponent so you grab hold and drag her down.  Even if she does land on top of you.  (Ouch.)

The next two photos are really just one.  The first is a wide view of Tiffany grabbing the runner and holding on until teammates can arrive to complete the tackle.  The second is a closer view, cropping to let you see just how tenacious my friend Tiffany is. 

Tiffany "Crash" James grabbing the runner by the foot and holding on.

If you can't get a clean tackle, grab on to the runner any way you can and hang on until help arrives.  Runners aren't going to gain much ground dragging a 140 pound tackler.  In the past I've posted a few other shots of tacklers grabbing a runner's foot.  I think of this as blue-collar football. 

Annie the Outlaw.  The gun isn't real. 

One more favorite photo from the Mustangs game.  This is Alex... er, Annie Outlaw, the team mascot, hamming it up for Dennis the wannabe photographer.  Shooting a gun, shooting a picture, you need to aim, keep a steady hand, and fire.  And sometimes, as in the pictures in this post, you even hit the target.

I have more favorite photos I'll publish in future posts.  And if it doesn't bore you, I'll do a post of un-favorites.  You've heard the expression, even a blind hog finds an occasional acorn?  Well, the same concept applies here, even an amateur photographer gets an occasional good picture.

Through the Lens, Football Photography

Why are my best pictures near the end of each posting? 

Do you know how to design blog pages?  Will you teach me?

I don't know the finer points of blogging.  Page layout?  I don't like my page layout because all that stuff along the right side limits the space I have to post photos.  It is important stuff - labels, blog archive, links, "about me" - but it runs a long way down and uses up display space.  So photos I post near the top of the blog have to share space with the side notes.  So they have to be smaller than I might like.  So I save my favorite photos, the ones I want to display LARGE, until I've used enough vertical space that they'll display below the side notes. 

I'd really like to move all that side stuff to the top in fancy drop-down menu format.  But do I know how to do it?  Nope.  Do you?  Are you willing to teach me.

I like this because of the depth-of-field, or maybe
"shallow" of field.  Also the lack of official uniform.
Only the Outlaws wore game uniforms at Waco.
And I like the runner's eyes, her focus.

I have a Nikon D-40 camera with a 55-200mm zoom lens.  And I have Photoshop Elements photo editing software.  Neither of these is  top of the line but I'm still getting remarkable quality.  As I prepare a posting I browse my photos and look for shots that support a theme I have in mind (see posts on tackling, running, blocking). 

Sometimes browsing will suggest themes I haven't thought of yet.  Sometimes I'll just be fascinated by the images I gain by zooming in.  This posting is a collection of shots from a three-team scrimmage at Waco a couple years ago.  The Outlaws and two Dallas-area teams met and did some round-robin style scrimmage, taking turns facing different opponents.  It was a great photo-op.  (Another blog layout question - this paragraph was supposed to run beside the photo.  Somehow the blog software decided to put it under.  Why?)

                                   

I've talked a little about depth-of-field in photography.  The camera focuses sharply on the main subject.  Depth-of-field refers to how much foreground and background are also in focus.  With my Nikon D-40, the depth-of-field is really shallow when I'm using the sports setting.  I'll do more on this subject in a future post. 

For now, I want you to know some of my shots intrigue me just because of the way the background is not in sharp focus.  In short, I like the effect. 

As in the photo of the running back above.  Or this shot of Veronica Narvaez 

Vero, with background in very soft focus.  This is
cut from an action photo.  Lots of other players
were on the field and Vero was about to engage
a would-be tackler. 

But the real fun is capturing the action. The freeze frame image.  And that's most of today's post.  With my favorite two at the end.



I like this one because you can tell the defender is making the tackle but you can see exactly how.  I suspect she's making an illegal horse-collar tackle - you're not allowed to grab a runner's shoulder pads to drag
her down on her back.  Note:  I'm vertically below the side notes so posted this photo
in extra-large format.



Freeze frame action with tackler's feet both off the ground.
This is close to an illegal play depending on whether
she grabs the face mask or simply has her arm around it.
In our post about tackling we suggested it is best to
get low, grab legs.  But sometimes you do what works
at the time.  Looks effective to me.

Dikibo is #91 and an aggressive Outlaws
defender.  Her name gets called a lot during games as
she makes a lot of tackles.  I like this and the following
photo because up close it shows just how tough this
game is.  Note the two photos are from two separate
plays.  Apparently elbow to blocker face mask is
a technique the works for #91.

Second of two showing Dikibo being a blocker's worst nightmare. 

Just like this photo because it stops the action.  You can just
imagine the energy and counter energy as runner attempts
to escape the grasp of two tacklers.

The story behind the photo - the player on the ground in black jersey and white helmet was carrying the ball.  It
got away from her and is bouncing somewhere out of the frame to the left.  I  liked the way all the
white jersey players are looking at the ball.  Also notice the depth of field is deeper here.  All the players
are in pretty good focus.  So did my camera know?  I don't think so.  If I were a more sophisticated
photographer I could explain.  I'm not.  I can't.

My favorite of all the close-up shots posted today.  I love the energy being expressed in the
faces of tackler and Outlaws runner, Monic Gauck.  Monica is one of my favorite Outlaws
(see profile I did on her - find it using the side notes labels). 

You're on Candid Camera, Photography

Note the background isn't in perfect focus - which is just
the effect I want.  Don't know her name but she is
photogenetic isn't she.

The 200mm lens is often not enough for some of my action shots but it is almost always great for candid portraits.  If you've followed this blog for awhile you know I sometimes do a "Faces of Football" theme where I post photos of coaches and players at a game or practice.  Today's posting is a variation on that idea featuring beautiful people at the tryouts a couple weeks ago.  Most are candid - where the subject didn't know was taking the photo.  Some are from a distance - I used my photoshop softare to zoom in.  All are here because I like them.  Call it photographer's choice.

One observation on many of this shots is something I noted in my previous posting.  I'm shooting with my Nikon set for sports and action.  A cool effect that setting gives is to pin-point focus.  The main subject is in sharp focus, the background not.  Someday I'll do a posting just talking about that - it is called depth of field - and how it sometimes messes up good action photos by putting the main focus on the wrong part of the action.  For now, I'll just note it when it is apparent in a photo.

Okay, she knew I was shooting so this borders on
being posed.  I like the shot anyway. 

Coach Bobbie.  Always up, always happy.





Through the Lens - Freeze Frame Action

The game gets even more interesting when you stop the action
and zoom in a little.  Not sure who has the ball but I think
it is #34 of the Outlaws.  Dallas #59 is trying to tackle
Lily, a blocker.  Lily is getting abuse from two directions
and pretty soon the whole pile is going to tip over on top
of #59.  I love shots like this because I played in the line.
Football is a lot like a street brawl sometimes.

A few years ago I bought a Nikon D-40 camera with a 55-200mm zoom lens.  I've been awed at the quality of photos this camera produces.  Using my photo process software, Photoshop Elements, I zoom in on the action and notice facial expressions - amazing how often players close their eyes at impact with an opponent.  Or I crop extraneous elements in the photo.  Or just notice the individual battles going on in every play in a football game.

 

In today's post I'm sharing with you some of my favorite action from the Dallas game at the end of the 2011 season. 

Ski isn't going to make this tackle.  The runner has
changed direction and the blocker is in perfect
position to keep Ski at bay.  When I zoomed in on this
action I noticed the muscles in Ski's forearm - she is strong.
And the Outlaw behind who is in a better position to do a
quick reverse and catch the runner going around the blocker.

Tackling is difficult.  When you don't get a perfect angle
on the runner, grab what you can.  Monica has a shirt
in hand and that may be enough.  This was way across
the field from where I was standing.  My 200mm lens was
barely enough - someday I'll buy a 300mm.

I doubt you'd be able to see this from the stands - the Outlaw
is trying to steal the ball, which is perfectly legal if you can
do it.  Another thing about these zoom in shots is something
called depth-of-field.  Only so much of the scene is in perfect
focus.  Which I think is cool.  See #3 in the right background. 
Not in clear focus.  Good.  She's not the subject of the photo. 

Just when you think you have the runner in your grasp, she
makes a sudden left turn.  Your inertia won't let you respond
quickly enough.  I like the shoes.  I did a posting or two
about socks.  Considering doing one about shoes.

Annoying when the runner is just out of reach.  You've escaped the blocker but the speedy
runner is getting away.  And your arm just isn't long enough.  Once again notice
the way the camera leaves the background out of focus so we're not distracted.

Grab shirt, grab ball.  Runners don't have handles so you want to wrap your arms around
her but when that doesn't work you shift to plan B.  Runner's eyes are open, tackler's
eyes are closed.  I like Monica trying help.  Note the arm of a blocker trying to keep
Monica out of the play.

I've zoomed in tight on this one because I like Shadana's expression.  It looks like Monica
has secured the block and it is safe to proceed but Shadana didn't have enough faith and
did a quick change of direction looking for running space to the left.  I once did a posting
about eyes.  Three sets of eyes are intriguing in this close-up.

That's not the way to hold a football.  It looks like the Outlaw being blocked by #89
is trying to pop the ball loose.  A cool technique is have one tackler control the runner,
other tacklers try to get the ball.

This may be a continuation of the play above.  I like it because
the ball is clearly visible and the tackler continues to
fight for it.  From the stands or sidelines, the action is often
too fast for you to see the hand-to-hand combat.

Zooming in gives us the runner's facial expression as she is heading to the ground. 

 

Intensity

I don't see the game when it is happening.  I see it in freeze frame on my computer.  I see it through my photo editor, Photoshop.  Close up - I see expressions on player's faces.

Julie Wilke, now doing other things, looking for a
receiver as she sees tacklers closing in.

The runner is one of my favorite players from Dallas -
I can't recall her name - but love the effort here in a losing cause.

I see the intensity of the battle going on out there.  The all out effort as athletes fight for one more yard, one more score. 

This is Shadana dragging tackler for a few more yards.

This is Veronica using all her strength and
leverage to protect the runner.

There's the battle in the line as blockers take on would be tacklers in a battle of strength and will.













There's the bone-jarring collision when the tackler gets a clear shot at the runner

Soho stopping the runner cold.  In stop-action, there's the suspense - a collsion with the ground is coming...

More often there's a scramble to get any kind of grip on the elusive runner in the open field

Griff getting enough of a hold to bring the runner down.

Open field tackles are tough.

And then the scene repeated so often on my monitor of Shadana or Monica breaking away from the pack and heading for the end zone.

In stop action close up I see the intensity of the game in a special way.  The photos posted here may give you a sense of why I love doing sports photography.  Sports because of the dramatic effort of the athletes, photography because I get to see the intensity in a way I think we miss watching the game live.

Sports Photographers

This is MaryLou.  She's THE Outlaws
photographer.  She attends every game
and shoots hundreds of wonderful photos
including pre and post game. 

At any sports event you'll see photographers on the sidelines, in the stands.  People with cameras hoping to get the perfect shot, capture the action and preserve it forever.

I started shooting the Outlaws games in 2004.  In 2008 I bought a new camera and the quality of my photos improved dramatically.  Back in 2004, I was often the only person with a camera.  As the Outlaws got more notice, more photographers started showing up at the games.  Some with serious equipment.  From time to time In this blog I'll talk about the challenges involved in getting good action photos. 

But for today, I'm focusing on the photographers.  I only know a few of them by name.  If you recognize any of them, please tell them they're now famous, captured in the Women Who Play Football blog. 

Brian

Brian

This is Brian. He has some serious equipment - look at that lens!  I'd love to see his complete collection of photos.  He did some project for, I think, UT with still photos and then video. 



If I were a techie, I'd be able to guess what those
lenses are. I only know for sure they're a lot longer
than my 50-200mm zoom. When the lens is this long, you
need a tripod or monopod to hold the camera steady.





I think I see four photographers in this shot. 

That's a serious video camera.  I think this shooter
is a friend of Soho.





Shooting video from a platform during practice. 



That platform doesn't look very stable.
We photographers take great risks
to get our shot.



When the action is slow on the field, I like to get shots of the fans.
I'll post more fan photos later.  Some fans did a little turnabout and
shot photos of me.  Notice both ladies have camera.  I wonder how
many pictures are shot at a typical game.