One of the things I have been adamant about in talks with colleagues and my wife is that I do not consider myself to be a ‘sports photographer’. I’ve worked with sports photographers – guys whose prime photography focus is shooting sports; who have the necessary gear, knowledge and experience; and whose lives are scheduled around sports seasons. I am not one of those guys.
Despite this, I am seemingly working hard at proving myself wrong. I am in the midst of another long sports weekend. It started on Thursday with Florida volleyball at UTSA.
Not the most well lit gymnasium, but some very good overhead vantage points from which to shoot. And the action was also very good. Florida is currently ranked #8. I get to see them in action again today and Sunday for game at Texas (#6).
Yesterday, I covered TWU volleyball and women’s soccer at St Edward’s. Soccer was great – I don’t get to shoot that often enough.
The action was a bit different after the MLS and international matches I worked this summer, but still enjoyable. Volleyball, on the other hand, was just plain difficult. The gymnasium at St Edward’s is lit like a high school gym and there are not many good places to stand to get the right angle on the action. I managed to get what I needed – I think having shot Florida the previous day was a good warm-up – but I don’t look forward to ever having to work there again.
If for no other reason, you have to love volleyball for the reaction shots.
So, one volleyball game today, one more tomorrow and one women’s soccer game after that. Four days, 7 games, 2 sports. My life kinda sounds like a sports photographer’s.
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