"Back in the Black..." Army - Northwestern Football. September 17, 2011

Thoughts on working again down at Michie Stadium for my first game of the 2011 season covering the Black Knights of Army. Football for me is similar to covering other sports at any level of competition, and is truly a game of inches. Particularly at the Division I College level. My choice of shooting positions throughout the game is usually from my knees 99.5% of the time, lens and camera choices (usually 3 bodies & at least one stadium remote installed above the stadium for the overall wide view - below), and even the clothing I wear for the day is all predetermined. Well usually. Nowhere was this theory put to the test as it was during Saturday's game against Northwestern. *(Note to self: remember carpenters knee pads & full rain suit in the car's trunk. Change batteries in the Pocket-Wizards to insure consistent firing of remote camera, and attach PW receiver in remote camera's hot-shoe to avoid radio reception interference for that camera atop Kimsey Hall.)

Army and Northwestern on the field in front of 35,784 fans during their game in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY, on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Army defeated Northwestern 21 - 14. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

We all dodged a bullet as the rain held off for the day and the stadium lights were on the whole time, which helped with exposures. With game time kickoff at 3:30PM, I knew it'd be a long afternoon and the workday would spill over into the evening. I certainly didn't want to be leaving the ballpark after 9 or 10PM I kept reminding myself... It wasn't a great game for making peak action images, although Army QB Trent Steelman ran for three touchdowns (2 of them were one - yard 'bang-bang' plays into a scrum at the goal line), so that meant working to stay keyed on just about every play in the second half, because any routine run or pass play could be a game-breaker. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around and the score tied at 14, I remember at times drifting into my "work zone": No crowd noise, no distractions, no talking to fellow photographers along the sidelines or end zone. Fortunately I didn't miss too many pictures on Saturday. All in all it was good to be working back in the big stadium, and working hard to offer full day coverage going into my fifth season of Army Football... ~cg

ARMY Football. "You Can Feel It..." West Point, NY 13•Aug.•11

Army starting quarterback Trent Steelman (#8) throws to a receiver during drills prior to their team scrimmage in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, August 13, 2011. The Army Black Knights open the 2011 season on Sept. 3rd. at Northern Illinois and their home opener is Sept. 10th. against San Diego State. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Ok, I'm going to go out on a limb here after shooting today's scrimmage with this year's Army football team. Something I never, ever do - at least not in a public forum. I try real hard to not become "a homer"; rooting for the home team you're covering. It's always been best for me to not get too attached to local teams and athletes, because when they come up short, it hurts and can sometimes effect your work. Certainly can't have that in this day and age. But this summer there already seems to be somewhat of a buzz in the air down at the United States Military Academy. I got a slight hint of it last week while covering practice in their indoor facility. Players like starting QB Trent Steelman, FB Jared Hassin, and WR Davyd Brooks (from right here in Newburgh, BTW) have a little more bounce in their step. What we used to call "Snap & Pop" in the Marine Corps. Steelman's passes are little tighter (top & left), Brooks' pass routes (bottom) are crisp and exact, and fullback Hassin (right) has become a bona fide punishing runner out of the backfield. Newcomer FB Larry Dixon (a freshman I believe) is built like a armored vehicle and he looks like he's going to be leaving a few stunned tacklers in his wake too. Slotback Jon Crucitti (below at right) is also a baseball player who can reliably "deliver the mail" as well. Along with Ray Maples, they should have a solid backfield. There's a new backup QB, Angel Santiago (left), who looks short in stature, but I'm sure he's got the goods or head coach Rich Ellerson wouldn't have him out there running the second team offense already. In what will be my fifth year of covering ARMY football down at Michie Stadium and on the road, this team may have the makings of something nice this season. We'll see how they look after a few more practices I'll probably be assigned to before the season starts in three weeks. It also feels really, really good to be working on the warm turf field of a mid-August afternoon in a Div. I college stadium, shooting with long glass (300mm + 1.4 & 2X tele-extenders), multiple cameras, and making good sports images again. Stay tuned. ~cg.

Army receiver Davyd Brooks (#13) dives but cannot make the reception on a Trent Steelman pass during drills prior to their team scrimmage in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, August 13, 2011. The Army Black Knights open the 2011 season on Sept. 3rd. at Northern Illinois and their home opener is Sept. 10th. against San Diego State. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

ARMY Football Practice. (In August, no less...) 9•Aug.•11

It's August. It's been unbearably hot and sticky with high humidity here in the Northeast the last few weeks; so that must mean it's time to start covering Army Football down at West Point again. Gearing up for my fifth season of coverage down at the Academy. Here's a quick take on today's practice... ~cg.

Army starting quarterback Trent Steelman (#8) on the field during practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. The Army Black Knights open their 2011 season on Sept. 3rd. at Northern Illinois, followed by their home opener on Sept. 10th. against San Diego State. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Just another few days at "The Office..." July 2011

(2) Newburgh City Police SWAT Team officers outside 260 First Avenue during a drug raid in Newburgh, NY on Friday, July 15, 2011. Five individuals were taken into custody including one female and a 15 year-old juvenile. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Newburgh City Police SWAT Team officers take a woman into custody during a drug raid at 260 First Avenue in Newburgh, NY on Friday, July 15, 2011. Five individuals were taken into custody including this woman and a 15 year-old juvenile. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

(2) Soniel "Sonny" Ayala is taken into custody by Newburgh City Police officers at the intersection of First and Carpenter Avenues in Newburgh, NY on Friday, July 15, 2011. Ayala was wanted for a stabbing during an armed robbery earlier this morning. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Tommy Bell on the field in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Bell was Army's first 1,000-yard rusher in 1954, but isn't in the Army Sports Hall of Fame. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

(2) Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Army will host San Diego State in their 2011 home opener on Saturday, September 10th. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

"Class of 2011 - Dismissed...!" West Point, NY. 21•May•11

(3) - Newly commissioned 2nd. Lieutenants toss their covers skyward in the traditional "hat toss" during Army's Graduation and Commissioning ceremony in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Navy Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff delivered the commencement address as 1,031 cadets received their diplomas and were commissioned as 2nd. Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record


"Army Graduation by the numbers..."

Working this year's graduation down at West Point was no easy matter. It never is and shouldn't be looked upon as any mere graduation day. Ever. Not even after working the four previous events, including POTUS (Obama) on station for last year's ceremony, I still had a ton of intricate details to prioritize in my mind and more importantly - in my mind's eye. There are again too many variables to anticipate and to sort out in any cohesive order, so I'll try to put some of the challenges in perspective here a little.
In no particular order: 4:30AM wakeup call, begin packing the car at 5:30AM departure (above left) to stadium. 5 - camera bodies. lenses - 10.5mm fisheye to 600mm (the 300mm f/2.8 + a 2x tele-extender attached at times during the ceremony), 1 - Gitzo monopod, 1 - heavy duty luggage cart, 4 - SuperClamps, 2 - Manfrotto Magic-Arms, 7 - Pocket-Wizards, 1 - pair each: pliers, wire cutters, channel locking pliers, half dozen zip lock freezer bags, 1 - bag 24" black locking plastic ties, 1 - rain poncho, 1 - full rain suit, 1 roll of black gaffer's tape, 1,031 graduating cadets, 1,241 frames shot before first edit, 88 - frames on second edit, 30 - (selects or "keepers") frames...

Secure areas literally in the shadow of the stadium itself on post forced me to actually leave the base, drive out the back gate, and head through the small village of Highland Falls to the main gate. That brief detour cost me nearly 30 minutes, for what would be on a normal day, probably a 6 - 8 minute drive. Keep in mind, all vehicles had to be re-inspected at the gate and I still had to make my way up to the press parking lot, near the opposite end of the stadium were I was only 45 minutes earlier a little after 6AM. Imagine arriving for an assignment literally 4+ hours early, and still worrying that you're late. Although I didn't get into the stadium (more security checks, hand-wanding metal detectors, and bomb sniffing dogs) and finally on the field with my cart full of gear until nearly 7:30AM, things worked smoothly in installing the first remote camera (above left) on one of the aluminum benches for the graduating cadets. Even as a few very brief early morning rain drops fell, and a fog hung over most of the academy, I'd decided while waiting in traffic again to enter the main gate, that I'd install at least the main remote camera. Besides, I loaded up on both zip-lock freezer bags that would fit over the camera if needed and I could easily add another plastic grocery bag over the rig if needed too. Unless there was going to be a downpour, I was intent on installing this #1 remote for the third time. This was the year to make it all work since there weren't going to be any top level dignitaries on the dais, like a POTUS or even a VPOTUS. (Vice - President). In fact, First Lady Michelle Obama had addressed the graduating cadets the night before in a brief ceremony, and luckily I hadn't drawn that assignment. Once the main remote was securely installed and sort of locked into place with the help of two black heavy duty plastic locking ties, I got permission from the West Point PR folks right on the field to place the second low angle remote mounted on a black metal finished floor plate under the stage, and pointing back toward the cadet seating. I knew this camera would probably give me a good picture as well, depending on how the lighting conditions evolved during the morning. I'd thought all week how this second remote camera would provide an additional view of the cadets marching into the stadium, seated and standing during the ceremony, and finally a second unique view of the "hat toss" to end the ceremony. Fortunately I was able to borrow the metal floor-plate from a freelance colleague here in town. It was only a matter of minutes before I had this camera aligned under the main podium at field level. I'd also thought alot about lens selection on these two remotes, and had even briefly wondered how things would've worked out if I had placed the Nikon in this position with the fisheye, and this Canon 1-D on the benches, angled straight up toward the main stadium grandstand to make the lead image. By the time both remotes are in placed, secured and confirmed to be firing from a Pocket-Wizard in my hand (and eventually on the camera in my hands) I barely have enough time to make a restroom pit stop, have a few bites of a power bar, and start looking for feature images of the audience, etc. Ironically, the Cadet First Captain walked around the field about an hour before he and his 1,000+ classmates formed up in the Foley Athletic Center to march into the stadium, and that would become my lead image below in the slideshow to officially start my workday making images... ~cg.

Here's an edited take from the ceremony:

"ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL...?"

Members of the West Point cadet parachute team land on the field prior to the Army - Hawaii game in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Saturday, September 11, 2010. Hawaii defeated Army 31 - 28. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

FOOTBALL 2010. Well it's finally here. The football season I mean. After what seemed like about 2 or more months of covering football practice and preseason related stories this summer, the football season has officially begun. (with apologies to last week's HS game up in Kingston under the lights...) Come to think of it, I'd begun covering football stories leading up to the season beginning back in late March / early April during Army's brief Spring practice season and their annual Spring scrimmage. Friday night began a back-to-back schedule of a local HS game here in Newburgh, followed by Army's home opener against Hawaii down at West Point yesterday (above).

*Michie Stadium. *Yankee Stadium. *The New Meadowlands Stadium. *Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA). *M&T BAnk Stadium (Baltimore, MD). *Carrier Dome at Syracuse University. Even Dietz Stadium for HS football up in Kingston, NY and countless high school fields throughout my career. These are all venues where I'll probably find myself working games this season. (actually my season's coverage started two weeks ago at Dietz - see earlier post: "Friday Night Lights..." and this past weekend's game at West Point above.) Michie Stadium (top image) is already a familiar venue, and after three previous years of covering Army football, I "own" the stadium. Used to feel that way about the old Yankee & Shea Stadiums as well as the Meadowlands Arena and of course Madison Square Garden while I was on the NYC pro sports beat for a number of years earlier in my career. I'd been thinking about what this new post would mean here on the blog and what covering football games now mean to me, no matter what level the competition.

Football. F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L. No single sport that I've covered throughout my career carries the immediate stigma of "covering the big game", as much as football does. Football is "America's Game" and all that, so naturally there are a lot of routine picture opportunities to expect, plan for, and anticipate; it's just those unforeseen ones that keep me awake nights, cause an occasional rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms, and oh, the sore knees, back, hips, shoulders and neck the following day or two after more than 8 hours at a given stadium. Football is like no other sport for a photographer to cover correctly. Obviously the game encompasses a large playing field and the potential for good photographs can happen anywhere on the field (OK, soccer, rugby, cricket, and lacrosse photographers & fans, I hear hear your howls on all this...) from all angles, and from literally all over a stadium. And let's not forget those "B-roll" type feature images that can also be game telling and powerful - it's just knowing how and when to put yourself in a position to make those images as well.
All of these picture making scenarios require a lot of different mindsets for me. Short glass. A fisheye (superwide) lens. short and medium telephoto lenses and of course a major requirement for outdoor and most sports I cover, the super-telephoto. (usually a 300mm f/2.8 or longer. add the 1.4x or even 2.x tele-extenders, thank you very much...)

*to be continued... ~cg.

*"It's August & It's Hot: Must Be Time For ARMY Football...!" 4•Aug.•10

A quick look at my take on ARMY Football practice today at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. 90+ degrees with extreme humidity. Only got to spend about an hour in the Foley Athletic Center and outside in the sun on the practice field. The artificial turf was so hot, my feet were actually beginning to burn. The Black Knights of ARMY open their season on Sept. 4th. at Eastern Michigan. They also face Rutgers at the new Meadowlands Stadium on Oct. 16th., Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 20th., and the Annual ARMY v. NAVY Game in Philadelphia on Dec. 11th. ~cg.

Army players huddle around head coach Rich Ellerson during practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. Army opens it's 2010 season on the road against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 4th. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Army quarterback Trent Steelman (#8) runs upfield during practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Army quarterback Trent Steelman (#8) throws a pass during practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Army nose tackle Mike Gann (#93) during practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Army quarterback Chip Bowden (#10) during practice in the Foley Athletic Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Army middle linebacker Stephen Anderson (#50, center) follows nose tackle Mike Gann (#93) during practice at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Army defensive end Josh McNary (#44, center) during practice at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

Army football players leave the Foley Athletic Center for a break in practice at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. Army opens it's 2010 season on the road against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 4th. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record

"Big - Dogs..." West Point Graduation Day. 22•May•10

President Barack Obama pauses onstage as he watches cadets approach the dais in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy for their 2010 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony in West Point, NY on Saturday, May 22, 2010. President Obama delivered the commencement address as 1,002 cadets received their diplomas and were commissioned as 2nd. Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON

7:15AM. Checking my remote Canon 1D camera with a 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4 tele-extender on the center TV platform prior to the United States Military Academy's 2010 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony at Michie Stadium in West Point, NY on Saturday, May 22, 2010. President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address as 1,002 cadets received their diplomas and were commissioned as 2nd. Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. (Photograph by Danny Wild/USMA)

Yesterday was the fourth Army graduation I've covered here during my four years at this newspaper. "Four-for-Four..." I guess you could say. Even though President Obama was to deliver the commencement address for this year's graduating class (which topped 1,000 cadets) there was so much preparation I'd gone through in the last month or so, I was ready to step up to any unforeseen challenges that might present themselves. The last two weeks or so got to be a little nerve racking for members of the working press, particularly for still photographers and video guys, as the White House press people and "the Service" were going to be handling all logistics in assigning locations, field access during the ceremony, the whole bit. Up until Thursday and even Friday, the latest word from my colleagues in the West Point pubic affairs office was that we'd be "locked down" in position and there'd be no "roaming" for photographers. That nearly concrete rumor could've easily dampened my enthusiasm in wanting to cover this year's ceremony. But from the first day back in mid - April or so when the WH announced that POTUS (Obama) would be delivering the commencement address, I began the planning stages of covering this assignment in my mind & just as important - in my mind's eye, regardless of any restrictions that might be imposed, and of course my enthusiasm quietly grew. The first hurdle to overcome would be long glass. I began a series of email correspondence with the good folks in the Bay Area at BorrowLenses.com
Earlier post on corresponding with BorrowLenses two weeks ago here. I initially set out to rent a 400mm f/2.8AF for the assignment, as I knew I could easily add the 1.4x tele-extender or the 2x if needed, especially if I was going to be stuck on the risers for mostly podium and stage area images. I knew instinctively that this day would call for something longer than our pool 300mm in the office. It's a great lens and regular readers of this blog already know how comfortable I am with that lens; but for this day, I'd be running with the "big - dogs" and I certainly didn't want to get 'left on the porch', so to speak. Earlier in my career, I'd regularly worked with a 400mm in the NYC pro sports beat, and even used a colleague's 400mm on this very field to cover an Army football game 2 seasons ago. I am fully aware of the physical demands alone of just maneuvering a monster piece of glass like that around for an extended assignment. Due to scheduling and availability of their 400mm, I made the decision to have a monstrous 600mm f/4 (at left) shipped here. Going with this rental lens served additional options for me professionally. Obviously it's an incredible piece of equipment to have available for such an assignment, but also once I'd placed the order and began tracking it's delivery via the Fed-Ex site, I was reminded again that I'd become a valuable customer with a reliable & reputable vendor, mostly catering to professionals. Throughout my career, I've realized that it's all part of the process of anticipating & recognizing certain obstacles, and doing whatever it takes on various levels to put yourself in the right position, both mentally & of course physically for making good images. It certainly isn't everyday that you'd need to employ such equipment to cover the day to day assignments we shoot, but when an event like this demands doing things the right way, I'm all over it. It was such a rewarding feeling knowing that I'd made the right decision for this rental. With all the expected challenges looming and my experience in covering the three previous USMA graduations, as well as POTUS at West Point only six months ago, I knew I had to step it up a notch or two and add this super telephoto. Anytime you're presented with the opportunity to photograph a sitting President, I still believe you should have the professional wherewithal to step it up another level, packing your best "A-game" for the day. These are images that will have "legs" (meaning reuse in print & the web) for a long time in our archive, and of course out here in the blog-o-sphere / portfolio / lecture circuit / classroom, etc. for me.
Looking back & playing it all forward if you will, one realizes again that this is a business and it's also about building personal relationships at a lot of different levels, as the people you work with will go out of their way to help you achieve the kind of imagery you're trying to accomplish - if you're a true professional - that's extremely important in completing an assignment on this level. I made sure to bring all the appropriate remote gear to install two remote cameras, regardless of what the rumor mill was quoted all week - just in case I got permission down on the field at 7AM, just as I had for two previous graduations where I'd installed remotes. As one public affairs administrator quietly told me, "See if you can work your magic to set up your remotes..." And this while I was being escorted to the press risers on the field by his military boss, an Army Lt. Colonel no less. Bringing printouts from last year's low-angle remote rig & sample images to illustrate my intentions didn't hurt either. Thanks again guys.
Oh yea, here's a tightly edited take of graduation day. "Woof!" ~cg.
*Use the arrow at the bottom left of the player or click the image to start the slideshow. Enable full screen viewing by clicking the 4-way arrow icon above the credits button at lower right of the player. Pause the portfolio slideshow in the right column by clicking the "II" pause button. There is no audio track with this presentation.)

HS Football Championship - The Road to Syracuse. (starts now...) 7•Nov.•09

It sometimes starts a week earlier for me. The continual over-thinking on how I'd cover a game like this past Saturday's Section 9 Class AA Championship matchup between undefeated Monroe-Woodbury and Warwick High Schools. It was a repeat of their game a few weeks ago at Monroe-Woodbury HS, when both teams were 6-0. This time the game was to be played in Middletown's new million dollar-plus Faller Field, complete with a pro synthetic turf playing surface (similar to West Point's Michie Stadium), the best stadium lighting of any school at this level I've ever seen, and a real live working press box with blazing internet connectivity - which proved to come in handy at halftime. By week's end I was excited and hoping again for the the opportunity to install my customary remote camera atop the stadium press box (at right), as this was also my first game shooting in the new stadium. This is again an image (top) that can be used as a file picture for any future stories that crop up from the sports guys as well. No matter how routine or insignificant it all may seem to the casual observer, there's still something quite special about arriving a few hours early for a game of this magnitude. Shoot, I still look to get to little league & pee-wee games earlier if scheduling allows. Particularly if I'm going to be pushing right up on deadline for a championship game at night, and am hauling in four camera bodies. Count 'em - four! I guess installing the overhead remote 2 hours or so before game time doesn't really count, as I typically only mount a remote for this specific view of the pre-game coin toss with all the players on the field, halftime show, etc. (Come to think of it, when's the last time you've seen a photo published from the half-time show of a high school game? Better yet, have I ever fired the remote to make an image from this angle of a halftime show...?) Remember what I mentioned about fast internet connectivity in the press box.

Once the remote was securely installed, I was ready to put on my "game face" and begin the night's work: There were a few disruptions to the expected routine of the game. Kickoff time was pushed back a half-hour to 7:30PM as there was a fire alarm activation down at Monroe-Woodbury HS and their star quarterback, Dan Scalo actually forgot his helmet in the commotion in leaving the school for the busride up to Middletown. Other media types and myself included were silently wondering if they'd have to start the game with another kid at QB if the helmet didn't arrive by driver or courier, if you will. It was actually odd to see this kid warming up sans headgear, knowing that he's the type of player who's been running over defenders like a cross between an Earl Campbell and Larry Csonka freight train from my old days as a player / fan in the '70's. What a back story that would've been if they didn't get the hard hat to him on time. We already sensed that a lot of the MW players were out of sync by arriving late to the ballpark. Made sure to shoot frames of QB Scalo during warmups without the helmet just in case. Note to self: these are good file images of the star QB for stories later in the week if needed.

As the coin toss at midfield was choreographed, I was able to make three separate views of the Monroe players in line with their hands clasped together: the #1 image from the roof top stadium remote, and two quick subsequent images were I sort of crept up behind the line of players and photographed them with two different cameras, one wide (at right) and a detail image of any two players' gloved hands, which to me is a decent picture (below) that can be used to illustrate teamwork, the MW team itself, their season, or even an athletic equipment advert, as sort of a "b-roll" image of you will.

By the time the game finally got going, I could officially start worrying about my first 10:30PM deadline, and I remember thinking that I'd have to really hunker down on this one, as these were two excellent teams, capable of making big plays at anytime, literally anywhere on the field for that matter. Both QB's could throw it and throw it deep & with 'touch', and I already knew they could both run. The Warwick QB, Rian White scored early on sweet run off tackle where he actually dove over a MW defensive back (left) - and I was on him clean from the back of the end zone only a few yards away. I remember reminding myself to 'lay on the button' when I saw how this play was developing right in front of me. I didn't know how good the series of images was until I started chimping in the end zone and let the cable TV guys have a peek at the back of the camera too. "That's one," I thought quietly to myself while trotting out of the end zone and to the sidelines to get ready for the kickoff / and return. Soon after, MW back Trevor Officer (right) plowed over a Warwick defensive back from the two yard line or so, and I knew I had two "gamers" already before halftime. Now as the clock ran down, I made the decision to run up through the stands to the press box and that fast, reliable internet connection. I figured I'd give up some of the third quarter shooting time, to be able to move these two images to the paper way ahead of the 10:30PM deadline. I was back on the field by the middle of the third quarter and was fortunate enough to make a few more game telling big play images, including touchdown passes & catches (left) from both QB's and good runs from their star players as well. By sending those two early images at halftime, I was able to stay on the field to make the post game trophy presentation to the coach and players' jubilation. Those images were sent after the second edit and one eventually made the back page as well.


All in all it was an exceptionally good night. The weather was good, saw a lot of familiar faces, and as mentioned earlier - the light was nearly as good as a pro or college stadium for a night game. The hot chocolate was decent too.
Click HERE to see a photo gallery on the paper's website on my take of the game. Again, thanks for reading - see you at the next big game. -cg.