NIKON D700 - 1/500 f/8 ISO1250 - 14mm

I thought it would be fitting to start my blog off with the beginning of football season here at Ohio University. As the head photographer for the athletic department, it is my job to capture images of all the Bobcat sports teams, including the Ohio football squad.

Today I photographed the first game of the season, Ohio’s 23-16 loss to UConn in front of a record-setting 24,617-person crowd at Peden Stadium.

NIKON D700 - 1/500 f/5.6 ISO250 - 400mm

I shot from the roof of the press box with a 400mm lens for the image above of Patrick Tafua in the huddle with the rest of the Bobcats.

Before the game, the sun was setting through about half of the stadium, making for some beautiful light that was unfortunately only on the UConn side of the field.

NIKON D700 - 1/3200 f/2.8 ISO250 - 400mm

It did, however, cover the O-Zone.

NIKON D700 - 1/1000 f/5.6 ISO250 - 400mm

After shooting some more from the roof, I grabbed the rest of my cameras from press row and headed down to the field. On my way, I stopped to shoot the Marching 110 lining up to take the field for pre-game.

NIKON D300 - 1/1000 f/4 ISO400 - 24mm

After the band went through, I lined up right outside the tunnel and waited to shoot the players as they entered the field. As my luck would have it, my best shot of the day came when head coach Solich stood in the fog waiting to take the field.

NIKON D300 - 1/1600 f/4 ISO640 - 36mm

After shooting the rest of the pre-game events, I headed back to the roof to take care of my primary assignment for the day: a wide-angle shot of the record-breaking crowd. I camped out with fellow photographer Brian Kellogg and waited for the sun to set to just the right level.

NIKON D700 - 1/1000 f/2.8 ISO2500 - 14mm

Despite not really needing any action shots from today, I headed down to the field to grab a few to knock off some of my football-shooting rust.

Boo Jackson throws the ball.

NIKON D700 - 1/1000 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 400mm

Cornerback Idrince Lawrence tackles UConn tight end Ryan Griffin.

NIKON D700 - 1/1000 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 400mm

Defensive lineman Stafford Gatling eyes a tackle on UConn quarterback Zach Frazer.

NIKON D700 - 1/1250 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 400mm

…and then celebrates after making the tackle.

NIKON D700 - 1/800 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 400mm

Lastly, I made sure to get a shot of coach Solich in action, so the athletic department has a recent image to use right away this season.

NIKON D700 - 1/1250 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 400mm

Next week it’s off to North Texas to face the Mean Green.