This week I traveled to Oxford to shoot the Ohio-Miami game, also known as the Battle of the Bricks. This time around I am going to go over how I approach shooting a football game for the Athletic Department.

Most of my days at football start off with shooting pre-game features. This includes players stretching, coaches giving pep talks, and staff members praying with the athletes.

Every couple of games, I spend some time in the locker room with the team as they go through their final pre-game rituals in the fifteen minutes or so before kick-off.

Leaving the locker room, I quickly reset my cameras for the outdoor light and follow the team out to the field.

Back on the field, I quickly grab my long glass and head to the sidelines. I normally position myself downfield of whichever way the Bobcats are lining up, putting myself in line to have the players looking towards me in the images I make.

One of the main reasons I position myself downfield from the players, even when we are on defense, is how aggressive our linemen have been this year. Here is one such example; I never would have made this frame if I was downfield from the offense.

This same approach also sets me up to be be prepared to cover turnovers, such as the interception below.

On offense, the same approach allows me use the linemen as a visual layer.

However, covering the wide receivers this way can be tough. It forces me to pay close attention to their routes, as there is little room for error when shooting catches.

It does work really well for long runs. Sitting in the end zone, I can capture big plays down the sidelines.

Every game I try and find a new approach or image to try. This time I wanted to make really tightly framed portraits.

Something I’ve been working on recently has been shooting more frames after the play is over. I have developed a bad habit of “chimping”, checking what I’ve shot after each play, which often results in missing pictures.

By the end of the game, the stadium was nearly empty. There was an unusual calm in the air as the teams took the field to shake hands.

Back in the locker room, Ohio University president Roderick McDavis made a surprise appearance and congratulated the team on their win.

Four hours later, I’m done shooting for the day. You can see my entire shoot here: http://ohiobobcatphotos.com/p296421794.

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