I took this on the first day of school. I don't know this boy, and I normally wouldn't post images of kids I don't know, except that he seemed so happy to be riding that bus on his way to school that day. He was smiling and waving out the window and I just loved his enthusiasm for the day...especially because I love the first day of school, too.
Fall always means the beginning of soccer in our family. I shot this image at picture day for my son's soccer team. This particular parent had a point & shoot and kept it aimed at his son the entire time the kids were lining up, standing in line, standing around, walking, listening to directions....everything. He didn't want to miss a moment of it.
I love this one. The symmetry in their motion is great. It popped out at me the moment I saw it.
Fall also means the beginning of football. I'd been gearing up for the sideline shots since last spring and was finally ready to get going at the beginning of the month. It's always a little nerve-wracking to be so close to the action. Those boys hit hard and they fall fast....unfortunately, it's the only place to be if you want to get the shot....
My daughter and I were driving home from Target one morning when I saw this tree in our neighborhood. I had been wanting to start a new collection of autumn images and this seemed like the perfect way to start. We raced home, I ran in and grabbed my camera and we took off back to the yard where I had spotted this. My daughter stayed in the car while I got out and started photographing all of the color that was popping out on this tree.
More football. Usually I get the captains walking out at the beginning of the game. And I did in this game, too, but this was shot as they went out after halftime. They were being beaten pretty good, and I wanted to capture that moment where they lift themselves up and prepare for battle once again. I shot this from the ground up to give them that "larger than life" look. And even though they didn't win, the fans never stopped cheering....
There are a few images that I'm always trying to get. The definitive one. The one that just captures exactly what that moment or that activity is about. In soccer, for me, it's the moment when a player bounces the ball off their head. I usually end up getting a shot with the ball flying out of the picture while the player is standing with their eyes squeezed shut. But on this day, I finally got what I've been looking for. That moment. Ball in the air. Feet off the ground. Hair flying. The definitive head bounce.
I always take portraits of my kids in the fall. We were at soccer practice one afternoon and I thought I'd grab some of my daughter while we waited. We had gone all over the school yard taking pictures and they all turned out great. I was pleased them, but this one, as she looked up, with that little smile, at daddy coming over to us, turned out to be my favorite.
This one is fine. A good action shot. But, you know why it's special? You see that guy in blue? #22? About 1/2 a second after I took this, he literally crashed right over the spot I was standing. One of the coaches had to pull me out of the way so this kid wouldn't take me out. I was kind of afraid they'd kick me off the sidelines after that. Liability, and all....But I got the shot.
Okay....I am seriously not a spider person. I'm not arachnophobic or anything, I just severely don't like them. And, is it just me, or are there more of them around this year than usual? At one point, we had about 14 webs around our front steps. I try to be tolerant of them when they're outside. I don't want to infect my children with my spider disdain. I want them to see the beauty and the science behind the creature. Make up their own mind, you know. We'd been watching them crawling around our entry way, but nothing was really wowing me about them until it rained. And this marvel caught a raindrop on its leg. Amazing. (It's also why I just love my new lens....)
Like I said, September is full of football. These last two were taken during a night game. Night games are a whole different animal to photograph. It's all about the light, and the serious absence of it. It's a constant struggle to get the action. I much prefer it when they're standing still. Like this coach (who also happens to be my brother). This moment was great. The team was way up on the scoreboard. The atmosphere on the sidelines was much more jovial than it had been the game before. It was fun and, dare I say, relaxed? I got this moment of laughter from a coach who is usually very focused and strained.
There's a lot more going on during a football game than just the players and the coaches. There are the fans, the cheerleaders and...hello! The drill team! I was a killer driller, so I have a soft spot for these ladies. I always enjoying photographing them. Remember what I said about that definitive moment? Well, I think this was one. At the beginning of the routine, someone from the stands shouted out to her, and against all drill code that I know of, she winked back. I happened to have a lens on her right at that moment and I got it. I love it. Killer Drillers Rock.
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