Shooting night football in the Rain

[Jim Bryant]

My assignment: To provide coverage of the Kingston High School Homecoming football game activities, so should I accept, which I did on Monday. Unfortunately for me, it's been raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock on and off for two days now. Last night was no execption. The rain didn't start until 14 minutes before kickoff then it came down. Infact...It poured buckets. But, I was ready. One has to be when they are shooting sports in the Pacific Northwest, except the new photographer for the Kitsap SUN, who was recently hired over me. So much for it's not what you know, but who you know. Apparently she was a former co-worker and friend with the Sun Editor from the Logan, Utah newspaper, where he came from and was promised the next staff position. Here. I was dressed in a Gortex rainsuit and had three cameras, one with a 16-35mm, another with a 70-200mm and the third attached to a 300mm were all covered with the Aquatech rain covers. Being prepared for any weather is important, unlike her, decked out in jeans, sweatshirt, parka and a white plastic trash bag covering her MKIII attached to a 300mm and flash. Now...my question is, "why would anybody in their right sense of mind would even attempt to use a flash, thus risking on frying the both the camera and flash?" Her reply......"All I need is four images for the Website!" So much for dedication I suppose, well they get what they pay for Buccaneer stadium in Kingston, Washington had the best lighting I've ever shot at a high school field. My settings were ISO 1600, f2.8 at 400th second (in pouring rain) from the 20 to 20 yard lines. Too bad it dropped to 320 or 250th in the end zone. No flash was used. Check these out Then go see her work. Hecker Scores Six TDs in Kingston's 45-6 Romp Over Klahowya : North Kitsap : Kitsap Sun. To see variety of coverage of the game go to my facebook page at: Login | Facebook

[Saralonde]

These are great, Jim. I love the first one; he really stands out against the white clad players.

Wonder how Ms. Photographer's came out?

[Jim Bryant]

If you're interested in seeing her photos, the link is in my post above.

[jdepould]

While we're on the topic of rain, one of the biggest things about shooting in weather is changing memory cards. I remember reading about several Mk3s going down at the super bowl a few years ago. Apparently, water from the photog's sleeve fell into the card slot and fried the whole thing beyond repair.

[bcummings88]

The comparison is day and night. I liked the blown out face mask on her one photo . Just wondering if she did any PP.

Great photos though Jim.

[zona5101]

Your stuff is awesome. Art and sport meet!
I did check out the kipsun pics. I DO so very much like the red eye effect and uneven lighting. /sarcasm off/ wow.

[Saralonde]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

If you're interested in seeing her photos, the link is in my post above.

Oh dear, not even close.

Sorry. How did I miss that link??

[zephod]

What kills me is they have the nerve to put a purchase photo link onto those pictures. I'm going to take a wild guess here that all staff photos are works for hire and the copyright stays with the paper?

I think nepotism may have actually worked in your favor Jim. Seriously though, it's almost what I would expect from me (who has never shot a football game and doesn't own a fast prime tele) versus a pro photojournalist. Of course it also gives me hope that someone will pay me for shooting a school game with my cheapo sigma 28-300 .


Doug

[markjdos]

Wow, they should have hired you! I really like your second image of the band member with the rain dripping from the glasses. Awesome capture.

[Jim Bryant]

JD - True, rain is a problem with swapping out CF cards, so is beer. A friend of mine was changing his cards, when a drunk spilt his beer, which also hit the CF slot.
I try to find somewhere dry to change the cards. That's why I carry a car drying chamios with me.

Doug...I was stationed in the Navy at the Post Graduate School while in the Navy from 1973-1977 and used to work part-time at the Monterey Peninsula Herald. I love that area of California yea, staff work is own by the paper, unless, you're like me and put it in a contract that I own the images. Guess it's a tradeoff.......I can sell my images whereas another staff photographer can't.

BCcummings88-- She only stayed for so long. Her excuse was....her laptop battery only lasts for about five minutes without being plugged in. I told her to go to radio shak or Cosco and get one of those AC/DC converters to plug into cig. lighter and then plug in power cord to laptop. I get tired of hearing excuses.........