My Weekend with Army Football

Hey all! Thanks for coming to The Wrong Advice Newsletter. If you want to join along (I'd love you for that) please subscribe below! And as always check out this week’s episode of The Wrong Advice Podcast

On 10/1/22 one of my lifelong dreams came true, I was on the sidelines for a Division 1 football game. Now, that lifelong dream included myself in uniform playing in the game but alas, some 18 years after my college football career that never was, I made it to a D-1 Sideline with my camera. 

First, in terms of experience and expectations v reality, the opportunity to be on the sidelines and photograph a D-1 football game without question was a dream come true. It blew out all of my expectations in terms of the atmosphere, the environment, and most importantly the action. 

Having only been photographing full time for 2 years, getting this opportunity was a bit lucky and I have some people behind the scenes that need a lot of thanking. It was no small task getting this opportunity and for that I'll always be grateful. 

I think in life sometimes all of the nuances that go into making opportunities come through get unnoticed. It took a lot of hard work to get me to the point where I was able to make the most of this opportunity. While I was super happy with myself and what I was able to capture, I would be lying if I didn't say I wish I hadn't been better in the moment. 

What I mean to say is this, while I was on the sidelines I don't think I was as present as I'd have like to have been. I got a lot of really great photos but a lot of my time was spent trying to make the perfect picture versus actually being in the moment and letting the photos come to me. It's a bit nitpicky but I think it's an important context to my day on the field. 

Ultimately I walked away with a ton of wonderful images and proof to myself that I could shoot any live sporting event and get useful images from the experience. I also learned that I could make the kind of photos that I want at an event that is a wholly different environment from what I'm used to. 

It was a tremendous experience and one I'll treasure forever, I learned so much about sports photography and what it means to be good at something you've never done before. At the end of the day, I've caught the bug to do more of this sort of thing so hopefully you'll be seeing me on more and more sidelines soon!