Although I already posted my favorite shot from Monday Night’s big Bears win against the Packers, here’s a few more from the game, including a poster-print I made as a gift for my buddy Mike McCaskey of Devin Hester’s game-changing punt return for a touchdown.
I shot Hester’s punt return with more of a wide composition (and my camera turned wide) and Mike went in nice and tight at 400mm with a tall orientation (I included one of Mike’s shots further below), and I think it’s really cool to see how two shooters set-up literally side-by-side, captured such different images of the same moment.
Anyway, here’s a few more from the game:
Above: This shot uses the Cinematic Wide screen cropping I talked about last week (link).
Above: I know it looks like I “juiced” the colors or added more Vibrance in Lightroom, but I didn’t (I’m not above that on any level—if I thought they needed vibrance, I’d add some, but I just didn’t need to—the shots already looked so vibrant. These are all shot in JPEG format).
Above: another colorful image. I checked to make sure I didn’t have the Vibrant Picture Style turned on but it was set to Normal.
Above: I would have really liked this one, but the receiver is just a little soft. Had he been as sharp as Burnett, the Strong Safety in the foreground, I’d have been happy. Sadly, he’s not.
Above: The Bears defense got it done. The addition of Julius Peppers rocked!
Above: Here’s the print I made for Mike of Hester’s game-changing punt return. Once again I used my Cinematic Widescreen Cropping on this one (enter 2:39 to 1 in Lightroom’s Custom Crop dialog to get this aspect ratio for cropping). I added the border and text in Photoshop CS5.
Above: Here’s Mike’s shot, taken just 1-foot away from me, but he went it a lot tighter, and composed the image with a vertical orientation to capture the exact moment Hester leaped over the punter to clear the way to the goal line. Mike caught the entire series, from tight-in shots of Green Bay’s punter through Devin’s entire return and leap into the stands. I actually missed a few steps toward the end because I fired so many continuous shots that my buffered filled.
Above: Although I don’t always show them here, I always capture shots of the crowd, and especially really enthusiastic fans. I caught this one as I was heading in the tunnel to call it a night. This guy had such a great smile, and seemed so genuinely happy to have his Bears on top, that I stopped and caught this frame. I’m glad I did. It was that kind of night! :-)
I don’t have any football shoots coming up next week, but I hope to be posting some landscape shots from my hands-on workshop in Moab, Utah with Landscape Legend Bill Fortney.
Scott,
Great pixs from the game! Now when is the “A Day With Jeremy Cowart” training being released on KelbyTraining? Sorry I know this is the wrong place to ask about it, but you hyped it up so well on your blog and now I’m really excited to see it… Any heads up would be a appreciated?
Hi Steve:
I believe it’s slated to go live within the next two weeks! :-)
-Scott
Sighing over the level of expertise required to call that detail of the receiver “soft”.
Not that sharp on my best day. *sigh*
Was this shot at that super-duper 6400 ISO you used the other day on the fútbol (you know, as opposed to “football”) field again? :-)
As always great pictures.
Just one question. Why are you shooting this in JPEG and not RAW? Of course it does not really help with out of focus issues but you can tweak a lot of stuff you can’t with jpeg. It can’t be a size issue so what am I missing? :)
I wonder this too. RAW adds a lot of time to my workflow, but I went back to RAW because stadium lighting is always atrocious: midfield from the end zones (with a good reflective turf) can sometimes be perfect, but midfield from the sidelines puts half the faces in shadow, and shooting up close in the end zone is like shooting in a dark closet. Auto-ISO might set the right exposure for the whole shot, but faces show up correctly only by accident. If there is a better way, please let me know!
Wow, Scott.
So many excellent shots. You exhibit the skill of a seasoned sideline veteran.
Keep up the good work. Maybe this will become a regular gig for you. Thanks for sharing.
You are living the dream Scott. Great shots
Nice!!! Well done Scott…some of your best!
Ned,
I just took quick look at your website, wow, the hell with being like Michael Jordan; I want to be like Ned and take grate shots that are on his site. Well done sir. Sorry to change the subject that’s being talked about here. Take care all, and have a Blessed end of the year. Be the best photographer you can be; I’m still learning to get better.
D.Starks
Really fantastic shots, Scott. My faves would have to be the first and fourth — where you did a super job of capturing the peak of action — and of course the poster you made up for Mr. McCaskey. I’m so impressed with your shorts photography.
Have a great weekend,
Trev J.
I looked and looked and still do not see anyone in shorts…. JK I know you intended to type sports, it was just to fun a chance to pass up.
DOH!! Thanks Aaron. Didn’t mean to sell Scott short.
You have got to be one of this time periods all-time great photographers. Wow…what shots you take. Truly an inspiration for all us “wanna-be” photographers out here. Thanks for sharing.
Great shots! I also really love the color. I was on sports.yahoo.com (the NFL Chicago Bear page) when I saw a picture of you and Mike McCaskey on the sideline. McCaskey was shooting with the 200-400mm which look really cool.
Here is the pic.
http://yhoo.it/cscdU8
They are incorrectly referring to Mike as the “Former Chairman”
Wow! Amazing shots Scott! Being a Packer fan, the outcome wasn’t the greatest, but you indeed captured some amazing shots. How do I get a print of the first one of Jennings catch?
Wonderful set.
I somehow find this set more interesting than the earlier. Lot of action happening here. First and the second are superb shots for me.
The llast photo looks like Ray Charles, did you get any of Elvis? :)
@ Ken Toney, LOL I thought the same thing when I saw that picture!
Terrific captures, Scott. You’ve really got a handle on this sprts photography thing. Maybe you could have a career doing it if this Kelby Training thing doesn’t pan out! :D
On a side note, check out Aaron Johnson’s What the Duck comic today @ whattheduck.net. Very appropriate for your column today!!
–John
http://whattheduck.net/strip/1071
What the Duck must have been inspired by all your football posts..
Here’s the live action version:
http://tiny.cc/drz31
Can’t find a video of the hit at the moment, it’s a good one though.
your post processing is great. is that your own special sauce?
I actually think I like the first image better than the one you posted from before as your favorite shot. Its got great “tension”
Scott, I was wondering why you choose to use Photoshop to add the text and boarder instead of doing it in LightRoom.
Hi Lee:
Try doing that in Lightroom, and you’ll see. ;-)
-Scott
Is it just me, or did the Bears’ throw back uniforms make for great, eye-catching pictures?
Scott your pictures are very good for someone who doesn’t shoot a lot of sports. Maybe since your getting good at it and alot of people follow you on your blog. You could do a kelby training video with a sports photographer, so us aspiring photographers who want to shoot sports will understand all the ins and outs of shooting sports. You can take us through the thought process and the settings that you would use to capture these captivating shots.
Scott,
LOVE the touchdown shot of Hester! Any chance you make that available for purchase?
I’ve been away for a while, but back just in time to be rewarded by your great action images.
Thanks Scott for sharing your vision and inspiring us all.
best
rui
Hey! Oct 1st was my birthday. I got Scott Kelby as a gift! Well… Photo Recipes Live actually. going to be n awesome weekend bonding with the book!
Awesome work Scott! To be honest, I totally prefer your shot of the Hester kick return! In fact, where can i print of that poster?
Hi Scott,
What technique are you using to focus? Are you using servo?
Hey Scott I just ordered the Westcott lights from B&H along with the Tameron 70-200mm 2.8 lens. I am excited about recieving this next week.
See ya next September.
Mike
Great shots, Scott! I’m green with envy, not just at how good your shots are, also that you get passes to shoot from the sidelines.
But I am shocked — Shocked! — that you shot in JPEG.
Hi Tom:
Most pro sports shooters I’ve talked with shoot in JPEG. I’ve addressed the reasons numerous times here in the blog. :)
-Scott
Great photos Scott! I’ve enjoyed the Bears win over the Packers again through your photos.
I especially like the Bear poster of Hester’s TD!
Great work.
Go Bears!
Scott,
Great photos! That was an awesome game too. How was it to be on the field with the players? I hear you can feel the hits from the sideline.
Taylor
Love the football pics! Definitely bright and clear.
Question for you: in your poster, how do you get the ( l ) lines to seperate the text?
Thanks!
Just once, JUST ONCE!!!!
I would love to shoot the Packers from the sideline….
Oh well, nice to know someone gets to do it! :)
Hey scott,
love the shots, any tips for trying to replicate your poster aside from the crop ratio i.e. font selection and how wide you make to baorders to be asthetically pleasing?
thank
scott