Dancing With McElroy
Here is a short slide show on the sideline tight rope walk that Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy did during the first half as she scrambled for a key first down. McElroy got to the sideline, got bumped and still managed to keep himself in bounds long enough to get the first down.
And as a bit of bonus material, there is always one that got away. One! Actually there are so many that get away you don’t even notice most of them but this one just hurts. Auto focus is a great tool but depending on it in the wrong situations can burn you. It is like driving a nail with a pair of pliers. You can do it but it certainly is difficult and will frustrate the heck out of you.
Alabama defensive lineman Terrence Cody is standing there in the middle of the shower of confetti when, all of a sudden, he sticks out his tongue like a kid in a snow storm. I am almost giddy. This is too good to be true. I am in photographer heaven! Then he tips his head back and opens his mouth wide. Nice, NIce, NICe, NICE!
Then I start to edit and realize the confetti confused the AF and my camera locked focus on a point nearer his arm than his face. NO! NO! NO! But, oh yes, I missed the shot with his tongue out. I got the other one but it is just not as good. I should have manual focused but shoulda, woulda, coulda does not a photo make. I am still kicking myself. Memo to self: when shooting in a confetti shower, MANUAL FOCUS YOU IDIOT! And, by the way, how in the heck do you get a guy as big as Cody out of focus!?
Its SOFT, SOFT, SOFT! AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
This one is sharp but it is just not as good as the one that got away!
Did I mention the sidelines were crowded?
Wow, it’s one thing to get photos, and it’s quite another to get photos with a bigger scrum on the sidelines then on the field. That’s insane, jostling for position with a few dozen people armed with metal tubes that look a lot like clubs.
Thanks for sharing.
Doug Robertson
9 Dec 09 at 1:38 pm
Nice sequence Gary. I was wondering where you were on the field when that play happened. I should have known – right in position.
So glad you’re getting the great opportunity to shoot the National Championship too. You’re going to do a fabulous job. The whole week will be fun leading up to it as well.
Corey Wilson
11 Dec 09 at 4:35 am