ZachIsHere

Last week I got media credentials to cover the Kansas City Wizards soccer game against the Columbus Crew. This was a great experience on multiple levels. In addition to doing the game time photographs I helped the organization with game day setup and preparation for the match.

The amount of things that went into getting this game ready was eye opening. The Wizards are in a strange bit of limbo without a real home. Even though they play their home games at Arrowhead Stadium none of the things needed for their games is kept there. So for every game they bring in large trailers with all the stuff needed. Equipment, goals, advertising signage, concourse signage, merchandise, kiosks, the list goes on and on.

The total tonnage of “little tiny things” that needed to be done could have stopped a team of oxen in their tracks. Watching all of these people work to make sure everything went off without a hitch was one of the best parts. Walking through Arrowhead and spending time on the field is something I can’t get enough of being a lifetime Chiefs fan.

The photography was challenging. My sports shooting experience is minimal and I thought I did a good job with the lenses I had available. Framing a good shot was not nearly as much of a challenge as I figured it would be going in. I thought that was going to be the frustrating part. As it turns out focus was my big issue. It isn’t like things were out of focus but I had a hard time getting that really crisp shot that is needed to make photographs of that nature work.

I camped out about 10 feet to either side and behind the opposing team’s goal wanting to get “that shot” of a goal. And you know what? I was close. The more I shoot sports the more I feel like I can take in everything that is going on and still be focused in my view finder. Usually my eye is totally dug into the view finger while I am snapping a shot completely isolating my view to what will be in the shot. When it comes to sports I keep both eyes open making for a situation where I vaguely see everything with a distinct box that stands out showing me where the camera will actually be capturing the visual. The actual game was nuts. You can read a write up I did of it at SGFSoccer. There is also a video recap of the game that I recommend watching because describing the ending of this game does it no justice. If you blink you will miss it but I am actually in the video with about 1:18 left there is a goal shown from a free kick. I am right to the left of the goal post in grey shooting.

Here are some of the photographs from the game. I think they came out good but not great. A bit on the dark side. There are a lot of things I think I can improve on for the next run. I am confirmed to do the Oct. 5th game against D.C. United and am still a “maybe” for the upcoming Galaxy game on the 27th this Thursday.