SMU Football wide receiver Jordan Kerley runs past defensive player Sam Westfall during a spring practice on March 24, 2023

SMU Football wide receiver Jordan Kerley runs towards the endzone during a spring practice on March 24, 2023

SMU freshman wide receiver Henry Stickler runs down the field after catching the football on March 24, 2023.

This assignment has been my favorite to shoot so far. I am very comfortable and experienced with shooting action photography from my work at SMU football this past year. While I take hundreds of pictures at each practice, I chose these three to represent my skills in capturing the action during a play. 

Some challenges I faced this weekend were figuring out the lighting situation, as it changed drastically with the sun setting, and the mosquitos. On one side of the field I was shooting in direct light, which made the shadows extremely harsh and the players faces dark. I knew I wanted to shoot photos in a way to capture the players faces as well as their actions. 

Shooting during practices is incredibly fun because I get to be on the field and not just on the sidelines or in the end zone like on gamedays. I get to be up close and personal with the action and the players, which makes me a better photographer. I am able to step out of my comfort zone yet still hide behind the camera a little to get the shots I want. 

Wide receivers and defensive players are some of my favorites to shoot. They are always running and always looking for the ball. Offensive lineman and defensive linemen are a little harder to shoot just because their main purpose is to protect and tackle the opposing linemen. Their arms get in the way of their faces and you can only see their numbers. 

Many times other players and coaches block my field of vision when shooting so it takes me a second to readjust. And sometimes, I end up in the way. But that’s what makes this so fun!