Shooting the Chicago Bears From The Sidelines
After my Lightroom Seminar I had just an amazing night, as I spent half of the Bears/Browns NFL game at Solider Field in the Bear’s own Luxury Skybox, as a guest of the Bear’s Chairman Michael McCasky (who’s not only a true gentleman, but one heck of a photographer), and the other half on the field shooting the game from the sidelines. What an absolute blast!!!!
I didn’t have the glass with me that I needed to shoot the game the way I would have liked (I needed a really fast 400mm, but only had a 200mm f/4), but I was having so much fun runnin’ and gunnin’ that it didn’t get me down. I haven’t really had a chance to go through all the images, but here’s a few of the first ones I got.
Thanks to Michael, and his wonderful family, for making me and my buddy Dave feel so welcome in “your house.” I’ll never forget it. 
Nice Pics, Scott. Is that a Canon patch I see on your vest? Are you making a switch?
Brad
Hi Brad:
That’s the red vest that all NFL field photographers are required to wear on field, and Canon is the official photography sponsor of the NFL. I did have both Nikon and Canon gear with me—I just didn’t bring the right lens.
-Scott
The Browns handoff is a keeper, with or without a 400mm!
There is a lot of controversy over the bright orange vests. The NPPA wrote a great article on in that is here:
http://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2007/07/nfl01.html
Hey Scott,
Days don’t get much better than that huh
)
Just one thing…you say you were using a 200mm f/4.0 … I take it you’re still using the Canon gear then, as you didn’t have your Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 with you?
Real envious of you guys getting to see Nikon’s new SLR’s at Photoshop World … it’ll be interesting to hear some feedback at some point.
Anyway, have a great week,
Best wishes, Glyn
So envious of you… Man, I’d love a chance to do that.
Anyway, great work Scott and good for you for getting such a great opportunity.
Keeping in mind some of your tips from your Digital Photography Book, what were some of your settings you used to get such great shots. I.e. If someone got an equal opportunity what tips would you give to get the best shots possible.
Thx.
Cool photos! I just got into digital photography within the last year, and my brother was smart enough to make me purchase Adobe Lightroom as soon as it came out (when it was cheaper)… I’ve gotten through the majority of your book on the program and I’m really excited at how much my photography has improved in the last 4 months alone!!! (Oh yeah–as a life-long PC user, I just bought my first iMac… when I was debating if it was worth it, I came across some of your Mac Propaganda… Guess I made the right decision)…
Thanks for all your hard work–Keep it up!
well I have a 70-200 f4 also, and I have not had a chance to do sport shots such as you, but seeing the results that you got, I will not be disappointed in my lens. Thanks.
I just bought your new book, the Adobe Photoshop CS3 book for digital photograpers. I bought it after being very pleased with your CS2 edition.
Also, I bought your new book in spite of my annoyance with your attempt at humor. It is distracting and also not funny. I give you an “A-” as an author. You’d get a straight “A” if you’d dump the humor bit. This is not new news to you, based on the Amazon.com reviews.
I have been reading all kinds of books, non-stop, for 60 years, and I would suggest that you do what you do best: explain how to use Photoshop and leave the humor to humorists. Know thyself!
Regardless, I will continue to buy your books, but you will never get a straight “A” from me untill change your ways!
My teenage budding photographer, who normally would rather have a root canal than read, is currently enraptured with your Digital Photography book. She said she feels like you’re standing next to her, giving her tips from your years of experience. And your refreshing humor helps her digest some of the pithy principles and techniques (what she calls “brain drain”).
Straight-laced photography books are a dime a dozen. If you strip your books of all personality, they’ll lose what sets them apart as Kelby books.
Just another perspective.
Hi everybody:
I should probably clarify the lens situation. It actually was a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, but I put a 1.4 telextender on it, which knocks it down to an f/4, but I get a little longer reach (not nearly enough, but at that point—every little bit helps).
Sorry for the confusion.
-Scott
Scott,
WOW!! What a BLAST that must have been!!! I hope you realize that all of your readers are REALLY REALLY jealous. What I mean is that I am REALLY REALLY jealous…….For the rest of us that are shooting our son’s pop warner games (haha) could you share some techniques? Do you shoot in aperture or shutter priority? What settings? What ISO?
Kevin
Hi Dear Scott;
I have been addicted to your books, so badly
I just want to ask if your book” The Digital Photography Book ” for Dec 14,2007 is the new version or not? The Amazon shows exactly the same cover as the present edition.
F. Sh.
Thanks;
Tehran-Iran