Shooting the Florida State Seminoles From the Sidelines
On Saturday I shot the Florida State Seminoles vs. the Chattanooga Mocs from the sidelines (FSU won 46-7). Being a longtime Noles fan, this was really a treat for me (let the “Gators” comments ensue). 
Below are some pics from the shoot (which are pretty much raw from the camera—I didn’t really have time to do anything but fix the white balance on two of the photos and add an unsharp mask).
SPECS: I shot with a Nikon D3, and a 300mm f/2.8 Nikon lens (which I borrowed from my buddy, sports shooter Mike Olivella) but I attached a 1.4 tele-extender attached to get me closer to the action, because the full-frame sensor puts me farther away than with my D300. All the shots were taken wide open at f/4 (with the tele-extender, you lose a stop of light) to blur the background, and most were taken at 200 ISO at around 1/2000 of a second. I also did use the D3’s high-speed Crop mode a number of times when I couldn’t get close enough to the action (because of the team’s bench, and their position on the field).
I had several challenges during the day; since the game started at 3:45 pm, by the 2nd half the field was 2/3 in the shadows, so plays would start in the sun, and end in the shade, which wreaks havoc on your white balance. I wound up having to increase my ISO to 800, which was no problem whatsoever on the D3 (I didn’t see any visible noise whatsoever). The other problem was my camera itself—it wasn’t shooting nine frames per second—for some reason it was hiccuping, and skipping frames all day. I brought a back-up D300, but my brother Jeff was with me, and I let him shoot with it, so I didn’t want to snag it back. (Had I been on assignment, I would have had to switch to it). Either way—the D3 goes to Nikon for repair today.
Overall, despite the frustration of the hiccuping, I had a great day of fun and football, and of course a win is a win! 
Hey Scott,
Great images. Personally I am a Sooner fan and a Dallas Cowboys fan. However, I am glad that the Seminoles and Bucs both won for you this weekend.
See ya,
Mike
Another cool Kelby gig. Great shots!
-Bob
(Boston)
Hi Scott,
Probably the obvious, but make sure the custom function is set for fps priority rather focus priority. being on focus priority would cause what you experienced. Of course if you already checked that….never mind…
Great shots, Scott, especially the one at the top.It’s almost sharp enough to read the writing on the ball.
Bonus points for the cymbal hat Scott
Great shots! - But GO GATORS!!!!!
Love the fumble shot. Great catch on that one.
Scott,
You are making me jealous, last time I shot football it was a USC practice.
Man I miss being on the sideline.
Hi Scott,
Great shots. If you don’t mind, please put the camera specs next to the photo’s, ie, 400mm lenses, WB=Auto, Shutter Priority, etc.
Thank you
Nice photos Scott!
Don’t watch football though…
Oh and btw, GREAT CAP! Zildjian rules!
Hi John:
I just updated the article above with shooting specs (it was all shot with a 300mm lens as noted).
Also, to Ivan—-I agree—Zildjian rules!!!!
-Scott
P.S. You can get that ballcap from Zildjian.com
Great Shots. But as a Miami fan I must say “Wide Right”
Hi Scott,
I am suprised you didn’t rent the 200-400mm f/4 or the 500mm f/4 from LensProtogo.com for the big game! NAPP members get a 10% discount on rentals.
Nice shots, and as has been mentioned… great hat!
I am also a FSU fan! In 7th/8th grade myself and 4 other friends had starter jackets of FSU. always had a good selection of T-shirts and hats as well.
My good friend went to college there as well.
First two shots are great!
Nice shot of the possible fumble? (what are you doing?, destroy that evidence! Or at least photoshop it.)
I am also an FSU fan. I live in Tallahassee! These were great shots. Glad your a Nole fan instead of the other..lol I knew there was a reason why I liked you..lol
Scott, two things. You said you didn’t have time to do anything other than white balance. What else would you do to those shots?
What is it like shooting with such a long fixed lens. I shoot my daughter just starting out in soccer, and I find I use zoom (only have a cheap 55-200). Do you just live with tight crops (like the fumble) on the near side, and bigger “play” shots from the other side of the field?
I have been interested in shooting a game… how does one actually go about getting the credentials to do so?
I will be shooting Arizona vs Jets using my new d300
for the first time. Please tell about your AF settings
and how well did it track the action?
Thanks
Frank
PS good stuff
Very Nice shots! Go Bucs!
Did you happen to get any of #96 Toshman Stevens? He is a freshman special teams and DE from my hometown high school that I shot last year. He’s on scholarship and heckova player.
Also, when is your Digital Photography 2 book coming out. The boxed set is on Amazon preorder, but I don’t need both. Have all your books and love your writing style.
Great action shots! That fumble shot is terrific! I am awaiting press passes to shoot the Alabama Crimson Tide (Roll Tide!) next month.
Great shots. GO ‘NOLES!!!!!!!!!
NO! NO! NO! Say it ain’t so, Scott! Say it ain’t so!
You have taught me Photoshop over the past 3 years! I have developed a love of photography and Photoshop because of your teaching.
I love the art of teaching and consider you a master teacher. You take the complex and simplify it, rather than complicating the simple. I love that!! You are condescending as a teacher, which is a huge compliment. You come the the level of the student and take them on a journey rather than being a simple conduit for information.
I watch the show every week. I love your warped sense of humor. I love the artist-musician in you. I admire the business savvy in you. I love the way you obviously appreciate a diverse group of people because of the huge personality differences in your friends. I love that you call people your friend, buddy, etc. That makes the world a better place. I consider you a mentor and unmet friend.
I am a Bucs (and cowboys) fan remained one through the very hard years. Pause. Shout out and special thanks to Tony Dungy for leading us out of the wilderness.
There were times I actually thought I may have a man crush on you even though you are unattractive and I am very straight. Very straight! You were actually in my fantasy small dinner group/golf foursome. I thought about becoming a stalker but then was leaning toward just retiring early and coming to work for you instead.
And then the crushing news today that you are a semi-nole! NO! NO! NO!
I’m going to find a bar and its only 1:30 in the afternoon. God help us all!
Go Cowboys vs Eagles tonight. Go Gators!
blessings anyway
simon
Scott,
I always enjoy seeing sports photos on your blog and today is no exception. It seems as if it’s always football. You have a 1st place baseball team in the Rays who are challenging the Red Sox and Yankees for the east title in your town. Would like to see some photos from the Rays game and info on the challenge, if any, shooting in a domed stadium.
Dave
Scott:
It may be the time for you to begin to take photographic shots of social significance such as poverty in the streets; human portraits of intense emotions; cultural identities and architecture; remnants of lost civilizations uncovered and their tragic stories of mass destruction e.g.: volcanoes
erupting without notice.
Maybe its time to stop with all these sports photos, beautiful women, and take your photographic imagery to another step. We believe in you Scott, now its time for you to wear the big pants and show us photos of intense realities.
What do you think?
Nice shots Scott.
I’m just expecting my D300 now. I’m so excited. Will get it soon!
Scott,
Nice shots!! I have the same question as one of the previous folks…how do you get credentials to get on the sideline?
Joe
Scott,
Any reason way you don’t use Auto ISO and set the Shutter Speed in S-Mode or even (heavens!) P-Mode? Would help in mixed lighting you were experiencing.
Just a thought.
RE: Chris Ward #17
What you might consider doing is getting a (relatively speaking, for the lens world at least) cheaper 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens. Personally, I really don’t like using fixed lenses, and this will give you the best of both worlds. I shot a golf tournament with it this weekend and the shots are just beautiful. The only major drawback is the aperture. I shoot with a D80, so if I know what’s good for me I don’t take my ISO over 1000, which means no Friday night football at the high school. Another plus is the particular lens I’ve got is an FX, so if I ever decide (lets get real, or can afford to) get a D700, or D3 I can still enjoy this lens.
Scott…great shots of the Seminoles!!!! I’m a 1958 grad of FSU and never-say-die adamant football fan so I really loved seeing the men in action. If you do any more of them please put me on your mailing list. BTW, I have great hopes that this season we will come back into our own.
Ardis Bourland
To those interested in shooting on the sidelines of sporting events, start with the Athletic Media Department. This information is usually listed on the sports web sites of the schools you are interested in.
It takes persistence to get your foot in the door. I would suggest that you find a game without the “marquee value” ie. the big rivalry, and start with something that not everyone and their uncle Bob wants to go to. The sidelines can get real crowded during the big games.
Although, it would be beneficial to have some kind of images to show the media folks, it’s not imperative. The key is to be sincere and back up what you promise. You will probably be asked to provide your best shots for the institution to use. Do not expect to be paid.
If you are so lucky to be admitted to the floor of the event, try to position yourself where you will get a unique image. If you are standing in a line of six other shooters, you may have the same thing as all the others. Try to get a day game versus a night game, especially if you have slower glass. Even university lighting systems are lacking.
As a final bit of advice to those of you that succeed in obtaining photo credentials, if you find yourself on the sidelines, always keep a “back alley” open so you can get the heck out of the way if a thousand pounds of beef comes stampeding your way. And leave your team jersey at home.
The visitors always look for an opponent’s colors to steamroll on their way out of bounds. Good luck, and take a lot of memory.
Scott,
Nice job. It was smart shooting pics of FSU vs Chattanooga instead of a real football school like USC. The score might have been reversed and there wouldn’t have been any FSU action. Just kidding.
I’ll bet that 300 mm lens was a little short for shooting football. The college and pro football sidelines are so crowded with miscellaneous people and TV crews. The longer the glass the better, a 400 mm can be short at times unless they are near the end zone. Also. the bench area for the teams had been so expanded.
When I first started shooting games, the sidelines were almost empty and you could move right up to the actual sideline. Those days are gone.
Robert
You must of really been having a slow Saturday to go to a Seminole game and watch them beat up on poor Chattanooga..Guess sideline passes help.
Anyway, Great Photography as usual…Disappointing college football team selection though..Don’t you have enough worries with the Bucs..?
Claire
I wish Tennessee would invite me to shoot a game sometime.
As an amateur, that would be super-cool.
Nice shots Scott!
I was wondering… could you recommend a tripod head that lets you switch from horizontal to vertical FAST in a situation like this?
Just wonderin…
Mau
Very nice shots Scott.
But the ‘Noles!? No way!
Ohio State all the way! Go Buckeyes!
-Blake
Scott, it was great to have you and Jeff up this past weekend and on the sidelines with me. Sorry the best I could offer you was my 300mm lens, but I’ve shot many a game with that lens and it’s always been a workhorse for me. It gets a lot of use from the baseline when the FSU basketball season rolls around. From the looks of your images, it seems to have served you well with the 1.4X.
For those of you wishing to shoot major college sports from the sidelines or on the floor, one of the posts above (from Lewis) provides good advice. That’s the route that most people take and it does provide a vehicle for working your way in. I know, as that is how I worked my way into becoming one of FSU’s sports photographers.
I’ll add a few comments for those who may want some more insight. It’s always easier to get credentials if you can show some kind of portfolio, either on a website or in the form of prints. Shoot a few high school games and create a portfolio of your very, very best shots. Most high schools would love dearly to have some photos of their games for yearbooks, etc. and are very happy to let you roam the sidelines in exchange for a disc of images. Most university Sports Information Directors know how hard it is to shoot high school sports (bad lighting, etc.) and if you can generate some good images in that setting, you’ll have a leg up in terms of getting your foot in the door with a university.
If you’re persistent and fortunate enough to bet credentialed, burn a disc with your best images and drop them off for the program to use free of charge. You will get photo credit if the images are used. DO NOT TURN IN ANY IMAGES THAT ARE EVEN BORDERLINE (soft focus, noisy, etc.). Photoshop all the images carefully and properly, including white balance, color, saturation, brightness, contrast, shadows, highlights, sharpness and noise. First impressions are critical. If you turn in marginal images you will be deemed a marginal photographer and your chances of coming back decrease significantly.
There are many pro-sumer photobugs with high end gear that are waiting with baited breath for the chance to do what you want to do, and if they turn in quality images, they will get the nod over you. In the end, it will be easier to come back (or be asked to come back) if the images you get are quality, publishable images.
That means having the right gear. Do not expect to shoot a night game or an indoor sport (like basketball) with any lens slower than f2.8. Even at f2.8, you will be pushing the ISO to a minimum of 1600 (except at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium where the lighting is abysmal and you have to push the ISO to 3200 just to get a shutter speed that begins to approach 1/500th). A camera body that shoots at 5 fps is almost essential, and obviously the more fps, the better. Standard fare for a football (night) game is a 400mm f2.8 lens on one body and an 80-200mm f2.8 lens on a second body. If you’re limited to one lens, hands down it’s the 80-200mm f2.8. You’re not going to shoot anything way down the field, but from the 30 to the goal line, you’ll do fine, especially on a camera body that’s not full frame and you’re getting a 1.5X (Nikon) multiplier. It’s also a great lens for basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and tennis. It’s a standard second lens for golf. Have a wide angle f2.8 zoom in your bag or vest for shots like the coaches’ handshake, team coming out of the tunnel, etc.
F2.8 lenses are the ticket, not only becasue they’re fast, but also because at f2.8, there is very little depth of field. That means that your focused player will be sharp, but everything in front or behind will be blurred, drawing attention to the sharp image of the player. Lenses that are slower are not only impossible to use at night or indoors, but their depth of field is such that too much of the foreground and background is in focus, distracting the viewer from the key part of the image.
Good luck to those who wish to give it a try. There’s nothing like being on the sidelines for a game. Can’t wait for the FSU-UF game. Looking forward to taking many shots of Tebow planted in the turf of Doak Campbell. Go ‘Noles!
Hey Scott,
I’m a wedding photographer in the Tampa Bay area, and I have benefited tremendously from your books. I really can’t say how much I have developed as a photographer, particularly in my post processing, as a result of your clear instructions.
I just recently was incredibly surprised to learn that you are in the Tampa area too! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and say “thanks” for the many ways you’ve helped me.
By the way, that first image in this post is fantastic. I’m not really a huge football fan in general, but that is good photography to say the least. I suppose as a mother of two young boys, I’ll need to grow an appreciation of football at some point in the near future.
Many blessings to you!
Gina Leigh
how many shots did you take that day? amazing shots. nice hat.
Scott, I am so sorry to hear you are a Noles fan….that really is sad news.
I bleed orange and blue, and still support my Gators way out here in Indonesia!! GO GATORS!!
Having that off my chest, I am still jealous that you get to do all these great photo shoots from the sidelines…you live a charmed life my friend…
Cheers,
Scotty
jakarta, Indonesia
Hey, Scott — I am a big fan of your published guides — my wife likes them too. Altho your D3 may have a problem, are you sure it isn’t set to some version of not-firing-unless-in-focus? I have had that problem and corrected it somewhere in the menus.
David Jenrette
Nice hat…
-c
Looks like you had a great afternoon Scott.
I know usually folks are interested in getting the football images, however in terms of starting to get into some practice with sports also look at some of the other sporting teams at local colleges and universities. In the fall is soccer season and getting access to the field at those events are a lot easier with the action still quick like football.
Scott,
Your first shot is cropped so as to show the spectators in the grandstand. I recently shot a game of Australian Rules [or Aussie Rules as we call it here down under] and posted the photo’s on a forum. A few commented that I should have cropped tighter.
Any chance of you having a quick look and giving your expert opinion?
You can find them here …
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=568569
cheers,
Stewart from Australia
The surname Olivella is very common in my village. Olivella is very, very small village near 5 kilometers from my home called Begues in Barcelona province (Spain). Meavy MIke will be glad to know that his surname is originary from that small village in Catalonia Area ( Barcelona,Spain).
Many regards and excellents shots, as always you do, Scott.
Scott,
Great pictures! Man, I’m jealous. The last FSU game I shot was back in 1985. I was the editor and photographer for the FSU AFROTC yearbook and one of my fellow cadets (I think it was Darrin Holloman) played on the team. I wish I would have had my Mark II N and my 400 2.8 back then instead of my old AE-1!
When are you bringing the Lightroom 2.0 Tour to Wash D.C.? Hurry!
Dave
Go NOLES!
Class of ‘86
GO GATORS!!! :p Very cool photos by the way!
Cheers!