Shooting On The NFL Sidelines
Hi Gang: As you’re reading this, I’m in Philadelphia for my “Photoshop Tour for Digital Photographers” seminar, but on my way to Philly, I headed up to Chicago for an NFL sideline shoot at the Chicago Bears vs. Cleveland Browns game on Sunday, with a couple of my buddies; Mike Olivella, and Alex Walker (That’s us above. L to R: Mike, me, and Alex at Soldier Field during the game).
It was perfect weather for a football game; around 55° with no wind, and all three of us had an absolute blast! I’ve included a few shots from the game (but I got into Philly around 12:30 am so I didn’t have a lot of time to go through all the shots yet), but here’s a few quickies and the details on the gear I used, and settings:
Gear
I used two bodies: A Nikon D3, and a Nikon D300s. My main camera was the D3, and with it I used a 200-400mm f/4 mounted on a Gitzo carbon fiber monopod. My secondary camera was the D300s, where I switched between a 70-200mm, a 50mm f/1.4 (used mostly when the play moved inside the 10 yard line), and the occasional fish-eye lens for stadium shots (see below). I carried my gear using a Think Tank Photo modular belt system and used a Black Rapid R-Strap on the D300s (since it wasn’t mounted on a monopod). I also usually lose my Lens Hood once or twice during a game, so Brad finally got me a screw-on, rubber lens hood which worked great.
Mike and Alex are both Nikon shooters, too, and Alex was shooting a D300 with a 300mm f/2.8 lens that he got from the Paul and great folks over at LensProToGo.com (here’s the link—-I rent lenses from them myself, and I highly recommend them).
Settings
I shot in JPEG mode (to get the most frames per second), and I left the 200-400mm wide open at f/4 all day (to get as shallow a depth of field as possible to help separate the players from the background). I shot in High-Speed shooting mode, and set my focus to Continuous as well. It was a day game, so my white balance was set to Auto most of the day (until the field got in shadows, then I changed the white balance to shade), and I shot between 280 and 400 ISO (a little higher than usual because there was a thick cloud cover most of the day).
Anyway, it was an awful lot of fun spending the day shooting with a couple of buddies, plus I got to try out some of the tips I picked up from Sports Illustrated’s Peter Read Miller as well, which were a big help.
My thanks to everybody at the wonderful Bears organization (Go Bears!), and now I’ve got to get back to my seminar (the next one’s in Tampa, Florida in just over two weeks, on November 16th, so come on down and hang out for the day!).
I love the shot of the three of you with all your Nikon gear wearing Canon vests. Just thought that was funny. Canon sure spends some serious marketing money don’t they.
Canon is the sponsor of the NFL, they should have their logo on everything.
LOL…yes, that was the first thing I noticed too, you all look so good with those Canon vests
Haha…that’s a classic shot. I’m sure Nikon is loving this!
OMG – OMG – OMG – is that THE Alex Walker? The nice guy who won your contest and then became the victim of the crybabies over at Sportshooter.com? LOL! This is too rich. Mr. Kelby my hat’s off to you sir! So the winner of your contest gets screwed over by a bunch of jealous little girls at SS and doesn’t get to shoot a college game with you. So what do you do? You arrange for him to shoot at a PRO NFL game! Fantastic!!! I am laughing so hard I could spit! The SS guys’ heads must be spinning off their necks over this. And Alex gets a great day after all. I got to say Scott, you’ve really outdone yourself this time. I’m so happy for Alex. And so glad that someone like you has such a big heart. Thanks for this. Really. And great job on the pics by the way. I got to shoot the Seattle Seahawks at Quest Field once. It only LOOKS easy!
I Love it! Way to go Scott!
Your a class act SIR! well done for keeping your word and giving Alex a great day out
S. Bourne, that is awesome that you notice that very well written choice of words! Scott K, your the MAN
This would make a cool PRICELESS commercial!
At least the NFL has the brains not to mess over the dreams of its fans!
LMAO!!!!!
RC
Mr. Bourne,
You are also a class act and I appreciate everything you did by sending me the gifts. Thanks again!
That Rock’s. Really glad to see that everything worked out for Alex.
Great images Scott. Love to see your work.
That Rocks. Really glad to see that everything worked out for Alex.
Great images Scott. Love to see your work.
Dave stole my thunder with the Canon vest reference. Thanks Dave!!
I am heading over to Lens Pro to Go for a 2 day lighting seminar a friend of mine is teaching next weekend. Looking forward to checking the place out. I had no idea they are only 20 minutes from me. The place sounds amazing. I will tell them SK says hello.
-Bob
(Boston)
Great shot Scott !
Think that today What the Duck is for you ? isnt’it ? And that make me laugh a lot
http://www.whattheduck.net/sites/default/files/WTD832.gif
Have a nice week
Fred
Hey Scott,
Great shots and what a time for you and your buds. And, I thought a baseball game in Philly. Not Scott Kelby, he gets to go to yet another city to shoot an NFL game in perfect weather. Kharma is sure smiling at you my friend. Too bad your “Bucs” aren’t doing well this season.
Mike
Scott, great shots!! Great to finally see NFL shots with a fisheye!! Pete
Great shots Scott. I love Karma sometimes.
Somehow I just knew when I saw these photos that Alex would be there. Way to go Scott and everyone involved in seeing nice guys finish FIRST, not at a college game, but a PRO game.
I was at the CS4 Integration Tour with RC filling in for Dave Cross in Kansas City, Friday, and once again, NAPP and Kelby Training rock! Hope RC enjoyed being in KC and you are welcome back anytime!
Scott, you gave Alex and many others a wonderful day by extension. Keep multiplying the good, and keep giving God the glory!
Way to go Scott! It was GREAT to see Alex finally getting his chance to shine! You are a blessed man Mr. Kelby! The photos are fantastic and thanks for giving us the gear info! That really helps me! Congratulations to Alex from all us! Scott, have a great day today. I’m looking forward to your critique in tomorrow blog!
Thanks for everything!
Dennis
You’re a class act Scott.
Scott,
What focus settings did you use? I seem to have problems with this when using the D3 for sports situations.
Thanks,
Herb
I love the shots Scott! Rich Hues
and on the last photograph I like that little detail of grass kicked up 
–
Dwayne D.C. Tucker II
Nassau, Bahamas
Well played sir.
Awesome to see that Alex finally got his day on the sidelines! Looks like awesome fun! Way to go!
I’m still absorbing everything they threw at us at PSW Vegas. It was my first time, and I am still overwhelmed by how successful it was and how many different learning opportunities were available. I was using your notes from Creative Lightroom layouts last night and noticed that you promised to post the layouts as Presets on the PSW/downloads page. Hope to see them soon. Thanks again for all you do here, in the books, and at PSW.
Nice shots (I like #33 with the ball …) – you’re a dedicated guy to say up so late after travelling making a blog post…
Nice comp-shoot for Alex as well, glad to see it played out well – good guys usually finish first, eventually
What an excellent resolution to the situation! Scott, my hat is off to you and Mike!
These look great, Scott! I sure am glad you had a perfect Autumn day for football. And, I sure love to see good things happen for good people. Way to go!
If you’d ever need someone to run around behind you and carry a lens or camera bag — I’d be the happy soul to do so… Looks like you had such a blast… And your kindness and generosity is why I keep coming back here everyday to read the latest.
Happy Monday!
I love the shots, but what keeps me reading every morning are the detailed explanations of now only what you do but why you do it. I don’t imagine I’ll ever be a sports photographer, but I learn so much that is applicable to many photography situations. And who knows.. there may be a grand child’s little league game in my future! Thanks, Scott.
You are a class act, Scott. Not only did you arrange this amazing opportunity for Alex, but you didn’t spit back in the faces of those who spit in yours.
You are a true Gentleman.
glad this all worked out for you. how great is that!
Bravo Sir Bravo
Just added the link for the rubber lens hood if anyone is interested.
Thanks for the link, I’ve been meaning to get one of these.
Hi Janine.
-Scott
Glad you all had such a great time! Well done, Scott!! Thank you for doing this.
Scott – great post again and a wonderful classy solution to the “situation”.
And, Brad, thanks for adding the link for the rubber lens hood — that’s what I need esp for the 70-200.
I dig the wide angle stuff. And way to go for getting Alex into a pro game. Very classy and respectable thing to do.
No offense, but I’d much rather shoot a Bears game than a college game any day! Go Bears! And what a great day to be there, with the ceremony honoring Sweetness Walter Payton on the 10th anniversary of his passing.
Great shots, it was cool seeing some close up stills of the game we just watched yesterday and saying – Hey, I remember when that happened!
Thanks Scott!
Scott, I shoot the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and hav a D-3 and a D-300. My biggest glass os 70-200 2.8. Since its daytime i’ve always wondered if I would be better off with the 70-200 on the D-300 and a wide on my D-3 that way i have more zoom.
It is good to see that it all worked out so well, all the way around! I’m glad you shared this with all of us too. I’ve known for some time now that you are a good person, now others do too! It’s just a fitting end for all that you went through to help out another person who shared the same enthusiasm for sports photos as yourself! Enjoy!
Well, as of yet, the guys at SS have not made a stink. I’m glad to see that in the end the good guys won. Way to stand up for the little guys Mr. Kelby and Olevia. I hope to see more of this kind of thing in the future. Between you and Jarvis, you two bust down more doors for the shooters out there trying to break into the business than anyone else. Thanks for all the great info and instruction.
Great shots!! I was listening to a Chicago sports talk radio station and they were laughing about a report that Mike McCaskey (the Bears owner) was seen photographing “guys that were photographing the Bears”. Don’t know if Mike was with you or not but they found it very funny.
Actually Mr. McCaskey was searching for a special Hummer H2 that he had heard about with Bears graphics all over it. He,Scott and I walked among the fans and tailgaters for over an hour searching before we found it. He spent probably 15-20 minutes inspecting the H2 and talking with the owners.He stopped and took pictures of people tailgating and posed for more pictures with fans that I could count. He shook more hands than someone running for President. He is the most gracious, hospitable, down to earth person you would ever want to meet as well as a great photographer. I’d be willing to bet he was the only NFL owner that did that yesterday before,after or during a game.
So far the crybabies at http://www.sportsshooter.com haven’t caught wind of this.
Should be interesting once they do.
Scott,
I love your Kelbytraining center, but I would love a place on that site where I can ask specific questions on training classes.
Your new class, light it, shoot it retouch it, is fabulous! I wished you used a light meter so I could learn that concept of the light ratios between the side lights and front fill light. Looking at the images in Lightroom, the histogram almost looks underexposed?? Also I need something to hold my foamcore gobo, what did you use and what are those rolling light stands called?
This was the best class so far!!
Thanks
Debbi
great shots Scott! I love the colors. so bright and so crisp. very nice.
It’d be great to have more information on how you got to go shooting at a NFL football game. It seems like an impossible thing to do for some of us out there and i’d be curious to know the hoops one has to jump through to get to do this.
keep the great posts like these coming and thanks for all the tips!
cheers!
Scott
Great shots !! It looks like you had a busy day with shooting the game during the day and then flying to Philadelphia for the seminar the next day which by the way i had attended.
Great seminar ! By the way, very informative and educational !!!
I’m so glad Dave Cross tweeted with the link to this blog. I’ve been shooting high school football for four years now, and even though my own son doesn’t play anymore, I loved shooting the games so much, I just kept doing it. I really appreciate the run down of your gear (and I’m happy I have some matches as a lowly amateur). What a great day you must have had. I hope one day I can shoot a pro game too. Thanks for all you share with us.
Hey, can someone tell me what is on the 70-200 lens hood(red tape) on shorter guy in the first photo?
Thank you
Tanner, I’m the short guy in the left photo. I put red tape at the end of all my lens hoods for one simple reason – so I can keep an eye on my gear and minimize the chance someone might walk away with it. During a game, I often have to set one of the two (or three) cameras I’m shooting with down on the grass to get a shot. Sometimes I have to walk away from that gear (that I placed on the grass). If I were to ever see someone walking off with a camera body that has red tape on the end of the lens hood, I would boogie on over and determine whether it is in fact mine. Maybe I’m a little paranoid as I have never had anyone walk off with anything during a game, but you never know who is on the sidelines and what they might do. The red tape is an inexpensive way to try to prevent something like that.
I will echo all of Alex’s comments about Mr. McCaskey and throw his wife and family onto the same pedestal. They are the most generous, warm, hospitable and gracious folks you would ever want to meet.
Finally, I’d like to call out Mr. Kelby. I know you folks have come to believe that Scott is a stand up, decent, generous individual. I only wish each and every one of you had a chance to get to know him on a personal level, for if you did, you would find that Scott Kelby is everything you believe him to be and then some. It is my monumental privilege to be able to call Scott Kelby my friend. One would have to search long and hard to find a more loyal, compassionate, and genuinely decent human being than Messr. Kelby. In your words, Scott – YOU ROCK!
Everything Mike says about Scott is so true! I was with him for only about 7-1/2 hours but he made me feel like we were good friends. He picked me up at my hotel , took me to breakfast , where we talked about our families and he showed me pics of wife and his kids from Halloween night. He is a warm & gracious person and he made Sunday a very special day for me.
As for Mr. Olivella , he was just as warm and gracious. He walked up with about 10 minutes left in the first quarter , we shook hands looked at me and said “Dang dude , I didn’t know you were going to be this big!” He then he instantly started giving me tips on what to shoot, where to stand, what not to do, and totally put me at ease with what I was doing and where I was. I think I even managed to get a few decent shots. Both of these guys are the type of people you want in a foxhole with you! I hope each and everyone of you that follows their blogs gets a chance to someday meet these guys. You will be just as impressed as I am. I still can’t believe I got to shoot along two world class photographers. It was a dream come true! Thanks again Scott,Mike and Mr. McCaskey!
Scott,
Nice shots from The Field. Plus, the Bears won!! Best way to keep a stubborn lens hood on? Apply 1 piece of gaffer’s tape to opposing sides of the lens and the hood – 1 at the 12 o’clock and 1 at the 6 o’clock positions. Same thing for Stoffen cubes on your SB800’s.
I hear there are support groups scattered around the country for those of us addicted to gaffer’s tape!!
Scott,
Wow, an NFL game! How cool is that! You solved the problem in a big way!
I can’t tell you how great this is for amateurs like me to know we have a friend and educator in the pro photo ranks, who actually cares about helping us learn.
So great to see your contest winner got his prize and what a prize that was! That is so awesome! I hope he shares some of his shots from the game on your website. You guys look like a great team!
It is good to see justice served. Alex got his dream assignment with two very special photographers. Thanks to both of you for making it happen for Alex.
I am glad you are having fun but you promised in January on the PUTV it would be better this year. We got re-runs, re-runs, promises, then no no re-no runs, no promises, no more D-Town and no even LayersTV in re-runs… can’t get much better.
I have known Alex Walker for many years and his photographs have gone unnoticed for many years. He is not only a good photographer but an excellent man!
The response to local and national disasters is awesome but it’s a damn shame that so many citizens take advantage of the negative situations.
I mean everytime there is an earthquake, a flood, an oil spill – there’s always a group of heartless people who rip off tax payers.
This is in response to reading that 4 of Oprah Winfreys “angels” got busted ripping off the system. Shame on them!
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/19/crimesider/entry5251471.shtml