So there I am.  Hanging out on the sidelines during pre-game warm ups, chatting with football managers, injured players, coaches, cheerleaders, prepping myself for a Friday Night football game.  In Alaska in August, that means the sun is still up, but low, and here we were looking at some nasty direct light, but light does not bother me.  In fact, the light was kind of fun because it kept changing.  The game started with that harsh, right in their faces bright light.  For you photo geeks, we are talking ISO 100 at 1/5000+ shutter speeds with a 2.8 aperture.  Bright.  By the middle of the 1st quarter, clouds rolled in and we were at ISO 400 and 1/1000 shutters speeds, then rain and ISO 800, then the 4th quarter, clouds disappeared and we were back to ISO 400, but with a lot of shadows and golden hour light.  But the light was not an issue.  It does not bother me.  Sidelines were starting to get crowded.  Local paper writer with camera (miss seeing Dave and Dan on the sidelines, but that is another story), Anchorage Daily News shooter, Channel 2’s Kevin Wells, and a very pretty camerawoman from Fairbanks, which seemed odd since there were no Fairbanks teams, but I was not complaining, myself and everyone associated with the team, including 22 cheerleaders.  Lots of people to work around and throw the refs in and it gets a little crowded.  But, I had a job to do.  I continued to prep myself, checking exposure, getting some video capture for a end of season project, keeping my eyes on the team as they were warming up, looking for some sort of indication on what the game plan might be for the night.  It helps to know what plays are going on, so I can anticipate the plays and grab the best possible shots.  I do this every game and it works, but there has always been one shot that escapes me.

The reception.  I have lots of reception photos, great shots, but not the one.  I have plenty of shots of wideouts getting the ball in the air across the field, usually with one or two players in frame, usually between me and the reception, or the ball just too far away to show you it was caught, or after it is already in the hands of the receiver, or one with a ref totally getting in my way.  What I have been looking for is that perfect shot.  Full body, ball getting ready to fall in the hands of the receiver in full stride.  I came close the very first game of the season with this shot of an interception.