My daughter’s high school had its first football pre-season game tonight. Roswell High School played cross-town rival Johns Creek high school.

In the first photo, Roswell High School’s #1 full back Sheldon Evans runs for a touchdown while being pursued by John’s Creek #3 defensive back Jack Somers and #36 defensive back Bryce McCain.

At 8:03 pm or about 20 minutes before sunset, I took the photo at the top. The Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S with the Sigma TC-2001 2x attached was locking in on focus quickly and holding steady with the Nikon D4.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 3600, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

The coach on the sidelines was shot at 7:43 pm with the sun dipping behind trees, so indirect sunlight was hitting the players from the open sky.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 7200, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

As you can see, having the Sigma TC-2001 2X converter was helping me reach downfield. The converter gave me a 600mm, which worked well for the high school game. You can get much closer to the sidelines than in college or pro games.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 6400, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

Here I am in the end zone, where the player crosses the 50-yard line. Again, I am shooting at 410mm on the zoom range.

I love shooting from the end zones because, as you see in the photos, I am more likely to see the players’ faces. After all, this is the direction the offense is going. If I cover the defense, I would be in the opposite end zone and getting the defensive players’ faces.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

You can see the expressions on the faces of the players and show the ball and the defense simultaneously. Here I captured a moment that I am sure the coaches will be talking to the offense about protecting that ball more than they are doing here.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000

I love these photos where you see the defense doing all they can to stop the offense and also showing the players’ athleticism.

One of the photographers showed up tonight with the new Sigma 150-600mm contemporary lens. I would love to see what she got and even more, which I could have tested. But, I think shooting Friday Night Lights on small community football fields is possible with today’s cameras and high ISOs.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S and Sigma TC-2001 2x combination. I also used the new 1.4X converter but preferred the 2X to get downfield.