Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S, Sigma TC-2001 2x, ISO 900, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000
The weather in Richmond for the football game was sunny between 48º and 57º F, which was great fall football weather.
This was the 125th meeting between the University of Richmond and William and Mary, making this the oldest football rivalry in the South.
The sun was so bright that on this pass play, the receiver looked straight into the sun and missed this well-thrown pass.
While I wanted to capture some action shots of the historic game, I also realized that photos with former Spiders Coach Dal Shealy [1980–1988] and some former players and staff were just as important to commemorate the day.
Richmond’s #1 Jacobi Green leaps over his offensive lineman during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against William & Mary, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Richmond, Va. Jacobi Green ran for 217 yards on 36 carries with a touchdown to help lead Richmond to a 20-9 win over William & Mary on Saturday, clinching a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title in the process.
Jacobi Green’s third-quarter touchdown gives him 15 rushing touchdowns on the season, which ranks atop the CAA. Green stands alone in third on the single-season rushing touchdown list.
I flew to Richmond to use the equipment for the game.
- 2 Nikon D4 Camera Bodies
- 1 Nikon D750
- Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S
- Sigma TC-2001 2x
- Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens
I did take more gear than is always in my Thinktank Airport Security™ V2.0 rolling camera bag, but this is what I took onto the field throughout the game. 95% of the time, I just shot with Nikon D4 and the Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM | S and the Sigma TC-2001 2x, which gave me a 240-600mm lens.
I kept the 2X converter on most of the time until the team got past the 20-yard line, at which point I would take it off and shoot with the 120-300mm range.
I was continuously facing the Richmond Spiders. I was either covering their offense or defense, and I could see their faces most of the time. This was when they had those breakaway plays like this one of Jacobi Gree, and I could capture it.
By covering the game from the endzone, I captured the game’s defensive play. In the fourth quarter, defensive back David Herlocker makes an interception. He returns it all the way back to the Richmond 30.
Remember, they are much more than just the game action when covering a sporting event.
Capture all you can from the sidelines to the stands.
I even caught a photo of Brian Jordan, one of Sports Illustrated’s top 15 college athletes of all time. So keep your eyes and ears open; you never know what you can capture. Remember that there is more than just the action during a college football game–especially one with a tradition of 125 years.