Photographing Friday Night Lights at a small country high school

by Stanley LearyPhotography
The referee is taken on a play during the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Football against Mountain Island Charter. [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/1600]

I had a lot of fun covering my nephew’s high school football game. The oldest is a senior and played; the youngest was dressed if they ever needed him.

Elijah and his girlfriend
Joshua and his girlfriend

Like all small-town high school football, the lighting for these games is not great. I covered high school football in these small towns in 1984 for the Hickory Daily Record. Just getting a photo in focus, and somewhat good exposure was challenging in just Black and White. Today I can shoot colors and get great results.

[Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000]

So the camera settings for this game were:

ISO 64000
Aperture ƒ/5.6
Shutter 1/2000

Compare this to the Billion Dollar Mercedes Benz Stadium where I was shooting the Chick-fil-A Kickoff games:

ISO 12800
Aperture ƒ/5.6
Shutter 1/2000

2 1/2 stops are different in the quantity of light.

High School Color Temperature 5650º Kelvin with +2 Magenta
Mercedes Benz Stadium Color Temperature 5000º Kelvin with +11 Magenta

Almost catch for a touchdown. [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/1250]

This was a big game for my nephew’s team. They were undefeated 9-0 before the game and basically needed the win to seal their conference win.

They went into the locker room at halftime 14 – 0.

Touchdown [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 45600, ƒ/2.8, 1/4000]

They went on to win the game for 36 – 14 and now are 10 – 0 for the season in their conference.

The defender tipped the ball, upsetting a possible long pass and yardage play. [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/1600]

The visiting team was in white and in the first half showed signs of frustration and turnover after turnover. Their coaches were losing their cool with the kids.

[Nikon D5, Nikkor 28-300mm ƒ/3.5-5.6, ISO 65535, ƒ/5.3, 1/4000]

I think the coaches had a good talk with my nephew’s team. I think they explained how the other team’s outbursts and turnovers were signs that they had gotten into their heads. So they came out with more confidence in that second half.

Touchdown! [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 51200, ƒ/2.8, 1/4000]

What this made me realize is how much we all need encouragement. When you believe you can do something versus feeling like the underdog, you make the big plays.

[Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/1600]

During the first half, the offensive line couldn’t create holes for the running backs, but the pep talk gave them the confidence they could play better than the other team if they just believed.

Running back (20) Bill Lay breaks for long yardage during Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy’s upsetting Mountain Island Charter for a 36 to 16 victory and giving them a 10-0 season thus far in the year. [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000]

While my nephews might not have played as much as they wanted, at the end of the game, they knew they were as much a part of the team that got them to 10 – 0 as the star players.

(84) Joshua Poe, my nephew, on special teams kick-off, ended up tackling the runner on the play. This was a better photo to show him. [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000]

I could tell everyone was giving their all to win the game.

[Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/1250]
(5) Miller Outton, tailback, runs out of bounds after getting first down for Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy against Mountain Island Charter. [Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/1250]
[Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 51200, ƒ/2.8, 1/4000]
[Nikon D5, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, TC-2001, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/1600]

PHOTO TIPS:

Here are a few tips for those wanting to get better photos of your kids playing under the Friday Night lights game of football.

  1. Buy a lens that is longer than 400mm. I suggest things like the Sigma – 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports DG OS HSM Contemporary, which is under $1,000.
  2. Use the ExpoDisc to do a custom white balance under the lights. Gives you more accurate colors in your photos and significantly better skin tones.
  3. Use a monopod to help steady your camera.
  4. Use a fast shutter speed. I suggest 1/2000 if possible.
  5. Use high ISO. You may need a new camera that shoots above ISO 12800.
  6. Stand in front of the action and let the players go towards you. You get more photos of the faces this way.