Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game – Some of my photo coverage

Chick-fil-A Kickoff, Washington vs Auburn
[NIKON D5, Nikon 14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 400, ƒ/9, 1/500 35mm Equivalent=14mm]

Fans love to show their support for their teams using face paint.

Auburn’s Kam Martin (9) barrels through Washington’s Huskies at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Auburn defeated Washington 21-16 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm f/2.8, ISO 20000, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

Another Chick-fil-A Kickoff is in the books, and Auburn broke their losing streak at Mercedes Benz Stadium with a win over the Washington Huskies by 21-16 victory.

Fans enjoy a moment of glory for catching the football. The fans get a nice cushioned mat, whereas the players hit the hard ground after such a catch. This was at the International plaza outside the Mercedes Benz Stadium during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. [NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 100, ƒ/5.3, 1/640]

The day begins long before the 3:30 pm kickoff, where fans get to dream a little about their end zone catch that they would make for their team during the FanZone experience.

Fans enjoy taking photos with the Chick-fil-A Cows at the International Plaza before the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. [NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 100, ƒ/8, 1/400]

I am there to capture the action on the gridiron and the fans enjoying themselves.

Chick-fil-A One Members enjoy sampling all flavors of Chick-fil-A Milkshakes as part of the Chick-fil-A One VIP Experience before the game. [NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/1250]

While in the past, fans could get their photos made with the Chick-fil-A cows, this year, two of the most liked menu items, Waffle Fries & Milk Shakes, were being given away in the VIP Experience before the game.

Digital “Be Our Guest” cards were stocked in each stadium cup holder for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. [NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 3200, ƒ/4, 1/100]

Every fan that had a ticket to the game also got more free food with a “Be Our Guest” digital card they could redeem later at their favorite Chick-fil-A Restaurant.

Giving the invocation at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff is Daniel Carl Wuerffel, a former college and professional American football quarterback who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida.
[NIKON D5, 28.0-300.0 mm ƒ/3.5-5.6, ISO 22800, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

The Chick-fil-A Kickoff game is one of the few college football games that have an invocation before the game.

Chick-fil-A Cow Airborne Division parachuted over the fans during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 64000, ƒ/5.6, 1/2000]

Just before Kickoff, Chick-fil-A Cows parachute in the stadium for the fans.

Washington wide receiver Aaron Fuller (2) makes a catch as Auburn defensive back Javaris Davis (13) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Atlanta. [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 22800, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

The action didn’t disappoint either team during the game. Both teams made remarkable catches.

Auburn wide receiver Bryan Davis (23) breaks away from Washington defensive back Jojo MacIntosh (14) during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in Atlanta on September 1, 2018. [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 25600, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

I couldn’t have covered the game by myself and all the activities. Greg Thompson, Michael Schwarz, and Robin Rayne Nelson helped cover the events.

Auburn’s running back, Shaun Shivers, rushes for yardage during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes Benz Stadium. [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 22800, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

If you were to see all 3,000+ images I shot for the day; you would notice a few things I am doing.

Always looking to capture faces and expressions
Watching my background
Watching how the light is hitting the subject
Looking for Chick-fil-A branding – They are the client
Something happening – Working for action and peak moments

Washington’s Miles Gaskin (9) is stopped by Auburn during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 25600, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

They start early in the morning and shoot until the game ends as the players say thanks to their fans and then hit the road to go home.

Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) thanks fans for their support after the win at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. [NIKON D5, 120.0-300.0 mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 45600, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

Some may wonder why I put camera data in my captions here on the blog. Well, the main reason for this blog is teaching. I always have students who are learning how to do what I am doing. When you start seeing some of this camera data helps you understand what camera setting. Let me get a sharp, well-exposed, and proper white balance for my photos. Correct white balance is done by doing a custom white balance.