9 replies to this topic

[TBonz]

The last two Friday nights I've spent at football fields.  Both of these games were "Homecoming" games.  For those not familiar with the tradition, it is basically an annual game to encourage alumni to come back to their school.  Many schools have a parade and the school usually has a dance the following night for the students.  The students also elect a Homecoming "Court" with a King and Queen.  Most schools have their own individual traditions around Homecoming as well.  My sons' school had a week of various school spirit activities leading up to the game and dance.  Their football team (through donations) also got jerseys with their names to wear starting with the Homecoming game.  

 

I'll follow-up this post with photos from the second game after I've finished editing them, but tried to capture the evening with a few photos.

 

It was a pretty rainy evening for this game...

 

This school had their competition dance team perform just before the game started.

 

 

One of the first plays of the game...notice #10 has already managed to get a cut on his elbow...

 

 

The cheerleaders trying to keep the crowd fired up!

 

 

After the Homecoming Court was announced, they announced the young lady who was selected (by the students) to be the Homecoming Queen.  

 

 

None of the court knew who it would be until the announcement.  They announced that the King would be named at the dance the following night.

 

 

Had to include this one from the second half of the game...it was on the opposite side of the field so it is a fairly significant crop, but thought it would be fun to include...

 

Unfortunately, the home (black uniform) team lost the game...

 

[Thumper]

Fantastic set!!!    I especially love that last one.  

[Rontography]

Nice shots TBonz.

 

I love me some good high school football. It really makes it more enjoyable at a bigger school with a good team, but that also takes away from me taking the time to take many pictures. You would think with unlimited access I would, but I don't.

[TBonz]

Thanks guys...

 

I think my favorite is the cheerleader - caught that one just right...

 

There are so many things I enjoy about high school football that when I go to a game these days, I just want to have my gear in hand and see what I can capture of the game and the emotions that go into it.  I must say that I do try to limit those emotions to positive ones in my photos though...Don't want to post negative photos for the teams I'm covering although that can be tough when covering both teams in a game!

 

I have to say I was spoiled...for five or six years, I shot the football games (and other sports) for various groups of the high school my boys attended.  In that time I shot the State Championship twice and either the State Semi-Finals or Regional Finals the other years.  Yes, they have a very good team - it will be interesting to see how far they go this year.  They also have a reasonably well lit field as far as the local high school fields go.

 

That's not to say I don't shoot their games any more, but only if time and interest allow me to.  No real interest in traveling to their road games and I've had several conflicts this year so only made one of their home games so far.  The two Homecoming games were on poorly lit fields with teams that are not quite at the same level.  Both home teams lost - as a matter of fact, I believe that both home teams are winless this year.  At times, I was even surprised at the difference - in level of talent, player desire, coaching and many other things.  Until this past week, I've never heard a coach have to tell his (or her) players that they needed to play with pride and keep their heads up.  I must have heard it a dozen times last Friday.

 

Yea, I guess I am spoiled.  It will be interesting to see what some other sidelines hold in the future...

[Russ]

We don't have cheerleaders 

[TBonz]

Too bad Russ!  To me, cheerleaders are a big part of the Friday night high school football experience...Not even sure what it was at last Friday's game, but something - maybe a cheer or the Homecoming excitement - took me back for a minute and I was sitting in the bleachers with my folks as a young kid with all the excitement.  It was very cool!  I guess it is just one of those things that seems to have definite differences, but quite a bit the same wherever you go in the US.  If you want to get the feel of the area, go out under the "Friday Night Lights" and catch a high school football game. 

 

I always try to get a few shots of the cheerleaders during the game, but even when I'm not shooting them I find myself listening to them and notice if they are overly quiet.  I noticed the cheerleaders at the college game I shot earlier this year did significantly less cheering than the high school cheerleaders...I also noticed the college team was all young ladies where as most high schools and colleges have both male and female members...The pro sports teams seem to go with all female cheerleaders / dancers.

[Rontography]

I agree, you gotta have the cheerleaders. Plus my daughter is one of them. Add a good marching band and student section and it all makes for a great Friday night.

[Thumper]

My granddaughter is a high school cheerleader now.  I would like to go out and shoot one of her games, but I haven't managed to get out to one yet.  (Plus, the little imp seems to be too busy to reply to any my texts or messages as to when/where games are, but she might still be mad at me for threatening a young lad with bodily harm who was making rather inappropriate remarks to her at her birthday party, right in front of me, no less ).  But I would very much like to go try shooting a HS football game.  Actually, a few different HS sports.  

 

 

I still get a kick out of that last pic.  Looks like the receiver is running so fast that he is dragging his opponent through the air behind him.  (Reminds me of the ewok on the speederbike scene in Return of the Jedi.   Did I just totally geek out there?)

[greenwing]

Nice shots, Tbonz.

 

And a bit of understanding gained for 'Daydream Believer'

[TBonz]

Rontography - I agree...Pretty good band too - they have traveled to London and the Rose Parade to perform...son's school usually had a great (and inventive) student section although it would die down for several reasons late in the season (colder, generally 20+ point wins until playoffs, hockey games were also frequently on Friday nights inside and free, etc.)

 

Yea - probably overboard Greenwing, but I know we have lots of international folks here and figured I'd best give a bit of background on Homecoming for those who may not know!  And yes, high school football is where that line came from...

 

Thumper - get out there and shoot!!!  No, not the boy making the inappropriate remarks unless you are using your camera and he's a football player / cheerleader!  The other option would probably ruin the evening for everyone - especially him...You could just provide him a copy of that snake photo...almost all the schools around here have their schedules and results online if that helps!