Now had you ever asked me if I have ever dreamed about being or becoming a NFL professional photographer I would have looked at you and said, you mean my husband? But sometimes opportunities show up that are just too good to turn away and you've got to grasp the opportunity by the horns, hold on and yell loudly - yee haw this could be a dream! Yesterday I had such an opportunity at the Seahawks vs. Jaguars game in Seattle.
The opportunity goes back to an old 20+ year friendship from Western NY, a phone call, and saying yes.
Now Harry didn't exactly call up and say, hey you want to be a NFL photographer for a day, he simply asked if Corinne (my sister who's in Gig Harbor) and I would like to have passes to the field at the game. Now I had no idea that these passes were media passes or that only media passes and a few lucky others are allowed on the field the entire game.
Pre-game we met the owner of the Jaguars and the assistant coach, former Seahawks player Mike Tice and some of the players. We were having fun meeting people and I even caught a few footballs. It made me realize just how kind and human people are.
Note to self if you're ever going to be on the NFL field pre-game, practice catching and throwing a football because a lot of that happens in the three hours pre-game. After filling our stomachs with some decent food courtesy of the media room, Corinne and I were also posing for a bunch of photos courtesy of Harry.
Then I asked if I could take some pictures and he said go ahead...take what you want, but don't get in the way or knocked over (we already signed the waiver when we picked up our red media vests that released the NFL if we happened to be crushed on the sidelines). So away I went with one of the cameras and snapped away at any thing that looked mildly interesting. I also had the opportunity to be called over to the sidelines to take pictures of people that posed with the assistant coach or with each other - of course wanting to know how to get a copy.
It was a blast.
After the warm up Harry went in to the Jaguars media room and downloaded all the photos so that the three cameras had fresh memory cards and the three of us headed back onto the field.
Harry took the largest of cameras, one with a close to two foot lense for cross field closeups that was kept on a pole - cause that bad boy is heavy! Corinne was content with being camera girl and carrying the extra camera. I took on the camera with a 1 foot lense, and I have to admit that after a couple hours I realized just how heavy this thing was. This morning my left arm which did all of the supporting is really sore. (fyi all the pictures in this post are from my iphone - and before we donned our red vests)
Corinne was miss follow the rules, don't take any photos you're going to get into trouble. At first I listened to my baby sister, but got bored of looking through the lense (and wanted to get even closer to the action) and thought buzz off (totally lovingly of course because she is my sister) I'm going to take some photos, if Harry doesn't want me to he'll let me know...and my inner photographers imagination was let loose.
It was fun roving up and down the sidelines with all the other photographers, radio people, refs, and TV folks. Standing, kneeling, and on my stomach I wildly snapped away. I was one of four media women on the field including my sister- yup the industry is totally dominated by the guys. Don't they know they need me?
At half time we went in to pee and eat some more as well as to post a few pictures on my facebook account. There is no internet connection in the interview room or on the field. On the way out Corinne and I were a few minutes after the second half started and a bunch of obnoxious guys yelled - "ladies the game's over there just in case you can't find it" - like no shit. I waved, said thanks for the help (swore under my breath) and went out...then I smiled, ha I'm on the field baby!
Two moments standout, during the first touchdown by Seattle, I was probably 15 feet from where the ball went over the line - which was totally cool. And during one of the plays the guys came rolling over the line literally a few feet from me - I don't think I've ever jumped so quickly cause I know it would have hurt - and I thought back to the waiver I had signed.
Harry was great and never apprehended the camera from me throughout the game allowing me my full day of NFL adventure. We even sat in the media room as they interviewed the Jaguar's coach post game. All I could think was, could you think of a question that is at least interesting vs. the obvious?!
After the game the three of us headed to Pyramid Brewery for a quick beer before heading back into life's reality. All of us had a great time on the field and loved catching up. We even hoped that Bob and Tim enjoyed their role reversal day with the kids.
Any exciting any unexpected adventures?
Here's a link to a few more photos.
Comments