What happens when you take fifteen Groton-Dunstable Regional High School photography students, hand them expensive DSLRs, and place them three feet away from an elite school-day fullback? Awe-inspiring shots. And a little bit more added to school culture. Today, Mr. O'Connor's Photography I class traded the quiet comfort of the classroom studio for the chaotic, fast-paced sidelines of an impromptu outdoor football game. Our mission? Freeze the action, capture the emotion, and withstand the thunderous atmosphere provided by GD superfan Matthew B. on the cowbell. Here is a look behind the lens at how we captured the game, along with the top technical tricks we learned to freeze time.
The Playbook: How We Got the Shot
Mr. O'Connor highlighted to his students that shooting sports is not like like taking a portrait, and they had to be fast, predictive, and completely locked in on their camera settings. The class then split into teams (players and photographers) to cover different angles, focusing on three major goals: The Action ... The Emotion ... The Details.
Our Favorite Shot of the day
While Mr. O’Connor’s students took dozens of photos, the undisputed class favorite was unanimous. They managed to get low to the ground right near the end zone, capturing both Mitch and Coby as they tore through the defense for a pair of touchdowns, silencing the deafening roar of the cowbell. The class left the field with full memory cards, dead batteries, no grass stains, and a massive appreciation for professional sports photojournalists.