The Iowa State/Cincinnati matchup may not be a headline-grabbing game, but for me, it was a big step. I’ve been wanting to push my photography beyond the still, intimate portraits I’m known for and into the more dynamic, high-energy world of sports.
Packing up a rented Canon R5 Mark II, Canon 100-300mm f/2.8, and my trusty R5 Mark I’s I hit the road from Omaha, making the 2.5-hour drive to Ames. The weather was cold and bitter, but the chill faded as I got wrapped up in the game.
Shooting football is nothing like shooting portraits (even though I snuck in a little of my style)—everything is moving fast, the players are in constant motion, and the action doesn’t stop. I quickly realized that my cardio was going to get a workout and found myself running from end zone to end zone, trying to stay ahead of the play and get into position for the best shot.
But not everything went smoothly. There were a lot of missed shots, blurry images, and moments where the autofocus just couldn’t keep up with the speed of the game. At times, I found myself frustrated, wondering if I’d figure out how to get the shot. It wasn’t easy, but I kept reminding myself that learning means making mistakes. I couldn’t expect to be perfect right from the start. Each miss taught me something—whether it was about timing, anticipation, or just figuring out how to adjust to the chaos of the field.
That’s the thing about sports photography—it’s unpredictable and fast. It’s dynamic, and sometimes you just have to take what you get. Perfection is hard to come by. But what I quickly learned is that it’s not about perfection; it’s about the experience, the process, and learning how to work within the chaos.
Then, toward the end of the game, after all the running around and moments of frustration, it happened. I got it. That one moment that made all the messiness of the day worth it. It wasn’t until the final minutes, but sometimes that’s how it works—you stick it out, stay focused, and you get lucky.
So, what did I take away from my first football game? The key is to push through the tough moments, keep learning, and remember that not every shot will be perfect. The goal isn’t to be a pro right away, but to leave each experience better than you entered it. And who knows, sometimes it takes all the way to the last minute to get the one.
Iowa State, thanks for the opportunity. And football? I think you might be my next big challenge.