Are you ready for some football? On Monday July 29th the Miami Dolphins had a training camp scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium for their season ticket holders and select fans and even though I’m a season ticket holder, I had no plans on attending. That quickly changed with a text from the Sports Bros. who said the had a media pass for me so I could get field access. Field access to the Miami Dolphins training camp scrimmage, um yes please. I quickly changed my plans for the night so I could go take photos of an NFL team practicing.
I got to the stadium just has practice was starting so I didn’t get a chance to capture the stretching and warmups prior to a game or practice like I was use to when I photographed the University of Miami Hurricanes games last year. I was like a seasoned pro maneuvering my way through the under belly of the stadium and right onto the field. I quickly took my camera out and got my settings locked and began shooting the tail end of the individual drills.
As I looked around at the other photographers I quickly recognized them from the Miami Hurricanes football games and then I remembered they all had 400 and 500mm lenses attached to their camera. The sheer envy I tell ya.
Right before the individual drills concluded a security member informed me that they were moving all media on to the other side of the field so I had no problems just walking around the field to where everyone else in the media was congregating. Ten minutes after that all the media was told that they had 10 minutes left to either capture video or shoot photos and then we would be asked to leave the field. Guess they didn’t want us to capture formations and personnel being used etc.
I was only able to squeeze out around 200 photos before we left the field. Most of the other photographers headed into the media room where all the photographers leave their gear and have wi-fi so they can upload their photos right then and there. I chose to bypass that and head upstairs to the press box. Up in the press box was a litany of local media and sports reporters all there watching the game and interacting with one another. It was also pretty nice of the Miami Dolphins to supply water and pizza up in the press box.
While in the press box I was reviewing the images I had taken. I noticed that there are times I seem to be afraid to zoom in completely on the action of the field. I had some great shots but I felt they would have been even better if I racked out my lens. I guess you could say this was also my training camp. Got some great experience in and even did a little networking up in the press box. I just can’t wait for the real games to start.
