Thursday, September 16, 2010

Fall, football and Kenny Loggins

When I woke up last Saturday, the day loomed before me empty of plans.
It was going to be a gorgeous day and I knew that we needed to get out of the house, but what could we do?
Dan and I took off first thing in the morning for a Starbucks date.
As the caffeine began to work it's magic, ideas for how to spend the day began to surface.
But it was this one that won out.
Navy Football!!

(It's absolutely the only football that I get remotely excited about.)
But you want to know what really truly excited me?
Getting to use my new camera at a football game for the first time! 
Using my zoom lens to get closer to the action.
(although not nearly close enough in my opinion... I tell ya, there's always a bigger better lens out there!)

Anyhow... I spent some of the pre-game time messing with my settings and trying to get some interesting shots of the action and there in the middle of all this were these two guys.
Although they appear to be looking right at me, I can't imagine that they were.  
They were very far away.  
Even so... I feel a little like they caught me.

The opposing team had an eagle as a mascot... totally cool.
However, I don't think he was digging all the attention and photo taking.
I love the looks on all of the faces.

So here the game begins with the march on.
This is where the wife of a former mid and the mother of a wanna-be mid got all teary.
Could that be my kid standing there next year?
I don't know... I truly hope so... keeping my fingers crossed.
Oh, my baby....

sigh

Kind of hard not to feel all patriotic and proud when you're looking at these guys.
Aren't they cute...
(and I mean cute in a "look at all the little boys dressed up like men",
but 20 years ago I would have meant cute in a totally different way.)

Yeah, 20 years ago... dear god...


Well now... that makes me feel old.
But not as old as this lady under the yellow arrow there.  
She's wearing one of those godawful silk scarves that all the old ladies wear to the football games.
Really... I'd rather die. 
But this was a tangent and totally not my point... 
What I really meant to point out was how excited she is.
and I can't blame her.
It's hard not to get excited when they start playing this song.



And these jets fly overhead. 
Yeah, baby.... that's when I'm 15 all over again.
(and 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20... I watched Top Gun A... LOT)


Goose!

Take me to bed or lose me forever

I feel the need... the need for speed

Wha? huh?  You still there?  Oh, cuz... I just went somewhere else.

Football, football...
Yeah, that's what I was talking about.
So, anyhow... I kind of love this shot.  
Maybe it's not amazing, but I love the shadows and the fact that I caught that guy flying through the air.

Oh, yeah... I'm a sports photographer now.

Maybe not.

All this is to say that we had a pretty good time last Saturday.
I got to play with the manual settings on my camera (to varying degrees of success)
and we all got to spend a wonderful day out in the sun 
enjoying a Navy WIN!

Photobucket

23 comments:

Ashley Sisk said...

These shots are pretty great - I really like that eagle...their faces are priceless.

Brooke said...

You ARE a sports photographer!!! Look at those SHOTS! Girl, you are always impressing me with your photography skills. I love the one with the shadows too - it really tells a story. And your commentary cracks me up :D

Laura said...

Looks like a great time! And you made me laugh. :) I love the Jets shot!

Lindsey said...

These are great! It looked like a beautiful day. What lens are you shooting with? We're really considering getting the Canon EF 100-400mm lens, but it's $1,800 so I feel like we really need to be sure, and it kinda makes me breathe fast and hard thinking about spending that much. Gah...

Unknown said...

It does kinda look like you got caught! HA!

I like the one with the eagle and the shadow shot is WAY cool! What fun - thanks for sharing the game with us!

Bec said...

My pop culture class in college had less than savory remarks about Top Gun and they still make me giggle whenever someone talks about it. I LOVE when jets fly overhead at a game. The way they make your heart almost jump! There is a military base somewhat nearby and we have an airport that Air Force jets land at and do drills from and I LOVE it.

bec@theiheartblog

Jen said...

It looks like you had a great time!

Jess said...

I LOVE this post Colleen! Your personality just shines through and your photos aren't half-bad either. ;)

arrowssentforth said...

I'm obsessed with flyovers at sporting events. I've never, ever been able to capture them very well on film. Your shot is amazing!

Anonymous said...

Love your pics (even though Im not a foot ball fan!) I had to laugh at your comment about feeling like you got caught. It looks like they were looking straight at you - feels that way sometimes too! Great pictures :p

Leslie said...

you know what my boys did last weekend...yup ARMY football. though i there were no fighter jet flyovers, but i am certain that there were lots of middle aged women being old wearing their stupid army scarves....i am with you, you won't catch me dead. EVER! "Maverick you big stud...."

Unknown said...

Love your photos this week!

Susan said...

I loved your commentary this week, too funny! The fighter jets are awesome, and the last shot that shows how far away you really were says a lot for your new lens!

Anonymous said...

Goose, it's time to buzz the tower. (And I love that Kenny Loggins song!) :)

Mary said...

"Show me the way home honey" And did you have the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks? I don't even really like flavored coffees that much, but that does kind of just user fall and football season in... :)

C.G. Koens said...

Love the shots - the two guys "looking at you" was my favorite. So many good ones!

Alita said...

GO NAVY! :) I am a huge college football fan so this post is straight up my alley. I totally dig the army/navy game. I look forward to it every year.

Ok so yes... the last shot is my favorite. Great picture!

Julie said...

What a fun day! and awesome shots and cute commentary. :)

Teri said...

LOL! Awesome post Colleen!! And I'm soooooo jealous! New Camera??!! You want to sell me your old camera?? Like for dirt cheap?? ;) Love the pics. Favorites are the two guys who "caught" you (I was totally thinking that then went on to read what you wrote!), and the action shot. Too cool. Great job!

Clare B said...

You managed to get some great action shots. Particularly impressed after seeing the last photo and realising exactly how far away from the action you really were!

Yanet @ 3 Sun Kissed Boys said...

Great shots and post! I love the Top Gun lines thrown in. Classic!

terri browne said...

I'll have to show these pics to my husband; he'll get a kick out of them because he used to be in the Navy. Go Navy! :)

Suburban Girl said...

Wow, quite the adventure!