Getting Your Head into the Game

Pleasant Valley High's #22 Nick Lopez takes a header against Las Plumas High in the first half of their boys soccer match Thursday, January 16, 2013 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Soccer Gets Physical

Competition matches between Chico and PV high schools are always tough. The local rivalry can bring aggressive competition. And girls soccer was no exception. Soccer can be a tough sport with strong physical contact, but girls soccer is usually expected to not have its pushy players or intense match ups. Both sides of the teams were in full pressure as they battled for the ball.

Chico High's #6 Taylor Stahl (left) dribbles against Pleasant Valley High's #11 Gracie Hernandez (right) in the first half of their girls soccer game at PVHS field Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #6 Taylor Stahl (left) dribbles against Pleasant Valley High's #11 Gracie Hernandez (right) in the first half of their girls soccer game at PVHS field Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #15 Alex Freed (right) against Pleasant Valley High's #4 Mallori Nelson (left) in the first half of their girls soccer game at PVHS field Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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The Case of the Yellow Grass

DeGarmo Park has been in development as a great open park for the north side of town. When the newly laid grass began to show a yellow dried out look, people began to question the integrity of the fields. As it turns out, it is suppose to look like that. The grass goes dormant in the winter, which presents its yellow color usually associated with dried dead grass, and will regain the color back in the spring and summer months. So not to worry... hopefully. Because the yellow really doesn't look right.

Bobby Henry walks her dog Holly past the soccer field grass that has turned yellow at DeGarmo Park Saturday, March 12, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Chico Enterprise-Record)

The soccer field grass can be seen as a dried yellow in comparison to another batch of green grass at DeGarmo Park Saturday, March 12, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Chico Enterprise-Record)

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TTL? How About NNTL

     There is a terminology in photography called TTL. It means "through the lens". It is in reference to a camera's flash to evaluate a scene communicating through the lens as opposed to on top of the camera. This enables it to see as the camera sees. Though it is not the same terminology, we photographers generally look "through the lens" to compose a picture. It is a very good practice to not be the only way to take pictures. Sometimes I lay the camera on the ground or raise it above by head to get the better viewpoint. I don't think I would be taking pictures TTL. 

     But what is NNTL? Well, how about "nowhere near the lens". Yes, I am taking about a remote camera. Remote photography is setting up a multiple cameras that are all triggered by the same device. In my case, I set up a camera behind the goal post at the Chico vs Foothill girls soccer game. I was triggering that remote camera with a second camera in my hands while I stood about 60ft away on the sidelines. I was able to fire both cameras at the same time. This allows me to take pictures when I am nowhere near the camera, NNTL. This is becoming a common practice among many sports photographers. What is great about this system is that it allows me to be in two places at once.

The first shot shows my viewpoint from the camera in hand. It obviously isn't a very good sports photo since both players have their back to me and there is no ball in sight. Chico High's Julie Haselton (center) scores on a play involving Olivia Carey (4) and Foothill goalie Stephanie Dennison in the first half of the league title match Thursday in Chico. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

This is the shot from my remote camera set up behind the net. Thought the lighting is backlit, the players are facing me and the ball is in sight. Chico High's Julie Haselton (center) scores on a play involving Olivia Carey (4) and Foothill goalie Stephanie Dennison in the first half of the league title match Thursday in Chico. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

      Being a sports photographer has a lot to do with being in the right spot. And as it happens, my remote camera happened to be in a better spot than me this last Thursday. I have two shots from the same goal that was scored, with my remote shot being a far better image than the one I shot in camera. I never know if I got the shot when I'm NNTL. It reminds me a little of developing film, where I have to wait to see if I got anything when I get back to the computer.  

Ready for Your Closeup?

When shooting soccer you are generally far away from the action. Using a long lens allows me to get close to the action. And that is what I want most. Getting close to the action gets rid of all the distractions like cars, buildings, and parents. It gets right in the middle of the players and the sport. I try to get as close as I can, both with a lens and cropping the image in post-production. Here are two examples of getting close to the action during the Pleasant Valley vs Paradise girls soccer game. 

Paradise High's #8 Jamie O'Brien (left) battles Pleasant Valley High's #14 Yolanda Maldonado (right) in the first half of their girls soccer game on Thursday, May 6, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High's #14 Yolanda Maldonado (left) heads against Paradise High's #13 Miranda McLemore (right) in the first half of their girls soccer game on Thursday, May 6, 2010 in Paradise, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)