Probably the wettest game I've seen!

[pete crawford]

As usual this was a tough night of pics. The lighting is so so, and the mud made it even more difficult.

[ChasWG]

Oh My God! How could you even tell who was who? That's amazing. Hopefully your body and lens is weather sealed. Nice shot.

[pete crawford]

Every player was covered with mud. I know all the players on the red team, and in some of the photos I have no idea who is who. It was amazing, really amazing.

There were some schools that postponed until Monday.

[VinnyC01]

Not only is this wrong in every way ... but what bothers me more is that the two players in the back have their helmets off ... :)

You are a brave dedicated man for shooting in this.

[RickyH]

That is such a mess. Props to you for being able to stay focused.

[pete crawford]

Ok, I recognize the eye's! LOL

[JPR Images]

Shooting that would not have been my idea of having "fun". You did a great job considering the conditions you were shooting under. The schools that canceled were the smart ones as far as I am concerned.

[pete crawford]

I agree. I really didn't want to miss shooting the game as it was the last one of the year. We were supposed to go to Talladega this weekend, but I didn't want to set in the rain today in the campground.

[pete crawford]

The weather forecast last night was just about accurate. There was a 100% chance of rain and flash flooding in the Memphis, Tn. area.

[Croasdail]

Shooting that would not have been my idea of having "fun". You did a great job considering the conditions you were shooting under. The schools that canceled were the smart ones as far as I am concerned.

That WOULD be my idea of fun.... what a hoot. Mud flying everywhere... what a great game. It's a great example of how football separates itself from some of the other more delicate sports. Way to hang in there and shoot it. Great job.

You get a game sticker for this one....

[pete crawford]

Great way to put it. Those conditions make you appreciate a nice day or night!

[JeffreyG]

That football field is going to need a lot of work. Probably best to just re-sod the whole thing.

[pete crawford]

It was sodded 3 years ago. Sand should have been put down on top of the top soil. Hard lesson learned!

[lettershop]

I can't tell whether this is Football or Water Polo. Great action shots!!!!

[pete crawford]

Water Polo, good one! Thanks

[JeffreyG]

Even the ref is filthy. That is the muddiest official game I think I've seen.

[pete crawford]

Would you believe no one got hurt in this game! That was my fear.

[captainpenguin]

First shot is a bit of a muddle of players but the second is brilliant you deserve a lot of credit for getting such a good shot in those conditions

[pete crawford]

I had to show the first one, it really shows how the night was.

[whuband]

This is some funny stuff. Way to hang in there. You must have gotten paid well.

[pete crawford]

Ha Ha, yeah right! I'll sell a few I'm sure.

[bobbyz]

WOW!!!

[aebrown]

Holy crap! That must have been an interesting game! Hope you didn't get any mud or water all over your camera!

[Bonnie D]

Not only is this wrong in every way ... but what bothers me more is that the two players in the back have their helmets off ... :)

You are a brave dedicated man for shooting in this.

The players in the back seem closer to the game then they are. Those without helmets are on the side lines and not in the game. But you are right. I don't think they should have allowed the game to continue under these conditions. It's pretty dangerous.

[tstowe]

Shooting that would not have been my idea of having "fun". You did a great job considering the conditions you were shooting under. The schools that canceled were the smart ones as far as I am concerned.

It would have been my idea of fun! I was a lineman. I LOVED playing and practicing in hard rain/mud.

GREAT shots!

[snyderman]

Wow! Gotta love it ... the kids are still trying to throw it!

Weather for our game (Friday night) called for rain again. Should have been the 4th in the past 5 weeks of gameday rain. Instead, we had a balmy low-sixties evening with 10mph breeze blowing. Nice. Really nice. Sad thing is that in NE Ohio on Oct 30th, it can be raining, sleeting, freezing rain or snow ... all in ONE NIGHT!!!

This past Friday night was the best! Lighting on the field left much to desire, but I guess that's why they put that "H" feature on the ISO dial!

dave

[pete crawford]

Could you imagine playing in that. If you took your mouthpiece out, then put it back in, you'd get a mouthfull of sand and mud.

If you don't put it back in, you get a penalty!

You'd have to have plenty of towels to at least keep your eyes wiped clear.

What a game!

[SwiftFootTim]

Wow, it's too bad this wasn't a rivalry game or something as I could see a lot of posters being sold of the "Mud Bowl" to the different members of the different teams. Looks like a memorable one for the ages.

[Mark II]

Nasty!
.... and I like it.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

That WOULD be my idea of fun.... what a hoot. Mud flying everywhere... what a great game.

AGREE!! I'm just a weekend warrior, but mud is the best! Totally levels the playing field. All them dang fast runners are now in MY territory! :mrgreen:

[texaskev]

Pete, What sort of cover did you use for your body and lens? I've seen everything from plastic shopping bags to the form fitted 'rain jackets'. Might not be a bad thing to keep in the bag for sports shooters.

[pete crawford]

I used an umbrella Friday night. I have Kata rain coat for a video camera that I have used before. The Kata worked great on the camera.

[Lonnie]

Mighta not been fun to shoot - but you got some one of a kind shots here.

[DDCSD]

I don't think they should have allowed the game to continue under these conditions. It's pretty dangerous.


I disagree. I personally feel that it is almost safer than playing on a dry field. No one is able to pick up much speed when the field is a slip-and-slide, so there the impacts are much less violent. There is also more give in the turf, which means that body parts will move when hit instead of staying in place. That means that there are a lot less sprains and twisted body parts. The ground is also a lot softer, so concussions are less likely to happen.

In the final game of my high school career, we played a very wet playoff game (nowhere near as muddy as this one though!). I caught a pass (fake punt) while jumping, hit the ground and turned to turn. A DB had dove at my and his helmet made impact directly on my kneecap while it was basically straight up and down. Luckily, the ground was very wet and my cleat didn't grab the turf. I flipped completely over forward and landed on my butt (held on to the ball too, first down!). I would hate to imagine what my leg/knee would have looked like if the turf was dry and my cleat stayed put.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

helmet made impact directly on my kneecap while it was basically straight up and down.

chills and shivers....

[DDCSD]

chills and shivers....


Just a slight hyper-extension, limped for a few days and was fine. I actually had a scuff mark on my knee from the impact. When I started to get up, I was having flashbacks of my knee surgery from the prior year... I didn't say a word to anyone and just hoped it was going to go away. Luckily, it did.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

Soooo lucky! Yay for mud.
I slid on my knee on a frozen field 5 years ago. Any pressure on my kneecap makes the tendons/ligaments/nerves scream.

[n1as]

If you glance real quickly it looks like they're all playing in their birthday suits.

Flesh colored mud!

[ckfishel2001]

Water Polo, good one! Thanks

these are just fantastic. The first one is SO wet it looks like they are in a muddy 'pool'.....which is probably exactly what it was. I saw my cousin play in Grand Rapids, MI a few years ago in similar conditions. These are great great shots.

[swampler]

Wow! What a mess! And I thought the game I shot Friday night was bad (it was), but didn't have the mud like you did.

[pete crawford]

Thanks!

[hawkster80]

I've been gathering advice on sports shooting for quite a while and really just got into it last year. I usually don't post to these forums, but holy cow! I have NEVER seen anything like this and I've shot quite a few games in the rain this year.

I'm from the Memphis area originally. What teams were playing this game (beg your pardon, but it's a little hard to tell from the pics!)

Did you have more from this game that you posted (or a site link?). I'd be interested to see how the rest turned out and maybe some advice on shooting in such crazy conditions!

Hawk

[pete crawford]

Hey Hawk.....That was Rossville Christian Academy and St. Georges Independent School.

I did post all the pics on my website at www.pyrophotography.com.

If you need any advice, you'll get plenty on here, and i'll give what little I know.

Pete

[flapsmcgee]

I love shooting in the rain especially if the sun is co-operating.....this (http://www.procarlos.com/viewimage.php?photoid=4077&categoryid=163&title=Tooheys_New_Shute_Sheild_Rd_6_-_Manly__v_Southern_Districts__2/5/09&parenttitle=Rugby_Union&parentid=27)...or this (http://www.procarlos.com/viewimage.php?photoid=4346&categoryid=171&title=Tooheys_New_Shute_Sheild_Rd_9_-_West_Harbour_v_Warringah_23/5/09&parenttitle=Rugby_Union&parentid=27)