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robekert
14th of August 2005 (Sun), 08:06
Went to see the Philadelphia Eagles at training camp one last time. Today (Saturday) was the last training session open to the public. They are getting ready for the Steelers game on Monday Nite :)

It was another brutal day. Temps were flirting with the 100 mark. They were in light pads and shorts. No real contact. Just going through the motions of the plays. The team split between two fields, offense on one and defense on the other. They would O and D on one field periodically. I chose the offense's field. Not having the ability to move after getting a spot on the fence line makes things difficult. I was dealing with a backlighting situation for most of the morning. The guys with credentials and field access had their choice of which side of the field to shoot from. They were on the opposite side of the field, naturally. Backgrounds were pretty poor from my vantage point, trucks, porta potties, cranes etc, etc. Was still fun. The team was very loose and joking.

For those of you following the "Terrel Owens Soap Opera", he left for his other home in Atlanta after he was kicked out of camp by Coach Andy Reid. So no TO.

Here are my efforts. I used 1D Mark II + 300 2.8 IS (some with 2x). Most are handheld.

Donovan McNabb

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6D2CAB0CBC11DA.jpg

Mike McMahon

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6C99860CBC11DA.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6CF14A0CBC11DA.jpg

McNabb and Co.

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6DACE90CBC11DA.jpg

Recievers

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6D501A0CBC11DA.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6D6CA60CBC11DA.jpg

LJ Smith

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6DCEB40CBC11DA.jpg

The Offensive line gets their instructions

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6D0F9A0CBC11DA.jpg

David Akers kicked a 63 yard field goal yesterday

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6CD58E0CBC11DA.jpg

Did not see much of the defense today but did get a glimpse of Jevon Kearse

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6CB8560CBC11DA.jpg

Head Coach Andy Reid

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6D88120CBC11DA.jpg

They ended the practice with a huddle. After the huddle broke the players came over to the fence line we were at to sign autographs and shake hands. I was handcuffed because I have only one body and it had the 300 on it.

http://homepage.mac.com/robekert/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-08-14%2005.20.37%20-0700/Image-FD6C73C80CBC11DA.jpg

Thanks for looking.
Rob
gramps
14th of August 2005 (Sun), 08:13
Cool shots. It's nice that they have a fence you can shoot over and not thru like chain link.
robekert
14th of August 2005 (Sun), 08:22
Cool shots. It's nice that they have a fence you can shoot over and not thru like chain link.

Yes it was. The fence was makeshift using PVC pipe and Orange mesh. The fence was a little higher than waist high to me. It gave me a place to rest my 300 between shots. Thanks for commenting.
Rob
Croasdail
14th of August 2005 (Sun), 11:47
Beautiful stuff - technically well done - and you can get a sense for what was going on. Nice work. I am really getting excited for this years season.
robekert
14th of August 2005 (Sun), 12:30
Beautiful stuff - technically well done - and you can get a sense for what was going on. Nice work. I am really getting excited for this years season.

Thanks for the kind words. It was a lot of fun and always a learning experience.
Rob
GMosher
14th of August 2005 (Sun), 19:50
Some good captues here.

I have no type of pro football at all up here In Nova Scotia, Canada. I'm hoping to shoot some of the university games. Basically nobody shoots them so I'm hoping access isn't going to be an issue.
robekert
14th of August 2005 (Sun), 21:26
Some good captues here.

I have no type of pro football at all up here In Nova Scotia, Canada. I'm hoping to shoot some of the university games. Basically nobody shoots them so I'm hoping access isn't going to be an issue.

Thanks, it was a different experience for me. I wish that they were in full pads and more contact in the practice session. Hey, you get what you can. Good luck in the fall with the university games.
Rob
despot
15th of August 2005 (Mon), 12:00
Nice collection of images Rob.

Andy
robekert
15th of August 2005 (Mon), 13:47
Nice collection of images Rob.
Andy

Thanks for the kind words Andy.
Rob
m3elmo
15th of August 2005 (Mon), 15:35
very good shots. I get sense of the action of what is going to happen, pass, handoff etc. Also like how they look with the 300 prime..yum :)
robekert
15th of August 2005 (Mon), 15:57
very good shots. I get sense of the action of what is going to happen, pass, handoff etc. Also like how they look with the 300 prime..yum :)

Thanks, I sold a lot of equipment to fund that 300 2.8 IS. I am left with 2 lenses. 24-70 2.8 and the 300 2.8 IS. Using the 300 is just a stellar feeling. I hope to get very familiar with the lens. Thanks for the kind words. I wish that there was a bit more action going on but I guess that they are just going through the motions in preparation for the game tonight with Pittsburg.
Rob
PaCiFiSt
17th of August 2005 (Wed), 00:24
Nice shots! As an Eagle fan I can really apperciate them. I live about 30 mins west of Philly!
robekert
17th of August 2005 (Wed), 08:18
Nice shots! As an Eagle fan I can really apperciate them. I live about 30 mins west of Philly!

Thanks,
Training camp is a good way to get the kids exposed to the pro athletes. They are very accessable at the camp. I recommend a visit if you are a football fan. Well next year that is. Camp broke this past weekend.
Rob
d100763
17th of August 2005 (Wed), 17:22
Even though I am a NYG fan, I love your shots
credit to your for dealing with the challanges that
the pro's don't have to (lighting, position, close dist.)
I really like the Kearse and the huddle shots.
Good work
robekert
18th of August 2005 (Thu), 06:02
Even though I am a NYG fan, I love your shots
credit to your for dealing with the challanges that
the pro's don't have to (lighting, position, close dist.)
I really like the Kearse and the huddle shots.
Good work

Thank you. These little challanges lend to the excietment of getting a good shot.
Field access, great equipment.......we could all get great shots :D .......kidding. Thanks for the encouraging comments.
Rob
Lucky Forward
19th of August 2005 (Fri), 09:19
Beautiful work, Rob! I was out at Baltimore Ravens training camp this week, so I really have an appreciation for how difficult it can be to shoot through the sideline commotion and other distractions. Nice job, and that's a superb lens. I'll be posting my Ravens camp pics shortly.
robekert
19th of August 2005 (Fri), 15:19
Beautiful work, Rob! I was out at Baltimore Ravens training camp this week, so I really have an appreciation for how difficult it can be to shoot through the sideline commotion and other distractions. Nice job, and that's a superb lens. I'll be posting my Ravens camp pics shortly.

Thank you. I can't wait to see your pics of the Ravens.
Rob
cgratti
19th of August 2005 (Fri), 15:33
robekert,

Great shot of a great team! E-A-G-L-E-S! Our time baby!

I sent you a PM by the way.
robekert
19th of August 2005 (Fri), 15:49
robekert,

Great shot of a great team! E-A-G-L-E-S! Our time baby!

I sent you a PM by the way.

Thanks for the comments Chuck. Replied to PM.
Rob
the.digital.guy
20th of August 2005 (Sat), 07:28
As an EAGLES fan...............AWESOME Pics!!!
robekert
20th of August 2005 (Sat), 08:54
As an EAGLES fan...............AWESOME Pics!!!

Thanks for the compliments from the gentleman from Chester County, PA........beautiful country out that way.
Rob
smassey
20th of August 2005 (Sat), 09:01
Some great pictures. I have a question about how you got such great exposures. When I went to Packer's Training Camp at the beginning of August, I faced side lighting conditions. How did you adjust your exposure to get properly exposed faces? When I looked at my pics when I got home, the player's faces were completely covered in shadows.
robekert
20th of August 2005 (Sat), 09:22
Some great pictures. I have a question about how you got such great exposures. When I went to Packer's Training Camp at the beginning of August, I faced side lighting conditions. How did you adjust your exposure to get properly exposed faces? When I looked at my pics when I got home, the player's faces were completely covered in shadows.

Thanks for the compliments. I use a Sekonic 358 hand held light meter to take an ambient light reading. The light meter allows you to choose either Aperature priority or Shutter priority when taking the reading. I usually use Aperature priority. I then tranfer the settings of the reading to my camera and shoot in Manual Mode.

The "in camera" meter of the 1D Mark II like all digital cameras is a reflective meter. Most times the reading is different. I do not even look at the in camera meter any longer. It is the best $200 dollars I ever spent. There are lower priced meters available. This meter actually has more features than I will ever need. All you need is a meter to read ambient light. Hope this helps.
Rob

P.S. Here is a link to my thread when I got the light meter. It may fill in more gaps.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=75827
smassey
20th of August 2005 (Sat), 22:08
Thank you, Robekert. I was looking into purchasing a light meter, but the store I visited only had one model in stock which ran about $500 at the time (its not the only thing they stock, their website has more, and if I had called in advance, they could have had more shipped in from another nearby store) and it didn't do apeture priority.

$200 you say? I think I will be looking for a version of this meter as it fits my budget much more closely than most of the ones I have seen.