I got to do one of my favorite things today.
I covered football.
My main goal was to write a story about the game, but make it more about the players than the actual game. It’s not always easy – a game recap is technical, but simple. Just pay attention to the action on the field, and you’re set. Getting an interesting story though, is not as easy. It takes interviewing people, watching the players on and off the field, listening in on coaches giving pep talks, and keeping an eye out for anything interesting that may cross your path.
Tonight’s story, in my opinion, was pretty successful. I got some of the highlights of the action, plus an interesting angle – the team I was assigned to cover had a dismal 1-9 record last season, and actually did quite well at the jamboree tonight. The players were buzzing after the game, energized for the start of their season next week.
Preseason football jamboree energizes Rock Bridge
(My awesome editor wrote that headline. My original one was pretty blah.)
But the best part of the night is due in part to the fantastic photographer, Jarrad, assigned to the event. While he was off shooting photos, he had me working his Flip video recorder, trying to get some sound and video bites. My favorite clip of all was of a play that unfolded right in front of me, and then literally ended up where I had been standing. (Nothing like two 180lb+ guys hurtling at you while looking at a camera screen.) If I can get my hands on that, I’ll post it to the blog.
Then Jarrad needed to head up to the press box to get the video camera ready for some post-game interviews with players. Into my hands was thrust a D2Xs (I think?) with a 17-35mm lens, and I was told to see what I could get. I haven’t seen my take on a computer screen, but I may have gotten some neat shots of the players with awesome clouds and wide-angle goodness.
Once we got the interview area set up, he realized we needed extra audio, just in case the main camera didn’t pick that up. The Flip found its way back in my hands as I tried to capture alternative angle video and hopefully backup audio. We then crashed an interview being done my our other reporter, and I handheld the camera to record one of the coaches talking about the game. (The tripod was missing a plate for the camera. Oops.)
What a rush. What a learning experience. What fun!
I need to get in on more football action this fall. I don’t know how, but I must.
I really love covering football.