Menu

Knoxville sports photography | High School Football

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 1250 ISO, 16mm, 1/160, f4.5 — The Hardin Valley Academy student section bounces a beachball though the crowd as the sunsets and the second half of play begins against the West High School Rebels.

In a previous blog post I mentioned that I would be getting out and photographing different events with my intern Emily. Since her first love is sports photography, we hit the field for a couple of football games. I have not photographed high school sports in many years. I had almost forgotten how much I loved it. To me there is something magical about high school athletics. There is so much energy and excitement that it fills the air. From the fans to the players out there busting their tails for the chance of playing one more down.

Just the same as Emily, sports photography is one of the main reasons I decided to become a photographer. In high school I was on the football team. Like most kids in high school, it was purely for the love of the game. Two games into the season of my senior year I quit the team. Yes, you read that correctly. After all of those summer practices and the grind of two a days, I turned in my pads. Why would I do that? As much as I loved sports, I realized as a third string player, there was no future for me to be a career athlete. The best shot I had at staying around football and making it to the next level was through photography. My decision has allowed me to photograph everything from little league to professional sports and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Hardin Valley Academy first two football games of the season.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 320 ISO, 85mm, 1/2500, f2.8 — West Rebels running back Devante Patrick (5) loses a shoe after being hit by Hardin Valley Academy’s defense during the second quarter.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 1250 ISO, 170mm, 1/1000, f2.8 — Hardin Valley Academy running back Thomas Clay (1) slips past the West Rebels’ defense during the first half.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 640 ISO, 200mm, 1/1000, f2.8 — Hardin Valley Academy quarterback Mihir Barot (17) passes the ball before getting hit by West High School’s Jake Whitfield (20) in the second quarter.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 5000 ISO, 200mm, 1/800, f2.8 — Hardin Valley Academy Aaron Dykes (3) runs past the West Rebel’s KJ Jefferson (3) and Tyler Jones (55) during the third quarter.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16mm, 200 ISO, 1/2500, f2.8 — A Hardin Valley Academy student practices waving a prep flag before kick off against Bearden High School at Hardin Valley Academy on Friday September 4, 2015 in Knoxville.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 1000 ISO, 200mm, 1/1000, f2.8 — Bearden High School’s Luis De La Cruz (33) pulls in a pass over Hardin Valley Academy’s Issiah Aguero (22) during the first half of the game at Hardin Valley Academy.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 5000 ISO, 200mm, 1/1000, f2.8 — Bearden High School’s Chase Berry (3) gives a stiff arms while trying to turn the corner against Hardin Valley Academy.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 5000 ISO, 123mm, 1/1000@f2.8 — Hardin Valley Academy’s Thomas Clay (1) runs the ball over Bearden High School’s Hunter Henry (15) during the matchup between Hardin Valley Academy and Bearden High School.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 5000 ISO, 16mm, 1/800@f2.8 — Hardin Valley Academy Thomas Clay (1) leads his team in a chant after beating Bearden 41-31 at home on Friday September 4, 2015 in Knoxville, TN. Hardin Valley Academy defeated Bearden 41-31 at home.