Since graduating I haven’t had many opportunities to travel around taking pictures. That changed this winter when I was invited to shoot the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, GA. The Virginia Tech Hokies were playing the Tennessee Volunteers, and I was able to take a few days off from my real job to go on a little ‘vacation.’ I was back again thanks to Planet Blacksburg and had a blast shooting the game. Keep reading to see some of the pictures from my trip.
So the worst part about all of this was the number of times I had to get up REALLY early. Both going to Atlanta and returning to Boston, my flights were pretty early. Waking up at 4:45AM to catch the bus isn’t pleasant – but hey, at least the bus was running – I just missed out on a weekend full of snow. My flight was on time and touched down in Atlanta around 11:30AM. I met up with Brian and Brandon Sewell, coming from NC, before heading into the city.
Random people in the airport. Just taking pictures while waiting around – this airport is like a gigantic shopping mall.
Took the MARTA to Peachtree Center, and from there it was just a short walk to our hotel, the Marriott Marquis. This was probably one of the craziest tall buildings that I have ever been in.
Shot from outside our room on the 38th floor – keep in mind there are 10 more floors above us!
Some kids looking over the edge. I admit it, I spent a while doing this myself.
And here’s the view from our room. Can’t see the Georgia Dome (where the Chick-fil-A Bowl was played) from this direction, but a grand view of Atlanta anyways.
That night they were also holding a get together/party for the media over at the CNN Center. This was just a short walk from our hotel, but it was a little chilly outside. Not too bad for me since I’ve adapted to Boston’s cold…I brought my camera for some reason, but didn’t really use it.
Ridiculous picture I took at ISO 25,600. Noisy much? Just fooling around with the camera here.
Taxied back to the hotel since it was raining, then it was out to the bar across the street and eventually in bed for a somewhat good night’s sleep. The game was the next evening.
Upon waking up and looking out our hotel room window, all you could see was fog – it was kind of eerie looking. Went across the street around noon to take a picture of the Marriott Marquis ascending into the clouds. Spent the day being pretty lazy and charging all my batteries for the game. Also saw my friend Alex Parrish who I haven’t hung out with in forever. Then it was over to the stadium.
Stopped in the middle of the road to take this real quick…person walking behind us told me ‘it should be a good one’, and it just so happens it was one of my favorites. When we got over to the stadium it wasn’t really obvious where the media entrance was, but luckily Brian knew where he was going.
Set up shop in the photo work room and went out on the field to take a quick look around.
Roof of the Georgia Dome is pretty cool, and my lens was just about as wide enough as I needed it to be. Got a few other architectural shots, but this one might be my favorite. After that, we tried figuring out how to get to the top level. Went too far up at first, then gave up and went out into the stands.
Again, not the widest angle (24mm), but I think I prefer this over the distortion on some of my other lenses.
Ate some more Chick-fil-A and was video-chatting with some friends, then grabbed my gear and got to work.
Weird shot that I didn’t time right…but it looked like the band was about to collide with the dancers.
Brian Sewell and Mike Shroyer chimping across the field.
Ladies playing with the foamy stuff that was floating around. There were little VTs too!
Virginia Tech Hokies coming out onto the field. Unfortunately I was too close with my 300mm and things were a bit out of focus. Bleh.
Typical football shot.
Ryan Williams rushing here. I’m noticing that these pictures look a little on the greenish side. I think it’s because the save for web…though the stadium did have a green effect on a lot of my photos. The fact that I save them for web using photoshop (to reduce the size) makes them all a little brighter and sometimes gives them a weird tint. But it’s probably better than having every photo be 500kB. Lightroom isn’t so great in that department.
VT fans as Tennessee walked off the field after what they thought was the end of the first half. After being ushered back on, the game continue for a play, then halftime kicked off as planned. I don’t even remember what the halftime show was, but the score was 10-7 and Virginia Tech was in the lead.
Next half. I think that’s Ryan Williams being taken down?
One of the Tennessee coaches on the sideline. I mostly stuck around on the Tennessee sideline during the second half. Too many people on the sidelines and way too hard to walk around frequently. Some more shots from the 2nd half:
One of their receivers missed a fairly easy catch in the end zone and toppled over. Kind of a dramatic photo – could have been a game changer, but wasn’t.
Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor about to make a pass.
And a few plays later, one of the Tennessee receivers picking one off. This surprised me…and I’m lucky I got a few photos of it in action, but I wasn’t sure how to crop it. I want to leave the ground in there so you can see how high he’s jumping, but don’t think there’s enough separation between him and the background. Oh well.
Virginia Tech’s Dyrell Roberts receiving after Tennessee scored. Score was tied at 14-14. But not for long.
Assuming he’s number 20, Jayron Hosley drives down the field while Tennessee tries to catch up. Virginia Tech eventually scored hit a field goal, proceeding to score on their next drive, and held up for the extra point. 24-14.
Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton trying to get a pass off.
Ryan Williams got injured and had to sit the fourth quarter out due to an ankle injury. Shortly afterward, VT hit a 46 yard field goal and was up 27-14.
This is probably one of my favorites from the game. Virginia Tech’s Cam Martin and Cody Grimm take down one of the Volunteers.
Tennessee quarterback got sacked. Things weren’t in good shape at all for TN. Photos from VT’s drive down field:
Another favorite – just persistently making his way down the field!
And here’s the photo I got of the 3 yard rush into the end zone by David Wilson. Not very sharp, but I really like the angle…I guess it looks decent smaller.
Outrageous!
Virginia Tech made another field goal, bringing the game to its final score: 37-14. Some more shots of the Volunteers.
Quarter back looks straight up scared. At any rate, 37-14 was the final score and Virginia Tech had won back to back bowl games – a first in the school’s history.
Nekos Brown holding up the championship trophy, next to head coach Frank Beamer (right) and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger (right).
Confetti was everywhere. Woo. My job was done.
And last quick photo as I drifted by the post game press conference. I usually don’t care for these types of things, so only took two pictures and was on my way back to the hotel. It was 2010 this point – I’m kind of sad I didn’t get out to celebrate, but there are plenty of other occasions besides New Years.
Next morning: waking up at 6:30AM, and finding the way to the Atlanta airport by myself. Not the best morning, and upon returning to Boston it basically snowed all weekend. A good excuse to stay inside and go through the rest of my pictures!