Friday Night Lights

Can you believe it is THAT time of year already?  It's hotter than heck here in Texas but that doesn't stop Friday night lights from happening!  

I just love me some high school football and this year I have the pleasure of working the sidelines of the Lake Dallas Falcons in Lake Dallas, Texas.   Each home game you will find me down on the side lines amongst the young men dressed in Kelly Green.  

It's fun on the sidelines, being amongst them all- players, coaches, school people and other photographers. Let me tell you about what you don't get to experience while sitting in the bleachers...  

First off, the smell!  Whew wee, these boys, man, brings me back to the days when my own sons would bring home their gear for me wash!  It's a very distinct smell, one that makes it very clear to anyone who can smell it- "yes, I play football".  There's nothing like it! I really have no words for it, other than it stinks and it's strong! 

The sounds... boy these young men have mouths of sailors!  I know many of these fine young men, they use their "please" and "thank yous ", they say "yes Ma'am", "no Ma'am", they are sweet as pie! Until they put on the uniform and step out on the field!  Beasts!  They become beasts!  The language that spills from their mouths is enough to make their momma blush!  Thank heavens momma is sitting in her seat in the bleachers, she can't hear this nasty talk! 

It's hot!  That turf has been baking in the Texas sun ALL DAY LONG, and here we are standing on it! The heat waves can be seen if the sun is just right... like a mirage in the desert...  Yes, it may be wonderful to stand on, it has a little bounce to it, it's great for this old lady's knees!... but the heat!  The heat radiates from it!  All you can do is pray for the sun to set quickly and a breeze to help blow the heat away!  And take a little of the stink with it!  HA! 

I gotta be on my toes!  Seriously!  I get so busy looking through the lens I lose track of what's going on around me!  The field action can move dang fast and I need to get out of the way quick!  Players are running on and off the field, coaches are moving down the sidelines, players are moving down the sidelines in case they are needed and run in to the action.  I have to be aware of who is around me and to GET OUT OF THE WAY!   I try my best to be either up field or down field from the action, this gives me a little elbow room and I don't need to worry about tripping over... or being run over, by a big burly teen! 

I'm really looking forward to working with the Lake Dallas Falcons Football Booster Club and provide them with weekly action shots.  This is a lot of fun and I enjoy being these really awesome players.  It makes me miss my own boys who used to play this sport. 

I wish the Falcons a very successful and healthy season!  Play hard, play safe and have fun.  

If you see on me on the sidelines yell at me! Or take my pic of me in action and send it to me! 

Check out some of the action shots from the first scrimmage of the year.