Saints Tune-Up For Regular Season
Last Friday I was back at the Superdome for the New Orleans Saints preseason home finale against the San Diego Chargers, I was happy to have the third preseason game in New Orleans this year because typically the starters play into the third quarter and it is the closest thing you will see to a real game throughout the preseason. Making things a bit more interesting was the San Diego Chargers being in town, the former team of Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
The game was also my first opportunity to try out my new Canon Mark IV camera which I purchased on my way to the game from my friends at Bennett’s Camera in Metairie, La. If any of my readers here are interested in photography, the staff at Bennett’s are all very knowledgeable or ask for the owner Chris Bennett who like me is a shooter and he can help you find whatever you want. I had considered buying a Mark IV camera for some time now and had a trial use of one in early April that had me anxious to make the move to get one, but it wasn’t the right time until last Friday when I decided to pull the trigger and buy Canon’s big gun the Mark IV.
Friday’s preseason game was my first opportunity to use the camera, and I was instantly impressed by the spot on focusing, sensitivity to light and the ten frames a seconds along with the massive file sizes which are both a good and bad thing at the same time, every photographer knows what I am talking about when it comes to storage of images.
Enough about the camera, lets get to some of my favorite shots of the night. First up a Fleur De Leap as it has become known when Saints running back Reggie Bush goes airborne on a play, last week I was off the field transmitting images when Reggie hurdled over a defender this time I was on the field and got a nice horizontal shot of Reggie’s leap.
Here is a bit of a tighter look at the play.
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush (25) leaps over San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle (32) abd linebacker Brandon Lang (57) during the second quarter of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
Here is a look at another frame from the play.
Reggie Bush has looked really impressive in the preseason games I’ve seen him play this year, if he can play like this in the regular season, I will have some interesting images to share all season long the the Saints are likely to remain as on the NFL’s elite again in 2010.
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush (25) runs against the San Diego Chargers during the second quarter of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
Preseason images unless it’s a truly spectacular play won’t see the light of day initially, preseason is about getting images of players that may be used down the line when a publication needs an image of a particular player.
Photos like the one’s below are likely published the week after the game or not at all, of course there are situations where the two teams may see each other again such as the Super Bowl. If the Saints and Chargers were to meet in the Super Bowl images from this game likely would be used again.
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma (51) tackles San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (24) during the first quarter of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) has the ball stripped by San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle (32) during the first quarter of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Buster Davis (84) nearly loses his helmet after being hit by New Orleans Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson (34) and safety Usama Young (28) during the second half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
While some photos have a limited shelf life others are more likely to be used at anytime, like the photos below.
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner and quarterback Philip Rivers (17) talk on the field prior to kickoff of a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) on the field during warm ups against the San Diego Chargers prior to kickoff of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws a pass against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) on the sideline during the second quarter of a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) on the sideline during the second half of a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton watches his team against the San Diego Chargers during the second half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) prior to the start of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) under center during the first half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams watches from the sideline during the first half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) under center during the second half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
*Interestingly a similar photo to this was selected as the NFL Preview regional cover for Sports Illustrated magazine, my shot was not on the cover, but all five regional covers for the NFL Preview were shots of the quarter under center.*
The preseason is also a chance to get shots of rookies some that will see action in the regular season, others may not or won’t see action without an injury to a starter. In the preseason these rookies play so I have images in stock if they end up thrown into the lineup.
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (24) runs with the ball during the first half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson (34) lines up to receive a kickoff during the first half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory (48) runs with the ball during the second half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
August 27, 2010; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints rookie defensive tackle Al Woods (94) during the second half of a preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle
Well there is a look at a few of the images captured during a preseason game between the Saints and the Chargers, check back next week after the Saints season opener against the Minnesota Vikings a rematch of the NFC Championship game from a year ago.
Until next time.
