sports « Matt Nager Photography

I had a great assignment to cover a Mexico versus Columbia soccer game played in Dallas, Texas. The stadium filled with fans sporting green jerseys for Mexico and yellow for Columbia. The game was played second to the FC-Dallas soccer game. No fans came to see the local team. The Mexico-Columbia game meant little in terms of rankings, although pride was obviously at stake. I have been to soccer games in Latin America before and expected the craziness. I must say, though, I was somewhat disappointed…I expected smoke bombs and fights and only witnessed cursing and threats. One guy taunted at me for crossing his path and another flipped me off for photographing Columbia fans before him. It was all in good fun, and I can only assume these were gestures of friendliness.

This game was all an attempt to lure Hispanic and Latino fans to sporting events in the US. There was even a carnival set up outside in the Cotton Bowl Stadium parking lot with McDonald’s hosted children’s basketball games, Home Depot poster painting sessions, and Norteño music concerts sponsored by Jeep. It seems like professional sporting organizations (and corporations) in the US are late to realize the rising buying potential of the rising the Hispanic population within sports. The story, written by Wall Street Journal reporter Ana Campoy, also mentions the rise in popularity for Nascar racing. I would have loved to shoot that as well. How fun would Lucha Libre be on the race track?

Be sure to check out the online slideshow as well. Oh…Columbia won the game 2-1.

Yesterday was the opening night for high school football in Texas. As everyone knows, it’s kinda a big deal here. Stadiums tower like college domes and tailgaters cook like it IS that holy day of the week. Only these are kids…17 year old kids. Needless to say, most of them are bigger than me.

I usually attend these games to shoot action shots for the Dallas Morning News. I’ll be the first to admit, I am not a great sports photographer. I only have short lenses. I also don’t like the deadline pressures. I have to miss halftime and most of the third quarter as I fumble to send photos into the office. On a side note, check out Dallas Morning News photographer Gerry McCarthy to see what awesome sports photography looks like.

It’s no secrete the best part of high school football is the culture surrounding the event. Everyone has heard of or read the book Friday Night Lights. I am also a fan of the documentary style television show. It is a true prize to photograph these games. It’s like being at a circus in the way that everywhere you look there is a photo to be taken. The hardest part is deciding when to press the shutter. I love the fans, the bands, the cheerleaders, and even the ridiculous Dallas women wearing heels to a high school football game.

I am hoping I get to shoot a lot throughout the season. I may even improve my action shooting…but I’ll certainly be looking elsewhere.