ACC Championship Game

Well, this is a little past due, and unfortunately we did lose, but because this was right before my exams I didn't get around to editing these until this past weekend (I went on break a little and I have also been without internet for a while). But, they are edited now and so I am posting them now.

I really enjoyed going to the ACC Championship, and it was the first one that Clemson has been to in a long while. But I think that we will be back before my time here is up (I hope so at least). Anyway, it was a really fun experience and I liked getting to travel with the band and feel important lol.

There was a prep-rally the night before the game so we will start with those photos.

Because we haven't had enough rain this season it was raining during the pep-rally (thankfully it did not rain during the game) but that made for a cold and fun adventure that no one was around to see...

They paraded us into a small area surrounded by a bunch of (drunk fans) so that was good fun. I spent most of the time dodging in and out of the way of the instruments, which I actually kinda enjoyed lol. It made taking the pictures more interesting and challenging, and it also was like having true surround sound. I really do like tagging along with the band because they are such a big part of the spirit of the competition.

It was pretty hard to take pictures that were in focus as I forgot to bring my flash to the event (though I did catch some other people's flash in some of the photos which I think makes a pretty cool effect) but I kinda like this picture of the flags.

It was a pretty small place, but they did pack it in. Not everyone there was a Clemson or Georgia Tech fan, but I think that everyone did enjoy the show.

As I said above, that was (thankfully) the only night that it rained, so the photos I got at the game were not obtained in the freezing wet lol. Though I was actually a little disappointed with my pictures from the game. I got some good ones from before and after the game; but not too many action shots from the game. Though, really it is a photographer's job to tell the story of the game, and the game is sometimes (and really I would say most times) not just about the action. Something I have learned over the past year of taking sports pictures is that football, and all sports for that matter, is not just about the points and the plays - it is really an emotional game and sometimes it is those pictures that tell the best story.

The cheerleaders were doing a lot of different stunts and things before the game and I will tell you, even just watching them hurts me lol.

I really like this photo of the team from before the game.

After the first touchdown everyone was celebrating and usually I try to take pictures of the players but I guess they were just too far away from me because I snapped some shots of the cheerleaders instead but I think they turned out well too.

I have always loved the band, but especially since I have started traveling with them I have begun to feel like they are becoming another family to me. A good number of people on campus know me, and more and more people are getting to know me in the band. It really is a cool feeling.

Like I said above, I didn't get too many action shots but the ones I did get I thought were pretty good.

I liked this photo of Dabo talking with Spiller and Ellington after Ellington's touchdown.

I think that the cheerleaders were the most emotional during the ACC Championship that I have seen them, but that is understandable as it was a really big game for us.

Spiller had a tough game, and he really wanted the win and unfortunately it didn't come for him. But I do still really like the photos I got of him after the game - I think that he was good to his fans, and he really put his all into that game.

(This is another version of the photo)

Of course to the victor goes the spoils, but hopefully next year we will be in a different position. Though I did enjoy taking pictures of a team celebrating.

Anyway, about to shoot the last men's basketball game of the preseason and then I will be running around for a while tomorrow, but I should be able to get the Bowl Game photos up; I have started looking at them and I like what I got so far, so hopefully they will yield some pretty good ones.

-joshua

Clemson Basketball (vs. Illinois)

So, we ended up losing this game too, and I really don't know how because we were up 22 points at the half, but whatever. I got a few good shots so I figure I should share them with my readers. After this post I will start to edit ACC Championship photos, but the band will be getting back from practice soon and then it is off to the mall for food and a little hanging out. Then at 4:30 we are loading buses for the big game tonight so that is that. I hope to have some great pictures to share with y'all soon, but I really don't think that it will be tonight (though if I get a really awesome one I will try to tweet it). Anyway, here are are few pictures from the Illinois game, and Go Tigers!

This is on a rebound...Booker is just a scary beast...

We has a really cool halftime show; these guys were really awesome "we can jump off a trampoline and dunk the ball" guys lol...and it was really something fun to take pictures of.

They did all kinds of crazy flips and turns.

And I am really proud of this panning shot (his face is in focus and everything else is moving) It took me about 10 mins, but I got a good shot finally haha.

President and Mrs. Barker were at the game too.

And I hate when I get a really awesome shot of the other team, but I really liked this shot of Illinois after they won. The whole team is celebrating and you can just feel the emotion.

Anyway, like I said, look for tweets of awesome shots later, but don't expect another post until tomorrow or maybe Tuesday. There will be two; ACC Championship and the Music City Bowl game!

Go Tigers!

-joshua

Clemson Football (vs. USC)

I don't really have much to say about this game. It was what it was. We will get them next year haha. (And Spiller was sick...so...lol, but I mean, we shouldn't have to rely on him...but he is a good part of our team lol. Just hope that he isn't sick tonight haha)

This was the first trip that I rode with the band and really this trip is the reason that I am at the bowl game (and was able to go to the ACC Championship) - I found a good way to travel to the games that is free for me and works really well. I like it and plan to use it for the next three years. (Yes, I added another degree and will actually be here for 5 years total...funfunfun...)

Anyway, I was able to ride on the bus with the cheerleaders and get to know them better and that was pretty fun. I also hung out with some of the mascots, but it was a pretty early morning, and we were all pretty tired.

The USC stadium was pretty interesting I suppose, their press box was really impressive and the food was pretty much awesome. That is not to say ours is bad, but I liked the selection and I liked their wings lol.

The vests that they made us wear were an obnoxious highlighter color though and that was quite annoying.
I mainly hung out with the cheerleaders because I had kinda made friends on the bus and was in a stadium all alone(ish) and didn't want to get left haha.

Their fans were very obnoxious (and I am not saying that just because I go to Clemson) but they were just not good sports...about anything really.

These guys were pretty annoying too...at one time the big chicken was jumping up and down and his dress-like outfit was hitting my cameras...it didn't make me happy. But thankfully then he stopped.

I really like this picture of Dabo and his kids. This is right before the game where they are about to run onto the field.

All in all it wasn't horrible; from a photography standpoint I thought the lighting was pretty annoying, but it wasn't horrible. Win some, lose some...We have been doing more of the latter lately, but hopefully that will be different tonight. So, I don't know if I am going to get the ACC Championship photos up, but I am almost finished working on the Illinois Basketball game. Everything should be up by Tuesday at the latest thought. If for some reason I don't get back to y'all before then, hope that the game goes well, but I think I should be able to get at least one more post in sometime today...

-joshua

Basketball vs. Winthrope

So, Exams came (and are now gone of course) but that with living over at my grandma's with no internet over the break means that I didn't get to finish posting and I don't really get a chance to post very often. So, I figured that while I am up here in Tenn. for the bowl game I will try to catch up on all my posting.

First up is a basketball game that we had against Winthrope. I have no clue when this was, except a while ago haha. Hopefully by the time I am done with these posts (or when these 2 hours of freedom are up) I will be at least caught up to the Clemson/Illinois Basketball game...but who knows haha....

Next post... Clemson USC game....

-joshua