Leader of the Pack

Four minutes…that's pretty much how long I get to photograph the players before they race out onto the field during introductions. That's two minutes for the players to walk from the locker room to their location in the dramatically lit tunnel. The other two minutes are dedicated to them being introduced. It's the same routine every home game; the challenge is trying to capture something new or unexpected – which might be a different perspective, an unexpected moment or even a different lens choice. I try and photograph as much imagery as I can during that time frame, too. Sometimes a player's body language can make a photo stand out from the rest, or maybe I get lucky and capture a player perfectly in the spotlight. Week 14, against the Atlanta Falcons, presented me with a new composition. Usually one week the offensive starters are introduced and then it switches to the defensive unit the following home game. On Dec. 9 it was a different story because the entire team was going to be introduced as a group. The best part was that Aaron Rodgers was right smack in the middle at the front of the pack, ready to lead his squad onto the field. He just stood there with a dead-focused stare. Knowing that I didn't have a lot of time I quickly centered myself and shot the image from a low angle. It was a rare and cool moment. This image was shot with a 35mm lens (ISO = 2500, Aperture = f2, Shutter = 1/500th)