A Hot, Wet, Muddy and Crimson Mess.

For as long as I can remember, I have looked forward to and even longed for the month of October. So much happens in this month that it is usually the most exciting time of the year for me.

That is still true, but there is a caveat.

I guess you can call it Climate Change or whatever you want, but once again, summer came back with a vengeance in October. The first week of the month saw temperatures nearing 90 degrees and in some places in the state well over 90 with a ton of humidity. Suffice it to say, by this time I am done with the heat and humidity...i'm ready for a break.

Shooting sports and then feeling afterwards like I jumped in a pool is not fun! Good news though, now that it's the middle of the month on the downside, it's starting to finally cool off and I can enjoy shooting without sweat pouring everywhere.

Since my last post at the end of September I've shot more high school football, the Short Track Nationals dirt track racing and some college football.

So, on to the images!

NIKON D5, F3.2, 1/1000, ISO 1000, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VR Zoom Lens

Every week when I shoot high school football I always try to get a cool photo of a cheerleader doing a flip. What's interesting about this photo is her eyes are completely in the back of her head! Wicked!

NIKON D5, F2.8, 1/1000, ISO 2500, MANUAL - 300 F2.8 Lens

NIKON D5, F2.8, 1/1000, ISO 3200, MANUAL - 300 F2.8 Lens

It was fairly dark toward the end zones in Harmony Grove's stadium. I kicked the ISO up to 3200 and as you can see the image is super clean. The D5 is just an amazing camera.

On the weekend of October 6th, I shot the Short Track Nationals at I-30 Speedway. On October 5th, I had this photo published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette in a lead-up story:

NIKON D4, F5, 1/250, ISO 640, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Lens

Here is the article with my photo:

NIKON D5, F9, 1/250, ISO 320, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

Five-year-old Jaxx Johnson of Rocky Mount, Missouri, sits the seat of his late father, Jason Johnson's The Shop Motorsports #41 sprint car. Through the tragedy of his father's passing we see a smile on a little boys face. I will admit that there were tears in my eyes when I took this photo.

NIKON D5, F2.8, 1/250, ISO 320, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

Slinging the mud in turn 3 at I-30 Speedway.

NIKON D5, F9, 1/250, ISO 320, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

Hard to put into words just how special this photo is to me. The tragic loss of Jason Johnson and thoughts of his wife, son, mom and dad in this moment is overwhelming. God bless them.

NIKON D5, F2.8, 1/250, ISO 320, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

Clean shot coming into turn 3 with some backlight.

NIKON D5, F3.2, 1/250, ISO 640, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

NIKON D5, F4, 1/250, ISO 1000, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

NIKON D5, F4, 1/1000, ISO 10,000, MANUAL - 500 F4 Lens

This is a pretty amazing photo. Just looking at it you wouldn't think so, but look closely at the specs of the photo above. I shot this with ambient light at 1/1000 of a second, which is what I normally shoot football at under very well-lit stadiums. The back of the track coming out of turn 2 is fairly dark, so I bumped the ISO up to TEN THOUSAND at F4! Just incredible what you can do with this camera and lens combo!

NIKON D5, F6.3, 1/250, ISO 1000, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

Blake Hahn of Sapulpa, OK wins the 2018 Short Track Nationals. There would be no Sammy Swindell three-peat this year.

NIKON D5, F6.3, 1/250, ISO 1000, MANUAL - 70-200 F2.8 VRII Zoom Lens

On Saturday, October 6th, I shot Alabama at Arkansas. The images below are actually from earlier in the day before the images above. (I just wanted to end the blog with the images from the football game)

I left the house at 5 am, picked up my buddy Nelson Chenault, then drove 3 hours to Fayetteville to shoot the football game. After it was over, we transmitted some images and hoped back in the car and drove 3 hours back. I dropped Nelson off and then sped out to shoot dirt track racing. I got to the track a little after 6 pm and wrapped up my day at 3 am on Sunday morning. What a day!

NIKON D5, F4, 1/2000, ISO 360, SHUTTER PRIORITY - 500 F4 Lens

Alabama football players are some of the most photographed athletes on the planet. They know when you are snapping!

NIKON D5, F4, 1/2000, ISO 360, SHUTTER PRIORITY - 500 F4 Lens

Bama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during warm-ups.

NIKON D5, F5, 1/2500, ISO 800, SHUTTER PRIORITY - 500 F4 Lens

Another nice tight portrait of a Bama offensive lineman.

NIKON D5, F4, 1/2500, ISO 800, SHUTTER PRIORITY - 500 F4 Lens

An Arkansas cheerleader smiles to the crowd during pre-game.

NIKON D5, F20, 1/1000, ISO 800, MANUAL - 24-70 F2.8 Lens

F-18 Flyover by a couple of F/A-18E Super Hornets of Strike Fighter Squadron 94 out of Lemoore, CA.

NIKON D5, F4, 1/1000, ISO 450, SHUTTER PRIORITY - 500 F4 Lens

Just at kick-off the rain started.

NIKON D5, F4, 1/1000, ISO 450, SHUTTER PRIORITY - 500 F4 Lens

Sweet image of the Bama tight end carrying an Arkansas defensive back.

NIKON D5, F4, 1/1000, ISO 400, MANUAL - 500 F4 Lens

Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey looks to pass during the first quarter. It's always interesting to watch facial expressions of these guys. He is playing Bama by the look on his face.