A look at Michigan football from the second half of the season

This is the time of year that photographers are sifting through their assignments from the previous 12 months and compiling their favorite images. While I intended to put together a few of those compilations, I thought I'd take a look back at the second half of Michigan football first. The dust of regular season football has settled and I've had a few Saturdays off from the field. I've been reflecting on what a whirlwind of a season this fall has been, seemingly faster than any previous. Lucky for me I'm a photographer and I can take a trip down memory lane when ever the urge strikes! :) Here's a link to a post on the first half of the season.

Here's a big fatty post of football photos from the second half of the season, starting in West Lafayette at Purdue and ending in Columbus at Ohio State.

I joked during the season that I was going to make a calendar of Denard running minus a shoe and up until he was injured I was on track to fill every month!

Denard running the ball minus a shoe in the rain! Maybe this could be for the month of April? :)

Here Denard sits on the ground after injuring his elbow in the second quarter against Nebraska. He subsequently missed several games.

Roy Roundtree manages to wrangle in a huge pass in the fourth quarter against Northwestern.

A trip to Tampa for the Outback Bowl is next up on the agenda for Michigan football. After after that, it's a whole new ball game.

Photos in this post © AnnArbor.com 2012

Mid-season football photos

I've been pretty busy photographing (and showing off) local seniors on here lately. :) I thought it might be nice to show what else I've been up to since school started back up. It's mid-October and we are well into Michigan football season. So far Michigan has faced seven opponents and are 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten. I'm fortunate enough to get to travel to the away games. Michigan has played in Texas and Indiana so far and Nebraska, Minnesota and Ohio coming up. Here's a look at my favorite photos from the season so far.

Michigan kicked off the season in Dallas, Texas at Cowboy Stadium against the No. 1 team in the country, Alabama. I think this photo pretty much sums up the way that game went.

Photos © AnnArbor.com 2012

A football season in photos

I've learned a lot about photographing Michigan football for AnnArbor.com over the last three years. Number one, football is very important to a lot of people in and around Ann Arbor! Fans love their team and they'll let you know it!

Number two, there's a method to the madness. Shooting from the sidelines is a whole lot of things; it's a emotional, it's hectic, it's a workout, it's a front row seat in a house of 115,000 seats.

I've learned to sharpen my elbows (on occasion) and make sure I get the shot I want. I've learned to be patient while shoulder to shoulder fighting for the same photo as everyone else. I've learned that football is a challenge to shoot and that I am lucky to get the opportunity to do so!

The elements certainly didn't spare us. There was the early season heat, monstrous wind (I chased my hat at least twice this season) and the rain. Enough rain to evacuate the Big House twice, during the same game! Experience teaches you to always be prepared and I never went to a game without spare garbage bags, gaff tape and my complete rain suit, regardless of what the weather man predicted.

I think what I've enjoyed most about the past three seasons is the comradery among the photographers on the field. While we may not always be thrilled about the space on the sidelines, the food in the photo room or the weather conditions, it's a great group of professionals to be around and I've learned a lot.

Here I've posted some of my favorite photos from the regular season's ups and downs.