There were 109,449 humans in the stadium yesterday
It was a quintessential college football Saturday in Ann Arbor as Michigan met with Northwestern. This was my fourth (!) game taking photos, and I think this is one of the best games I’ve ever shot.
If I could bottle up the confidence I had after this game, I think I could cure imposter syndrome.
Not really, but I would love to have another perfect combination of weather + action at the next game!
Made it back to Ann Arbor for the last September game to capture another thrilling game of Michigan Football. And the score was a lot closer than most anticipated — 20-13.
There were 106,943 humans in the stadium yesterday.
This is the last time I’ll be in the Big House for a few weeks (potentially the season — it’s in the hands of the Michigan credentialing gods) so I wanted to make the most of this game. I’ve been so appreciative this year to be able to take photos pretty consistently; the only way to get better is to keep practicing!
Someone asked me recently if my style has changed over the years, and I am still thinking about my answer to this. My first instinct is, of course, but I also think there are a lot of aspects that I still carry with me. I started photography with more of an artistic/commercial eye, and I’ve found this still makes its way through. I also often try and find layers to surround the subject.
I’m a big fan of introspection and reflection (probably too much, honestly) and it’s funny/a bit humbling to look back at my old photos. With the help and encouragement of other photographers, my friends/family, etc., I’ve been able to carve a path to find my voice through photography. And in this crazy world we’re in, I’m incredibly thankful to have this as a constant.
I’m sorry for anyone who saw me (attempting to) run across the field to get these photos. Hope to see you all again soon!
After 644 days (but who’s counting) I was fortunate enough to return to the Big House to photograph Michigan’s defeat of Western Michigan. It was easily the happiest day I’ve experienced over the last year and a half.
The Big House was once again at full capacity with 109,295 humans in the stadium.
Warm-ups/pregame for the athletes is also very much a warm-up period for me, especially not having shot any sort of sports in nearly two years. It’s a nice time of reflection when the stadium is still pretty empty and fans slowly trickle in. All of a sudden you blink and the stadium is full. Some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken usually come from these early points in the day or smaller moments in between the action shots.
The men’s basketball team also made an appearance on the sideline. They’re pretty tall.
I’ve come to realize how much of a mental game photography can be. Being too much in my head, overthinking shots, and good ol’ imposter syndrome can completely ruin how I shoot. Through the years I’ve found ways to continue to combat all this, from getting to the stadium ridiculously early to not beating myself up about missing a shot. Football can be pretty unpredictable, as Michigan fans are well aware of.
I was so incredibly lucky to be in the group of photographers that were credentialed for the Western game. It was great to see familiar faces and share the same phrases of, “Wow, I can tell I haven’t done this in a few years!” The photogs were incredibly kind and there was a general mood of encouragement and support for everyone in the room, which hasn’t always been the case.
Enjoy some of my favorite photos from the game, and I’ll see you again next Saturday!
Ice Krispies.
(sorry)
Earlier this summer, I made a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo on a warm, long weekend afternoon. It was, surprisingly, pretty therapeutic to walk around alone for a few hours and capture some animal photos.
Thanks to my slight addition to TikTok, I recently learned a new word: sonder — the realization that every person who passes by you is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
I’m a pretty introverted person, but I’ve strangely found a lot of peace these last few months around groups of people. Whether it’s hauling my laptop to the Starbucks down the street or taking a walk on the lakefront trail, it’s been refreshing to see strangers enjoying the city. It seems like this may not be the case for too much longer if you read the news, but for now I’m embracing the warm feeling of solitude amongst others. Thinking about how each of us are on our own path while weaving in and out of others’ has been bringing me a sense of comfort.
For the first time since March 2020, I boarded a plane and left the Midwest. This also marked the first time since 2019 that I took a vacation where I didn’t check my work email (small victories!)
Like many others, I realized that constant travel is one of the things that keeps me sane and energized. Nothing like the world coming to a screeching halt to realize how much you enjoy getting out of your apartment, despite being an introvert, right? With masks in hand (well, on our faces) and jabs in our arms, my friend Shannon and I headed out West for a few days of tranquility.
Three of my best friends from college and I have made the unspoken commitment since graduation to try and visit each other at least once/year. In 2019 we made it to D.C. to visit Shannon, 2020 marked New Orleans to see Izzie, and 2021 was Jane’s turn to host us in Salt Lake City (Sandy, UT). Though we missed Shannon in the Big Easy and Izzie in Mormon Country, we’ve filled the gaps with sporadic FaceTimes and Christmas cards. Our trip to NOLA last year was immediately followed by worldwide shutdowns, so I was really grateful to have captured some happy photos.
For some reason unbeknownst to me, I’ve recently created this association in my head that getting my camera out and taking photos was just another form of work. I’m not sure if it’s due to the line between work/life balance in my day job becoming completely blurred or severe burnout (probably both), but I just haven’t found the joy in taking photos lately. I made it a mission to myself before Shannon and I trekked to O’Hare that I’d find some fun in creating memorable photos both of my friends and of the beauty of the nature that would surround us.
This last year has also been a solid reminder of the importance photography can play in preserving memories, whether they’re beautiful or tragic. Like the rest of the world, Jane, Shannon and I have all had moments of struggle this past year, and I wanted these photos to serve as a bright light to celebrate some sort of return to normalcy.
Please enjoy some mountain photos!
