Kentucky vs Florida Football

Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver DeMarcus Sweat (83) sits on the bench at the start of the fourth quarter as the #14 Florida Gators beat the Kentucky Wildcats 38-0 in an NCAA Football Game on Saturday, September 20, 2012 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. (David Manning for The Lexington Herald-Leader)

Its been almost a year since I covered a college football game and I'm trying to figure out if I'm rusty or if it was just Kentucky?

The tale after the jump.....

Keelen Moore 1, Aaron Murray 0

Boise State Broncos running back Doug Martin (22) runs in front of Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Branden Smith (1) for a touchdown as #5 Boise St. beats #19 Georgia 35-21 at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, September 3, 2011 in Atlanta, Ga.

Once more into the breech and another edition of college fooball, covering the oh-so-power-ranger looking University of Georgia.

 Week one, we travel an hour and a half west to the holy crap its dark as a hole Georgia Dome to see Heisman Canidate quarterback Keelen Moore and Boise St. take on the boy wizard all-SEC quarterback Aaron Murray and Georgia. More photos after the jump...

Georgia v Florida Redux.

Florida Gators kicker Chas Henry (17) celebrates after kicking a 37-yard field goal to win the game as the Florida Gators beat the Georgia Bulldogs 34-31 in overtime at Everbank Field on Saturday, October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Fl.

Its the annual Georgia/Florida game, Formerly known as the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. It was my fourth time since 2005, and it came down to the last play. Best college game I've seen in person.

Tale of this road trip after the jump.

Gameday Cover: Aaron Murray

Every week, we put out a publication called "Gameday." Its our weekly college football preview special section. My job is to somehow pull off a cover shot every Tuesday or Wednesday.

This particular shoot involved quarterback Aaron Murray inside Georgia's weight room.

Georgia vs Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Matt Simms (2) is hit as he runs for one-yard in the first quarter as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Volunteers 41-14 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, October 9, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Will the real Georgia football team please stand up? After a few weeks of nailbiting games where my game comes down to whether or not I get one play, it was refreshing to see a blowout.

They Call Me Bruce?!

Big Bad Bruce walks across the field after being anointed as UGA VIII as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Vanderbilt Commodores 43-0 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, October 16, 2010 in Athens, Ga. (David Manning/Staff/david.manning@onlineathens.com)

A new mascot, UGA VIII was introduced Saturday. I avoided the giant scrum of photographers (which had some serious behind the scene fallout) and decided to stay long, as i was being asked to photograph something else pregame.

Bruce is a cute little puppy and the players seem to like him

Another photo after the jump

Georgia vs Colorado

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Tyler Hansen (9) is held up by Colorado Buffaloes offensive linesman Ryan Miller (73) after scoring on a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter as the Colorado Buffaloes beat the Georgia Bulldogs 29-27 at Folsom Field on Saturday, October 2, 2010 in Boulder, Co.

With every game, someone wins and someone loses. Photographically speaking, if you do it right you capture both. I went to Boulder, Colorado to cover Georgia and i missed THE PICTURES from the Georgia perspective. If I worked in Colorado, i had amazing stuff.

Arkansas Vs Georgia

Georgia offensive tackle Clint Boling (60) and quarterback Aaron Murray (11) celebrate Murray's touchdown scramble in the first quarter as the Arkansas Razorbacks beat the Georgia Bulldogs 31-24 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, September 18, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Game 3 on the schedule, second game I shot. Arkansas won in the final minute but didn't celebrate.

Georgia Vs Louisana-Lafayette

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray (11) directs blockers as he runs with the ball as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 55-7 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, September 4, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

I'm posting this way late from when it was originally shot. Their season is now 4 games old and its looking pretty grim for an Orlando/Tampa bowl game.

Anyways, time to step into the way-back machine and wander back 3 weeks....

G-Day 2010

Eleven-year-old Claire Jones watches former wide receiver Michael Moore sign autographs during the University of Georgia's annual spring football game at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Georgia had its annual spring practice game last Saturday and i spent another Saturday on my knees again.

NFL Pro Day at UGA

NFL scouts time lineman Jeff Owens running the 40-yard-dash during Pro Day at the University of Georgia on Tuesday March 16, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Every year, scouts for all 30 NFL teams come to Georgia to evaluate all of the players that have declared for the NFL draft and push them through drills reminiscent of elementary school, well minus the bench press.

The challenge comes in making an interesting photo out of the deal.

Georgia Beats GA Tech

Georgia defensive end Justin Houston (42) and Georgia tight end Aron White (81) celebrate in the stands with the Redcoat Band as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.

Sometimes when we feel the worst, we somehow make the best pictures.

Georgia beat Georgia Tech. (Allegedly its a rivalry similar to Yankees-Red Sox). There was a pregame scrum. There was a postgame scrum. There were emotional pictures galore before and after the game.

And at the end of my college football season, I scaled a ladder and got my favorite jube picture of the year. Pulled off an interception picture that I'm not likely to ever repeat again in my career.

Perfection in the blink of an eye.

I photographed the most college football games (10) that I've done in a single season thus far. 4 states, 3 losses and 25,000 images.



Georgia safety Reshad Jones (9) makes an interception in front of Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (8) and Georgia cornerback Vance Cuff (25) as the the Georgia Bulldogs lead the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 17-3 at halftime at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.



Referees seperate Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan (91) and Georgia linebacker Marcus Dowtin (38) after the game as both teams stormed the center of the field as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.



Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez celebrates a defensive stop in the first quarter as the the Georgia Bulldogs lead the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 17-3 at halftime at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.



A Georgia Tech assistant coach holds Georgia Tech tackle Nick Claytor (75) back as the two teams are kept separate by officials as they meet pregame at the 50-yard-line as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.

Georgia/Auburn features

Andrew Bezilo walks underneath trumpets during the dogwalk before the Auburn Tigers take on the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

Here's some features from the Georgia/Auburn game, some of which didn't make our photo gallery. I was thoroughly annoyed that the sidelines were once again packed by people with point and shoot cameras. People on the Auburn sidelines were nice. All in all, it wasn't a bad game. Missed too much of the timely action.

Two more games this season. I've been doing work that I'm proud of and its the best I've done sofar, but its still not good enough.



Georgia captains (l-to-r) Ben Jones, Jeff Owens, Joe Cox and Prince Miller walk out onto the field pregame before the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Auburn Tigers 31-24 on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Cheerleaders cheer before the dogwalk before the Auburn Tigers take on the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin jumps up pregame before the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Auburn Tigers 31-24 on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Fans dance in the second quarter as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Auburn Tigers 31-24 on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

Georgia Homecoming

Georgia head coach Mark Richt waves to the student section after the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 38-0 on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

After my vacation trip, I'm really enjoying the ridiculously wide look of the 14mm on a full-frame camera. Granted it flares like nobody's business, but I'm enjoying it. I used it earlier this week for an assignment that hasn't run yet and i used it pre/post game for Georgia's homecoming as it was just a glorofied scrimmage so there was PLENTY of time to mess around and try and experiment.

I just like what its giving me and i feel it really puts the viewer in the scene and shows all the context.

(TechNotes: D700, Vivid color, -1 EV, Sigma 14mm/3.5 unless otherwise noted. The lens vignettes and for some reason, unless you underexpose it, the center of the frame gets overexposed.)



Three-year-old Jackson Tucker, of Watkinsville, watches the dogwalk before the Georgia Bulldogs against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (D2X 24-85/2.8-4) I was trying to frame using the pomp-poms.



Georgia majorettes cheer during the dogwalk before the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 38-0 on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (D2X 24-85/2.8-4) Just great light.



Class of 1992 feature twirler Angie Davis rehearses before the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 38-0 on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Georgia students Christina Swoope and Darrell Tricksey are names the University of Georgia's homecoming king and queen as the Georgia Bulldogs lead the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 31-0 at halftime on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (D2x 20mm/2.8 and i think there's something wrong with the lens)



Georgia cheerleaders practice lifts before the game as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 38-0 on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (If it looks like the cheerleader damm nearly fell into the camera, its because i was almost too close)



Georgia quarterback Joe Cox stretches before the Georgia Bulldogs against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

Tennessee/Georgia

Georgia's schedule has not been kind to myself and I blame the WWL for the constant time changes. Games have either been at night or at noontime.

Night games means a pressured deadline and fast transmitting while a noon game means getting up early to be at the stadium by 9am. In this instance, driving to Knoxville, Tenn., and then trying to be bright-eyed come the next morning amidst a nifty Tornado Warning.

Tennessee's renovated press facilities were very nice, as was the food. Imagine actually having breakfast food at 10AM. The press room was a stones throw from the field and impressed the hell out of me. The rain held off and a game was played... for awhile. Then i believe what occurred is best described as a "Broad Street Beatdown" (Thats a Philly term for you Southerners) as Tennessee ran away with the game in the second half.

Highlights:
-The fall foliage.
-The press room.
-Amusing Texts about the game.
-Having AP beg me for a photo that they missed.
-Watching the photographer next to me whine about missing a blocked punt in the end zone when i switched to the 70-200, expecting such a play.

Lowlights
-Knowing there's no way in hell I'm working a New Year's Day bowl game.
-Waiting around for 2 hours for sports writers after I'm done.
-Zero leg room in the SUV for the 5 hour drive home.
-I need a better camera/longer lens.
-The condition of the Parking Garage elevators. It was like the movie SAW.



Georgia returner Brandon Boykin evades Tennessee's Cory Sullins as Boykin returns a kickoff 100 yards as Tennessee Volunteers lead the Georgia Bulldogs 21-12 at halftime at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn.



Tennessee fullback Kevin Cooper gets a hand on the ball as the Tennessee Volunteers beat the Georgia Bulldogs 45-19 at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn.



Georgia's Zach Renner blocks a Chad Cunningham punt for a safety late in the second quarter as the Tennessee Volunteers beat the Georgia Bulldogs 45-19 at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn.



Richard Samuel grabs the face mask of a returner as Tennessee Volunteers lead the Georgia Bulldogs 21-12 at halftime at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn.



Tennessee defender Art Evans nearly intercepts a pass intended for Michael Moore as the Tennessee Volunteers beat the Georgia Bulldogs 45-19 at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Excessive Celebration? Really? (LSU 20 Georgia 13)

Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green is congratulated after a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1:09 to go in the game as #4 LSU Tigers beat the #18 Georgia Bulldogs 20-13 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

Green would receive an excessive celebration penalty for this jubilation.

It was nice to have one half of good light to shoot pictures in. The second half? Backlit as hell as the shadows had crept in.

I learned two lessons this game. FIRST.... the one play you say "I'll move after this one" is the play that could be the potential Game-winning touchdown. Second.... The minute you take off the long glass and set up for the post-game celebration, all hell will break loose on the other side of the field.



LSU head coach Les Miles, center, and wide receiver Terrance Toliver (80) celebrate as the #4 LSU Tigers beat the #18 Georgia Bulldogs 20-13 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, October 3, 2009.



LSU running back Charles Scott runs the ball as the #4 LSU Tigers beat the #18 Georgia Bulldogs 20-13 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, October 3, 2009.



Georgia defensive end Kade Weston celebrates a sack in the third quarter as the #4 LSU Tigers beat the #18 Georgia Bulldogs 20-13 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, October 3, 2009.



Blair Walsh leaves the locker room before the game as the #4 LSU Tigers beat the #18 Georgia Bulldogs 20-13 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, October 3, 2009.