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 football: South Carolina edition

Georgia defensive back runs for a 61-yard touchdown on a reverse as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

Georgia football is what makes me and some of my friends $MONEY$. People always ask me about being on the sidelines, isn't this cool, best seat in the house, etc. This is a business to me. This is what pays my rent and puts food on my table. I love sports and I love being on the sidelines but at the end of the day it all comes down to $$$$.

There's a LOT of media at these events. There's a lot of photographers. The best advice that I've been given and that I will pass on is to be where the other photographers aren't. Be unique. You don't need to get the same shot that the other 10 people next to you are getting. Rod Mar once showed me a photo of Scott Strazzante who was shooting a game with a short lens surrounded by a gang of people with super-long glass.




South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is sacked by Georgia linebacker Darryl Gamble, center, and defensive end Cornelius Washington as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo throws South Carolina tailback Bryce Sherman to the ground in the second quarter as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia players wait to go out on the field before the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia's A.J. Green runs with the ball after a catch in the third quarter as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

A lot of shooting football is guess work and predicting what the team will do. Anticipating the action. Like if Georgia is inside the 20, I will set up in the end zone with a short lens and hope it comes towards me. I want the context of whats going on. The biggest problem I'm running into is that superstar A.J. Green turns back to the quarterback when he makes his catches, thus negating anything amazing. So i have to stop my 'end-zone camping.'



Georgia's Vance Cuff grabs the face mast of South Carolina fullback Patrick DiMarco as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin returns a kickoff for a touchdown for 100 yards as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



A member of the UGA dance team dances in the stands as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

G-Day 2009

Quarterback Joe Cox walks during warmups before Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (Image shot with a special-effect lens)

Georgia held their annual Spring Scrimmage football game which they call G-Day. It was broadcast on ESPN and was fairly entertaining. Sidelines seemed thinner than usual. Got tangled up with a cheerleader while laying down to shoot with a tilt/shift.

All in all, a good time had by all as i had a game picture from the first play (yee old flee-flicker for a 40-yard-pass) but that really didn't tell the story of a defensive struggle. I had fun.



Running back Fred Munzenmaier (48) runs the ball as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (Image shot with a special-effect lens)



Wide receiver A.J. Green (8) hauls in a Joe Cox pass in front of cornerback Prince Miller (23) as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Tailback Dontavius Jackson fumbles the ball in the second half as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.



Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford wears as headset as he works the sidelines as Georgia's red team beats black 13-3 during the Georgia Bulldogs' annual spring football game on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.

G-Day Preview

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Joe Cox on Monday April 6, 2009 in Athens, Ga. (Image shot with a special-effect lens)

Today is Georgia's annual Spring Football game and is commonly referred to as G-Day. Earlier in the week, i shot some portraits for our "Gameday" section which comes out for every Georgia football game.

All of these were taken in the "Buttes/Mehre Photo Studio" otherwise known as the racquetball court. All of the players were super great to work with. I feel I'm in a photographic rut when its coming to sportraits seeing as I do somewhere between 40-50 a year.



Georgia Bulldogs running back Carlton Thomas on Monday April 6, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Brandon Boykin on Monday April 6, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

The Matthew Stafford Olympics (.... or Georgia's Pro Day)

Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford stands on the field before he works out in front of over 40 NFL scouts during the University of Georgia's Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Let me preface this by saying that my primary job was to create a video piece for our website on this event. In order to keep my sanity (as well as how often do you get to photograph the touted #1 draft pick) I decided to go with the 20/f11 for making shots at pro day.

This wasn't my first pro-day. I did one before at FSU a few years back. This one was all that you could imagine. There were upwards of 50 NFL scouts and front office people as well as countless Georgia people, media, friends, family and anyone else that could get in to see Matthew Stafford throw 50 passes. To call it a circus would be a disrespect to tent-carrying elephants everywhere. This was an entirely new level of hype and hoopla that you just don't see every day.









Stafford wasn't the only show in town.



Former Georgia linebacker Dannell Ellerbe runs the fourty-yard-dash in front of over 40 NFL scouts during the University of Georgia's Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Athens, Ga.




Former Georgia wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi dives for a pylon during an agility drill in front of over 40 NFL scouts during the University of Georgia's Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Goodbye Bulldogs!

Running back Knowshon Moreno catches the final touchdown over Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones in the fourth quarter as the No 15 15 Georgia Bulldogs beat the No 18 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.

Knowshon's last touchdown as a Bulldog. Second shot of the sequence, definetly started it way too early. Ball wasn't where i needed it in either the first or second shot.



Coach Mark Richt is surrounded by the Georgia team before the start of the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.

I played around with a polecam with a fisheye pregame and this is the best i got.


Here's some outtakes from the Capital One (nee Florida Citrus) Bowl game of players that are leaving. Can't say i wouldn't do the same for a few million dollars of guaranteed cash.



Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford is tackled by Michigan State linebacker Trevor Anderson during a quarterback draw in the first quarter as the No 16 Georgia Bulldogs beat the as the No 19 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.



Running back Knowshon Moreno sits atop a ladder in front of the Georgia Redcoat Band as the No 16 Georgia Bulldogs beat the No 19 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.



Georgia cornerback Asher Allen tackles Michigan State receiver Keyshawn Martin as the No 16 Georgia Bulldogs beat No 19 Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, 2009.

I really like this tackle. I was expecting a penalty to be called but it wasn't a horsecollar. Really.

Vince Dooley

Legendary Georgia football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley stopped by the studio the other day as he is promoting a new book about the top plays in Georgia Football history.

I had him diagram the famous "Run Lindsay, Run!" play that ended up as a 92-yard touchdown pass to win 26-21 against Florida in 1980.

So when you do the plexiglass trick here, don't scrimp. If its going to be mounted against a couple of light stands, you need thicker than 1/4 inch. This was 4 ft by 2 ft and frankly it was very difficult for him to sketch out the play.

13 Blocks in 3 Hours: The Tim Tebow lovefest

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is congratulated by Florida fans as the #8(BCS) Florida Gators beat the #6 (BCS) Georgia Bulldogs 49-10 in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 1, 2008.

Florida. Georgia. World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party Traffic Jam.



Florida's Ahmed Black, left, and Joe Haden celebrate as the #8(BCS) Florida Gators beat the #6 (BCS) Georgia Bulldogs 49-10 in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 1, 2008.


To anyone who ever, EVER, entertains thoughts of going to this game. First, Don't. Seriously, this game is for professional alcoholics people who can endure the worst traffic on the planet. We exited I-95 to travel 13 blocks down Union St. and to the stadium at 11:30AM. (It's a 3:30 kickoff.) We managed to get to the parking garage at 3PM. Thats utterly ridiculous and completely unacceptable. There's no earthly reason why it should take 3 1/2 hours to travel less than 2 miles, especially when you are following the signs to the stadium.

Both Athens and Gainesville handle 90 Thousand plus fans (in the stadiums!) every fall. There's no conceivable reason why a city with the resources of Jacksonville, Fl. has horrendous traffic problems when one of the poorest city in Georgia can handle traffic without a problem.

So after a quick sprint from the car and through/over legions of Florida fans (most of whom were trying to get in through the press entrance), there was a game to play.




Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno stiff arms Florida defensive end Justin Trattou as the #8(BCS) Florida Gators beat the #6 (BCS) Georgia Bulldogs 49-10 in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 1, 2008.

Georgia showed up, had a good statistical first half, made a few errors but was down 14-3 despite outplaying Florida. Made some nice pictures. Finally got a decent picture of Knowshon Moreno and made a decent sack photo, only to have it called back on an offsides penalty. NEARLY made the 'shot of the game' photo - Knowshon having a TD pass go in his hands and off his head - alas it was backfocused. (I'm going to blame the lens because it can't be user error... right?)




Florida quarterback Tim Tebow looks up after being stopped just short of the goal line in first quarter the as the #8(BCS) Florida Gators beat the #6 (BCS) Georgia Bulldogs 49-10 in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 1, 2008.

Second half came and they didn't answer the bell. I went to work on trying to get deject/jube shots as it rapidly became the 'Tim Tebow' show, between him doing the 'Gator Chomp' (I've seen alligators living in the wild before firsthand and never seen them do that) and the victory lap after the game. It got out of a hand in a hurry as dejected Georgia fans left in a hurry. It was 1/2 a stadium, as no one was on the Georgia side while everyone was still there on the Florida side. (Should have went into the stands and made that picture)



Florida quarterback Tim Tebow does the "Gator Chomp" after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter as the #8(BCS) Florida Gators the #6 (BCS) Georgia Bulldogs 49-10 in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 1, 2008.



Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, left, looks dejected on the bench as the #8(BCS) Florida Gators beat the #6 (BCS) Georgia Bulldogs 49-10 in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 1, 2008.

I made solid, game telling pictures. Thats the best you can do I suppose.

Georgia defenders Geno Adkins, left, and Roderick Battle, right, combine to sack Florida quarterback Tim Tebow before the play was nullified on a Georgia penalty as the #8(BCS) Florida Gators beat the #6 (BCS) Georgia Bulldogs 49-10 in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 1, 2008.

Homecoming!

Georgia alumni cheerleader Bill Dunaway cheers before the #10 Georgia Bulldogs beat the #22 Vanderbilt Commodores 24-14 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Nothing like shooting 2 football games separated by about 16 hours. (More on the prep game later.) Georgia played Vandy for their homecoming game, first time they've both been ranked teams when they played.



Linebacker Darius Bewberry dives for the ball as he nearly intercepts a Mackenzi Adams pass as the #10 Georgia Bulldogs beat the #22 Vanderbilt Commodores 24-14 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

This is the first game I shot everything while kneeling. Football just looks better when you're looking at it from a slightly upwards angle, the players look more heroic or larger than life. It also cleans up the backgrounds so it gets just the crowd - not ugly white concrete or the benches - in your background. I had fun with it and my knees held up pretty well. I really tried to focus on putting myself in the right spot although i missed two touchdowns and several big plays because i let the side judge get in front of me. Yes, i got blocked but anymore i don't find that an acceptable excuse. I put myself in a bad spot and allowed myself to miss plays. You cannt do that and expect to perform at a big-time level.



Running back Knowshon Moreno tries to evade the tackle safety Reshard Langford as the #10 Georgia Bulldogs beat the #22 Vanderbilt Commodores 24-14 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

I get one more shot this season at Florida and i have to make it count. Maybe one more home game against Tech. I've made one or two nice pictures this season and the stuff is solid, it's just not outstanding and not whats going to get me a job at a major paper, not in this economic climate. I know i can be better..... (Anyone got a 400/2.8 they want to give away?)



Quarterback Matthew Stafford scrambles as he is chased by linebacker Patrick Benoist as the #10 Georgia Bulldogs beat the #22 Vanderbilt Commodores 24-14 at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

I remember back to shooting a game back when i had an internship in York. Ohio St. v Penn State. Got a nice running play right off the bat that could have carried the page if necessary. Seemed so easy then.

Maybe it wasn't THAT bad.....

Quarterback Matthew Stafford scrambles in the fourth quarter as the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide upsets the #3 Georgia Bulldogs 41-30 at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

I just spent the past hour and a half looking at the detritus raw files from my Georgia-Alabama game. They weren't as bad as i had thought. Lots of 'almost' photos and bad luck, i.e. the ball was dropped on the wrong side of the body. Lots of pictures of Stafford running for his life.

Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson is hit by Georgia defenders DeAngelo Tyson, left, and Jarius Wynn, right, as the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide upsets the #3 Georgia Bulldogs 41-30 at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008.




Better than last year but still nothing that makes me go 'WOW'. Granted, I've done a total of EIGHT college football games (5 last year, 2 this year and one during an internship) in my life but they're where i want them to be.




Wide Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi drops back to pass during a trick play in the third quarter as the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide upsets the #3 Georgia Bulldogs 41-30 at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008. The intended pass for quarterback Matthew Stafford fell incomplete.


Wide receiver A.J. Green stifarms Alabama defender Marquis Johnson in the third quarter as the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide upsets the #3 Georgia Bulldogs 41-30 at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008.


(Hey Kids! Guess which photo was the D2x. The rest were all D700)

Blackout? Blackout! Black-out.

Former UGA player Jason Johnson is surrounded by the runinng backs during a pregame dance before the #3 Georgia Bulldogs take on the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

(Shot that with a Pole cam and the Live View function. Usually they surround Knowshon but not this time)

#3 Georgia. #8 Alabama. Biggest College Game I've shot. Sidelines packed full of people, lots whom didn't need to be there. And to Sports Comm's credit, those that clearly didn't need to be there mysteriously disappeared after halftime. Coincidently, Georgia didn't show up until after halftime either.




Alabama lineman Antoine Caldwell celebrates a touchdown with Roy Upchurch as the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide lead the #3 Georgia Bulldogs 31-0 at halftime at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

It was a game of two halves. Alabama dominated the first half, going up an unthinkable 31-0. Georgia came back and scored 30 in the second half, including 1 punt return for a TD, 1 blocked punt and a successful onside kick. Did i get a good picture of any of these? Of course not.

The first half had lots of Alabama Jube. The second half had lots of Georgia passes and dropped passes. Shooting wise, it got a little predictable. Everyone has their own style of how they shoot football. Me, i just try to do what the defensive backs do: read the quarterback and follow where he's looking when his arm comes back to throw.




Alabama linebacker Don ta Hightower comes up with an interception as the #3 Georgia Bulldogs take on the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008.



Alabama running back Roy Upchurch watches as the ball squirts loose after he was ruled down as the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide upsets the #3 Georgia Bulldogs 41-30 at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

All in all, the game was OKAY. I had pictures of two fumbles that weren't therefore utterly useless. I liked my one handed interception and some of the 'BAMA jube. Never made a really good Georgia picture that i liked. Just wasn't there.

Georgia Football: Why i don't get the paper anymore

Junior Kris Dunham, left, and freshman A.J. Green celebrate Dunham's 61-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter as the #1 Georgia Bulldogs beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday, August 30, 2008.

So i started this blog about a year ago for two reasons. One (as Diane from Blue Murder and Woody can attest) is to share Dropkick Murphys photos with the world. Second, and by far much more cathartic, is to share with the world good photos that otherwise never see the light of day thanks to ... well whatever reason why the designer chose not to use any of these.

I went to the store today to get another case of bottled water and looked and the paper and as usual, found myself unhappy with the sports front for football. It was okay but i thought my jube shot was better. All in all, it was a 95 degree game that felt way hotter than Vegas did. Its rather demoralizing to not see your work hit the newspaper after putting in an 11 hour day out in the broiling heat.

Oh yeah, good shout outs to Pouya Diant of the AJC whom i finally got to meet, whom is one hell of a shooter to try and keep up with and a lot of fun to enjoy sharing a photo suite. Also, Woody Marshall of the Macon Telegraph really earned his stripes after getting nailed by a Georgia Southern player, shearing his 400/2.8 lens in half. (He's okay)



Senior wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi jumps to make a catch in the second quarter as the #1 Georgia Bulldogs beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday, August 30, 2008.



Freshman receiver A.J. Green catches a 36-yard pass from Matthew Stafford down to the one yard line as the #1 Georgia Bulldogs beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday, August 30, 2008.



Head coach Mark Richt yells at Linesman Johnny Crawford over an illegal substitution call in the second quarter as the #1 Georgia Bulldogs beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday, August 30, 2008.



Freshman running back Richard Samuel runs as Athens native Chris Rogers, right, tries to make a tackle as the #1 Georgia Bulldogs beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday, August 30, 2008.