I have always wanted to shoot sports, and yet in my 12 or 13 years of being behind the camera I’ve never had the opportunity. So, when I heard that the US women’s team was going to play a friendly against New Zealand in Denver, I jumped at the chance to cover it for The18. And the experience was everything I thought it would be, and then some.
Confession time - I’ve always enjoyed watching the World Cup, but that’s about as far as my soccer fandom goes. You could say I’m pretty uneducated when it comes to the Beautiful Game, and not having ever been to a US soccer match before, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.
As a photographer I’m always looking for subjects that pop, and neither the fans, nor the team let me down in the slightest.
This hombre was kitted out and is clearly a tailgating maestro.
This hombre was kitted out and is clearly a tailgating maestro.
Tons of fans went all out, but I think this guy takes the cake.
This woman sits perched atop her van flying Old Glory as the sun went down.
Lots of girls came to the game to watch the USWNT kick ass and they were pumped up and having fun.
One thing stood out immediately to me - Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a good looking stadium. It’s not huge, and it is in the middle of nowhere, but it sits under some pretty cool Colorado sunsets and is one hell of a cool venue.
These two girls are beyond excited to cheer on the USWNT.
Christen Press, Allie Long and Crystal Dunn on their way to the locker room at the half.
Alex Morgan goes up against New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson for the ball. For this commercial and portrait photographer, the fierce and fast action in the match proved a challenge for me, but I walked off with a handful of game shots that I’m really happy with.
These girls go wild when the final whistle blows and the US defeats New Zealand 3-1.
