Lutheran South Academy Football

Earlier this season, I made what is turning into an annual trip to the campus of Lutheran South Academy to photograph some good ole Texas high school football. The Pioneers, fresh off of a coaching change, have not had a great start to the season. They lost both of the games that I attended and currently have a 1-4 record. Hopefully they can get their season turned around starting tonight with a game against Fort Bend Christian Academy. Shout out to the early season September games when the sun sets about 20 minutes after kick-off.

Houston Texans Training Camp 2016

Football back! But before football was all the way back, I spent some time in late July, early August with the Houston Texans at their annual training camp for Houston Press. Some of the players were returning stars, and others were trying to make the team. But there were a few newly acquired players with high expectations *cough* Brock *cough* Lamar *cough*.

It was hot, there was a lot of waiting around and did I mention that it was hot? The Texans are off to a 1-0 start after beating the Chicago Bears yesterday. So it looks like training camp paid off. Or is that not how this works? Big shout and good luck to the Bulls on Parade. Check out the gallery HERE!

Former New England Patriots Linebacker Ted Johnson for Houstonia Magazine

Toward the end of his career, Ted Johnson was a linebacker for the New England Patriots during the beginning of their dynastic run. He has three Super Bowl rings but he also has been dealing with life after a pro football career filled with concussions. As usual the writer, in this case Jeff Balke, tells Johnson's story a lot better than I can. So I'll let him.

Big shout to Teddy Three Rings for giving us the time and big shout to Houstonia for giving us the work!

Steve Slaton at Underbelly

This is Steve Slaton. You might remember him and Pat White wreaking havoc from the backfield at West Virginia University. You might remember him being a 3rd round pick of the Houston Texans in the 2008 NFL Draft. You might remember him playing with the Miami Dolphins and/or the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL...but I doubt it. I definitely remember him being a highly rated running back in a couple of iterations of the EA Sports NCAA Football video games. But that's just me.

Now he's in culinary school, rushing to his new career in the kitchen. The homey Joey LoMonaco of The Dominion Post came to Houston to do a story on Mr. Slaton who is currently working at Underbelly, one of the dopest restaurants in town. You should give it a read, here. Shout out to an empty Underbelly. It makes shooting there muuuuuuch easier.

Lutheran South Academy vs. St. John XXIII Football

Ahhhh yessssss. Early September marks my first football game of the season. This year, the Lutheran South Academy Pioneers took on the St. John XXIII Lions. Two years ago, St. John XXIII was known as Pope John XXIII but I was completely unaware of the late pope's transition to sainthood. But I am now aware, as are all of you. The good thing about last Friday's game and most games in September is that the Earth takes it's sweet time rotating away from the sun so I was able to partake in some pretty good light during the race to nightfall. The bad thing about last Friday's game was that Lutheran South got a good amount of rain throughout the day so every step I took on the sideline mid-way through the first quarter, was a rain soaked mess. The Pioneers ran away with a 49-7 victory en route to a 2-0 record on the season. #FootballBack

Andre Johnson - Houston Texans

Well, it looks like the AJ80 era here in Houston has come to an end. According to the NFL rumor mill, the Houston Texans and Andre Johnson have agreed to part ways. Johnson spent 12 years with the team and is undeniably the greatest player in the franchise's 13 year history. Even with quarterbacks like David Carr, Matt Schuab, Case Keenum and Ryan Fitzpatrick (sorry guys), he was able to amass 1,000+ receptions, 13,000+ yards and 60+ touchdowns. HOF? I think so.

I took this photograph of him shortly after a 2014 regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens. It was the game 4 days before Christmas and I was actually there to take portraits of all the Christmas-costumed Texans fans. My assistant and I roamed around the famed Blue Lot and the concourses on every level, for hours, asking strangers if we could take their pictures. Toward the end of the game, we headed down to the field and the bowels of the stadium where I noticed a huge Texans logo painted on the wall. It was right along the path where the team leaves the field and heads to the locker room. The hall was dark but I had this ring flash connected to my camera so I thought I would try my luck. I practiced a few frames on a passing security guard, then the punter, then Mike Vrabel. I got shots of owner Bob McNair, coach Bill O'Brien, Brian Cushing and Arian Foster. I even got a shot of fan favorite and probably the second best player in franchise history JJ Watt...but that picture was trash. My favorite of the small series of images was this shot of Andre Johnson. I snapped it as he walked to the locker room to shouts of "What up 'Dre!"and other pleasantries from nearby, lucky fans. It's not perfect, but I like it. Shout out to the great 80.

Kansas State v. Baylor for ESPN The Magazine

Like yesterday's post, this too is about some late season college football action. ESPN's College GameDay crew traveled to Waco for a match up between the 10-1 Baylor Bears and the 9-2 Kansas State Wildcats. At this point, Baylor still had some hope to be included in the College Football Playoff but they were definitely going to need a win to have a shot.

In another assignment from ESPN The Magazine, the focus was on senior quarterback Bryce Petty. I pretty much had to keep one eye on him and the other on the action throughout the game. The Baylor Bears took care of business beating Kansas State 38-27 but it wasn't enough. They were on the outside looking in as the fifth team of a four team playoff.

While standing on the sidelines of McLane Stadium (beautiful facility, by the way) watching the seconds of the clock tick to 0:00, I'm trying to anticipate Bryce Petty's next move. I keep my distance, but I keep my eye on him as the celebration begins. As I rush to the middle of the field to shoot #14 celebrating with his teammates, I didn't know the rest of McLane Stadium was right behind me. All of a sudden, the vast expanse of an 100 yard football field turned into a packed 18 & up club on ladies night. That was not a cool feeling. I say I'll never do that again, but you never know.