Rugby: Elegant, senseless violence

[schmoo]

I think the above description is actually geared towards women's rugby, but I always liked the sound of it. :wink

This weekend a friend invited me to come watch a local rugby match, a team that he used to be a part of. I think they are the Baltimore-Chesapeake Brumbies, but either way I know nothing about the game except there's a lot of yelling and scuffling and crunching.

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199258591-M-3.jpg

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199259124-M-3.jpg

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199259750-M-3.jpg

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199259976-M-3.jpg

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199260350-M-3.jpg

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199260570-M-3.jpg

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199260939-M-3.jpg

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199261252-M-3.jpg

I've never done sports photography before but I figured the high-action practice couldn't hurt. I am in love with the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, as it did the job perfectly. :lust


ETA: (Wah, I typo'd the subject if it's possible at all to change it... :rolleyes )

[wxwax]

Jeez, for someone who's never shot sports before, you did a fine job!

Did this guy need the trainer after this play? :lol3

http://schmoo.smugmug.com/photos/199260570-S-3.jpg

[DavidTO]

Nice work for a sports n00b!

I love the intensity on their faces in that first shot.

Oh, and I fixed your typo. :D

[Prezwoodz]

SOme really nice shots there schmooo! I think you did a great job capturing the game in action.

[schmoo]

Thanks, David! :thumb

[schmoo]

Did this guy need the trainer after this play? :lol3

Yanno I don't even have those body parts and I think the game looks darned painful.

There isn't an appropriate emoticon on this forum for the situation, so this one will have to suffice: :wow

:D

Thanks for the kind words, guys!

[ccpickre]

I have a friend on the women's rugby team. She comes to class looking abused everyday. But that's cause they play hard. They played a Varsity team recently and that team wasn't use to playing hard, so they lost a LOT of players through the game until the ref finally had to call the game because the visiting team was getting destroyed.

I like the photos, they're better than mine :)

[ivar]

Wow schmoo :bow

You seem to have great shots no matter what the subject is. First your buildings, then portraits, now sports :thumb

[schmoo]

I have a friend on the women's rugby team. She comes to class looking abused everyday. But that's cause they play hard. They played a Varsity team recently and that team wasn't use to playing hard, so they lost a LOT of players through the game until the ref finally had to call the game because the visiting team was getting destroyed.

I like the photos, they're better than mine :)
Hmm, I admit I am not very sporty myself but to tone down a sport like rugby kind of seems like they're missing the point....?

I've seen (LOTS) your stuff! I think you still take the cake with photojournalism. :thumb

Thanks Ivar, you are too nice! But I didn't catch any actual drops of blood, spit, or sweat flying through the air so I think I've got a good ways to go. :giggle

[ccpickre]

Well, it wasn't toned down. The visiting team just used a lot of girls from the track team, or that had been track runners. So they utilized the speed and had their fastest girl run up the wings all the time. But when it came to the physical game, they sucked :D

[HarveyMushman]

Very nice! :thumb

Where they playing inside a racetrack? Where? Yes, I have a one-track mind (no pun intended . . . ).

[ccpickre]

PS, yes you can edit the subject title thing. Just go back to that post, click edit, and in the subject line just change it (You may have to click advanced or something like that. And where it asks for the reason, just say spelling or something to that effect).