Photographing Football in the Cold

Note that most players don't let their insulating capes come between
their bodies and the heated bench.

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Words and photographs by Jack MacDonough

Today—Sunday—most football fans will wonder about the players or the fans in the cold. Not me. I think of the sports photographers in the cold.

I was at the Packers-Viking game in late November when it was 22°F warm. I learned that as long as the wind is not a factor, the field is not as cold as I expected.

1. The field is heated via underground pipes. So it is surprisingly warmer than the air. Your feet won't get as cold as expected.

2. The player bench is also well heated. When players sit on it, they wear their capes like blankets so they sit directly in contact with the bench.

3. Those capes are like insulated tents and amazingly effective in warding off the cold. I know because I purchased a few used ones a few years ago for watching in the seats.

I could not wear my Packers cape because a "field photographer" is required to wear an identifying vest that has "FIELD PHOTO" on the back, and the cape would have hidden that vest. The vest is the equivalent of an all-access pass (a vest that says NFL FILMS is even better). Even though my vest says "field," I am not allowed on the actual playing field. Only players and referees can be there. There is a yellow line all around the field that a photographer must not cross. It's about a yard back from where the participants can stand, and behind the bench. That does not mean the players don't crash over the yellow line and crush photographers occasionally, so you must stay alert for your own safety.

Unidentified photographer working the Packers-Vikings game, dressed for moderate cold. Note the all-important yellow line.

The other field photographers were not overly dressed for the cold because they move a lot which generates heat. I was dressed for an even colder day and actually overheated after moving around. Consuming water is important for a working photographer, as I ended up sweating, not shivering.

I asked a few fellow photographers what their key cold weather equipment was, and their answer was backup batteries kept close to their warm bodies. One had a backup pair of gloves kept in a pocket next to hand warmers. He switched back and forth between the two pair of gloves. Pretty useful idea. Incidentally, 70,000 hand warmers will be given away later today to the fans at the Packers-49ers playoff game.

The new South End Zone superstructure

Many photographers used knee pads which not only protect knees when on the ground, but add insulation from the ground. Very long, fast, heavy lenses abound, and most everyone uses monopods. Usually photographers had a second camera for wide angle shots. No one switches lenses. There is no time, and it invites dust or snow on sensors, and it can be dangerous to be concentrating on your equipment when a lineman is rolling toward you.

So you have in some cases twenty pounds of equipment you are lugging around, and that exertion will generate heat. If your face is not too exposed and you have good gloves you will be OK. The switch from film to digital is a huge plus—in the past, changing film often required taking gloves off. Since the field is heated, as mentioned, I found my feet didn't get cold as they do when I sit in the stands with my boots on sub-zero concrete. Again, moving around carrying gear is different than just sitting. And to get the best shots you will be moving around a bit. You have to anticipate how a play might develop. Even with high speed motor drives and autofocus, you need planning, experience, and luck.

One final tip from another photographer was, don't breathe on your lenses as your breath will freeze on the glass. You won't get it clear until half-time when you can go into the warm media room near the locker rooms.

Photographers at work in the end zone. Note the obligatory vests.

It was a fun photography experience for an architecture and landscape art photographer. But it was a relatively warm 22°F when I was there. I won't be doing it today in temperatures expected to be near zero by game time. However, my experience gave me an appreciation for how challenging it is to be a sports photographer.

Jack

Jack MacDonough is an architecture and landscape fine art photographer who specializes in large-sized photographic installations for corporate and individual clients throughout the United States. He had a field pass because the Green Bay Packers organization asked him to photograph the architecture of Lambeau Field's new stadium addition from the on-field perspective.

©2014 by John N. MacDonough, all rights reserved

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

DAvid Seelig: "As someone who shoots NFL games, we who just have 400mm lenses will put off and on tele-extenders in all weather. The equivalent of changing lenses. Also, many guys, when end zone plays are coming up, will change lenses if they only have two bodies."

Comments

[Mike Johnston]

Anybody know why people put duct tape around their boots like the guy in the picture? I've seen that before but have no idea what it's for.

Mike

[Mark C]

My friends from San Francisco say the duct tape is a fashion accessory.

[Mike Johnson]

The new architecture looks phenomenal.

[Patrick Dodds]

to stop water going through the lace holes?

[cfw]

I knew there was a reason I've always preferred baseball.

[David Bostedo]

"Anybody know why people put duct tape around their boots like the guy in the picture?"

My first thought was for the same reason some players tape over their shoes - only Nike logos are allowed to be shown on players. (I think it's Nike this year - it's switched between Nike and Reebok a couple of times recently.) I have absolutely no idea if this applies to folks on the sidelines though.

[Chris Gibbs]

>Anybody know why people put duct tape around their boots like the guy in the picture? I've seen that before but have no idea what it's for.<

Seen that done with heavy winter boots to tighten the fit for narrower feet. Winter boots are not made for fit, so they're not really much good for walking. Your socks often end-up coming off with the wool lined affairs. (:-)

[Nicholas Von Staden]

A good fried of minne told just today after the "coldest NFL game" in history is still the old Green Bay game....he was covering the game with UPI as a staffer.........Nothing worked...lenses would focus..too stiff, motor locked up, batteries failed,film leaders snapped as you tried to reload, and lightning streaks were on the film after development across a lot of the frames ( from rewinding to fas in the cold dry air making static electricity )....the best pictures were of the bundled cold fans.

[Steve Jacob]

I think duck tape stops you sticking the monopod through your laces and tripping up with $4k worth of camera. Or as Patrick said, keeps the snow out.

[Jody Russell]

There is often gaffers tape to write on which players the photographer is supposed to shoot at that particular game.

[Jim Simmons]

In 1972 I saw ZZ Top play at a local roller rink after they had just released "ZZ Top's First Album." Billy Gibbons' cowboy boots were wrapped up with duct tape, but it was obvious that it was because the soles were hanging off and he couldn't afford to have them fixed. No fashion statement there. A hard working bar band that played for 3 solid hours.

[Colin]

Heated fields? Heated benches? Little blankets? I thought American footballers were supposed to be tough....(!)

[Well, not as tough as Cricketeers, or whatever you call them. I'm sure they play in —15°C and wind all the time.

So it's –28°C this morning where I live, how about you? --Mike]

[Mike Plews]

"Anybody know why people put duct tape around their boots like the guy in the picture? I've seen that before but have no idea what it's for.

Mike"

My guess is that insulated boots are expensive and when mine fail it is bacause they crack at about the spot that photographer has the tape applied.
If you squat a lot in these they will crack at that point.

[Tim Fitzwater]

Everytime I go to a game I always end up watching the photographers work and wonder about things like this - so thanks. ...and being a Cleveland fan I know all about the cold - in my heart and in the air.
One thing that drives me crazy though, is when everyone talks about Southern teams playing up North - as if all the players on a giving pro team are actually from the city they play in. For example - Phil Dawson kicked the game winning field goal, he plays for SF, well lets remember that he kicked in the snow in Cleveland for the previous decade....

[Bob Smith]

Informative post. Good game, I was pulling for Green Bay as I can't stand the 49'ers overall.

I like Kaepernik and Rogers.

GB started with a weak defense and then saw their best D players drop like flies throughout the game so no wonder they collapsed at the end.

Earlier in the day I saw an interview with Colin Kaepernik where he used the word 'outlier' correctly in a sentence. That surprised and impressed me.

[Roger Bradbury]

I too wondered about the duct taped boots, and if the idea was to keep water out. If you wear Doc Martens you will know that the tongue of the boot is attached to the boot for most of its length; an eight hole boot, once proofed up, is waterproof to above where your waterproof overtrousers end so there's an overlap.

The Airwair soles keep your feet warmer, too. I can't wear them any more for medical reasons, but I used to wear them all the time. Pretty much comfortable from the word go, too.

I have no connection with the makers, even though they are not too far from where I live.

[Rob]

What I do not understand is players wearing short sleeves in super cold temperatures. The bare skin against the frigid air is obviously a sign of machismo. It is also a sign of stupidity, IMO. God made long sleeve shirts for a reason.

[Andy Glogower]

Duck tape around the shoes to be sure he does not lose his sole.

[Rick D]

ETA Looked more closely and believe he's taped chemical foot warmers to his boot tops. (Doesn't explain the wierd heel flappy things, which could still be traction devices of some kind.)