Super Bowl 50

Standing at the top of the Super Bowl 50 logo at my first Super Bowl happy as a clam

 

I was lucky enough to have worked my first Super Bowl this year. Also it was a pretty big one being Super Bowl 50 and all. Hopefully I can start my own streak and work the next 50-100 like the three legendary photographers Walter Iooss, John Biever and Mickey Palmer who have worked 1-50. If you are interested in their story Keepers of the Streak is an ESPN film about the four photographers who had covered 48 Super Bowls. Tony Tomsic missed his 49^th last year when he feel ill to a stroke or else he would be in the 50 crew as well.

The challenge that day was I didn’t have a sideline credential. I wasn’t too disappointed because I was just grateful to be there in the first place. All the events that I’ve shot in Levi’s stadium over this past year prepared me pretty well for that Sunday. Typically at concerts and the other events like the Winter Classic and Wrestelmania I would roam in the stands and look for wide stadium shots and fan interactions. So I knew my angles and how the light would fall across the stadium through out the day. With that in mind the 49ers crew divided up the stadium into quarters so that everything would be equally covered. I snagged a prime location in the endzone next to the video booth on the 400 level and went to town shooting with my CPS borrowed 200-400. After half time I moved down to the main concourse to get a little different angle.

I had a couple of good plays happen in front of me (the forced fumbled that turned into the first touchdown to name one). It comes down to a little bit of luck when you are up that high because my range wasn’t as long. Throughout the game I kept pinching myself thinking how surreal it was that I was working my first Super Bowl at 24 years old. I’m still pinching myself.

Click on the thumbnails below to see full screen images.

Cam Newton (1) drops back for a pass near the 50-yard line. The large Super 50 logo looms in the foreground

Fans enjoy the sun and pre game festivities in the converted parking lot into fan village

A Broncos fan checks out his face paint prior to the game

Austin Ginn got a photo of me in action pre game. I’m shooting some of the 49ers grounds crew who helped get the field in tip top shape. Also picture is the legendary George Toma (second from left in group). He has worked every Super Bowl as a member of the grounds crew

Demaryius Thomas (88) catches a pass during warm ups. I wish the light stayed like this all game

Lady Gaga sing the national anthem

Who doesn’t love a good flyover?

I really enjoyed this ladies earrings and hat combo

Von Miller (58) sacks Cam Newton (1) and forces the ball free. The Broncos recover the fumble for the first touchdown of the game

Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, sings their hit Paradise during halftime

Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars perform during the halftime show while the crowd holds up colorful cards that spell out “Believe in Love”

Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars perform during the halftime show while the crowd holds up colorful cards that spell out “Believe in Love”

Kony Ealy (94) sacks Peyton Manning (18) for the third time that night

Philly Brown (10) extends to catch a deep pass for 42-yards in the third quarter

View from the Levi’s 501 club as the sun us setting

DeMarcus Ware (94) lunges for a fumbled ball as Cam Newton (1) looks on. The fumbled helped squashed what little hope was left of a late Panthers comeback

Peyton Manning (18) and Clancy Barone, offensive line coach, embrace on the sidelines in the final minutes of the game knowing they had cemented their victory

Both teams along with media rush onto the field post game as confetti and fireworks fill the sky. The Denver Broncos are Super Bowl 50 champions

Peyton Manning (18) thanks the fans on stage post game and holds up the Vince Lombardi trophy in what is speculated to be his last rodeo

The Super Bowl grounds crew has a tradition that involves the rookie Super Bowl grounds crew members getting a surprise water bath at the end of the evening

The Levi’s stadium Super Bowl 50 photography crew post game on the award stage

To see more images from the game check out my website www.megwilliams.co

 

Gold Rush Tryout Cinemagraphs

The first round of the Gold Rush (49ers cheerleaders) held last weekend was filled with a couple hundred women dancing, trying to make their dreams true. Here’s a look at a couple of cinemagraphs I created that day. I love the process of bridging the gap between photos and videos and look forward to creating more.

  

Check out the full article that was posted on the 49ers site

http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Cinemagraph-Photography-Captures-Gold-Rush-Auditions/c4830540-8dd9-423b-9d32-cc02a7956952

2014 In Review

2014 has been a pretty stellar year. I divided my time almost equally between San Francisco, Portland and Kansas City. Three very different locations and but also oddly similar in more ways than I expected.

  

This year brought a lot of new and exciting photography opportunities. This March marked my first time at spring training, watching or shooting. I had a great week full of baseball, sun and burritos. When I was back in the Portland for the summer I was fortunate enough to intern for Craig Mitchelldyer and get to shoot the Portland Timbers (MLS), Portland Thorns (NWSL) and the Hillsboro Hops (MiLB) as well as lend a hand on miscellaneous other shoots. I have affectionately been referring to this time period as the summer of soccer, which lead into the fall of football.

    

In august I moved to Kansas City and began work for the Chiefs without knowing much more about the city then its reputation for amazing BBQ. Working for the Chiefs has been an amazing opportunity to grow as a photographer and photo editor as well as see first hand how an NFL team works on a daily basis. My boss and team photographer Steve has been wonderful in teaching me the ropes as well as photo archivist and ninja turtle lover Zach. All my fellow interns are excellent as well, coming from all over the US and one coming as far as South Africa. As a group, we have become pretty close. I jokingly say that my life since being out here has been football, barbeque and beer (but there is a lot more truth to that then I care to admit).

  

While in Kansas City I was able to work for MLB as a photo editor during the World Series. What sweetened the deal was that the Royals played the Giants, both cities I am quite fond of. My favorite part about the Series, besides all the behinds the scenes things you don’t see on tv, was meeting all the great photographers who covered the event including fellow Sports Illustrated intern alum Amy Stroth.

 

Also during this time I attended the Eddie Adams Workshop. This sleep deprived weekend full of shooting, inspiring lectures, 2 am portfolio reviews, meeting some of my photography heroes and some new photography friends was a whirlwind adventure. It has been a couple of months now and I am still trying to process it all. I came away inspired, rejuvenated and at the same time in desperate need of sleep.

  

Overall this year has been my favorite photographically in the images I shot, events I covered, photographers I met and the information I gleaned.

 

Outside of photography my life has had a couple of changes as well. My volleyball career ended a bit earlier then I had originally planned. I had one more season left of eligibility but decided to give it up in order to take the internship with the Chiefs. It was a tough decision but my teammates, coaches and the entire AAU athletic department were incredibly supportive. I am grateful to all of them for the amazing four years that I had and am proud as ever to be an urban knight.

  

This year brought a heap of new friends as well as a ton of laughs and new memories. It also took a couple away from me. My good friend Amy moved to New York to pursue a job and I couldn’t be more proud of her. My beautiful friend Janie got married and moved to Chicago (how weird is it now to say I have a best friend who’s married?). I moved leaving some amazing friends behind (Kanoe, Janelle, Devin, my teammates and too many others to name them all). I also lost two loved ones this year one being my Bompa (my wonderful Grandfather) at the ripe old age of 89 as well as my fluffy companion Scout (faithful family dog).

  

Overall these past 12 months have brought a lot of change and insight and most importantly happiness. I am very thankful for my family and friends who have supported me. It is because of you guys that I have been able to have these opportunities, I would be nowhere without you all. 2015 if you are anywhere near half as good as 2014 I am stoked and ready to start this adventure all over again. Happy Holidays everyone!

MLS All Star Game

Part of my Summer of Soccer was working for the MLS All Star Game because it was in Portland this year. The week leading up game was filled with appearances and events and everything soccer-tastic. Portland did not disappoint and Soccer City USA went all out for the week. Check out some of the events I covered as well as a couple photos from the All Star Game.

    

Summer of Soccer

I have officially dubbed the summer of 2014 the Summer of Soccer and the Fall of 2014 the Fall of Football. With that said I was going back and looking at some of the stuff that I shot for the Timbers and Thorns this summer and wanted to share it. I had a blast interning for Craig Mitchelldyer. He’s a great guy to work for, I’m really lucky I was able to this summer. The Timbers Army and The Rose City Riveters made each game exciting. Their passion for the sport and unrelenting enthusiasm really was a highlight from this summer. They reminded me why I love Portland so much. There is nothing like the people that make up that city.