Super Bowl XLVI-Indianapolis, Indiana - Images by Michael Hickey
For the last few years, when asked, I have consistantly said "I could care less if I ever shoot the Super Bowl. The crowds, the security, a million other photographers and sports writers, etc. No thanks."
Then comes the 2011 football season. I didn't think there'd be anyway they'd ask me to shoot the game. Maybe I'll ask just to be a card runner so I can see the all the hoopla first hand. Come to find out, they had every intention of having me shoot the big game in the first place. Really?
Fast forward to the end of January and beginning of February and the game week is upon us. The crowds as I predicted descended on downtown Indy in droves. The horde of media was every bit as big of a horde as I thought, security was tighter than vice grips and our (Colts fans) arch enemy was moving into our training facility and could possibly be celebrating a Super Bowl win on OUR field. Well, luckily the latter didn't happen but everything else came and went as predicted.
Needless to say it was a week of inflated parking, parties, press conferences, red carpets and a tiny little football game at the end.
I didn't have a field credential, I had an upper position. I didn't have high hopes of getting many good shots as I've never shot football elevated before. I'm here to tell you it WON'T be the last time I shoot elevated! I couldn't believe how much I loved this position. Why can't I do this for every game I shoot. You can see the entire field, follow the plays perfectly and pick off action photos like shooting fish in a barrell.
So when all was said and done, I did it. Got some killer shots. I also didn't come down with a massive cold after shooting non-stop and getting very little sleep over ten days which is usually a perfect recipe for contracting a massive sinus cold usually. This time I beefed up the vitamin C intake and all is good, post Super Bowl XLVI.
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