09/03/2026
My very first sporting event that I photographed was in the fall of 1995 while taking my photojournalism class. I grabbed a roll of film from Walmart and shot the EIU soccer game. I took the film to the Daily Eastern News and told their photo editors that I hadn’t seen anyone there and if there was something usable they could run it and I’d love to contribute. That’s how I got my start in photography.
I’ve played soccer and watched even more. There are images I haven’t made on a list in my head and the “header shot” has been one of them. For over 30 years, I’ve beem trying to get this shot - clean faces, emotional faces, ball at a head - and it’s been a bane of existence until last night.
When I saw Rece and Brady line up for the set piece towering over the Bulldog defense, I salivated as if someone had set a rare ribeye and cheesecake in front of me. I prayed “Dear Baby Jesus, hear my pleading from your humble servant…”
The lighting in that part of the field on both sides is not the best, but compositionally I couldn’t have asked for a better image.
Thank you Rece and Brady for your hard work and all you do. I finally got *THAT* image. It might not be a Pulitzer l, it might not be an award-winning life altering image, but it means the world to me. Without yall, Id still be at it trying to get that image. Thanks guys and best of luck the rest of the season.
