FOTOBALL: Capital N E R V O U S

Oh how I loved the Capital One Bowl. I got to spend 5 nights in a fancy schmancy hotel in Orlando, Florida. Since this bowl is not a BCS bowl it doesn't carry with it the same level of hoopla which made covering it a lot easier. There was only 1 practice and 1 press conference to shoot. Two other days down there I spent stalking the team at Universal Studios and Sea World.


The Georgia Bulldogs head onto the field for practice Monday morning at Olympia High School in Orlando, Fl. The Bulldogs will take on the Michigan State Spartans January 1, 2009, in the Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl.


Georgia QB Matthew Stafford throws a pass during the Bulldogs' practice Monday morning at Olympia High School in Orlando, Fl. The Bulldogs will take on the Michigan State Spartans January 1, 2009, in the Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl.


Georgia football players front from left Bryce Ros, Richard Samuel, former player Kelin Johnson, and Matthew Stafford get ready to ride the Hulk rollercoaster Monday afternoon at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl.


Georgia football players front row from left Bryan Evans, Shaun Chapas, Matthew Stafford, and former player Kelin Johnson and teammates ride the Hulk rollercoaster Monday afternoon at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl.


Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran poses shirtless by a flaming statue as teammate Asher Allen videos him Monday afternoon at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl.


Georgia wide receiver Kenneth Harris gets a kiss from "Slow Poke" the walrus as he and teammates visit Sea World Tuesday Dec. 31, 2008, in Orlando, Fl.

Georgia coach Mark Richt speaks at a press conference held before the Capital One Bowl.

The game itself didn't have high-stakes, period. I wanted to do a good job obviously, but didn't feel the typical intense pressure I put on myself. I just shot the game and really enjoyed being there. But it was the end of the road for the season. There was nothing left to lose for anybody.
Today I shoot the Bulldogs season opener against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Ok. With the start of every season comes the pressure of having to prove myself all over again. My confidence in shooting is much more than it was when I shot my first Georgia game in the fall of 2007, but with every game there are pre-kickoff jitters."What if I miss the big play?" "What if I get hit?" "What if I let the paper down?" "What if I just plain suck today?"
Then the game starts and my brain becomes completely focused on the task at hand, the adrenaline wedges out the nervousness, but the fun hasn't started yet. It is instantaneous the moment I get a good shot and know it. Once I have secured that first good frame, a state of relaxation runs throughout me and I'm able to take it all in and have a grand ole time.

My FOTOBALL blogathan has come to an end, but there will be many many more football photos to come. I will pick up tomorrow with Georgia @ Oklahoma State pics.

The Georgia Redcoat band dances as they make their way through the "Dog Walk" before the start of the Capital One Bowl Thursday Jan. 1, 2009, at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fl.


Michigan State fans look at two large Clydesdales outside before the start of the Capital One Bowl Thursday at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fl.


The Georgia Bulldogs take on the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.




Georgia's C.J. Bryd tackles Michigan State's Keshawn Martin in the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Akeem Dent almost makes an interception in the 1st quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia QB Matthew Stafford looks down field to throw a pass in the second half of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia QB Matthew Stafford is taken down by Michigan State's Trevor Anderson in the 2nd quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Knowshon Moreno faces runs the ball in the first half of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Knowshon Moreno runs the ball in the first half of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Dannell Ellerbe, left, and Rennie Curran, right, close in on Michigan State QB Brian Hoyer in the first half of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's C.J. Byrd tackles Michigan State's Jeff McPherson in the first half of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.














Georgia's Prince Miller out runs Michigan State's Alex Shackleton as he makes a 38 yard punt return in the 3rd quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Michael Moore runs in the go ahead touchdown to take the Bulldogs to a 10-6 lead in the 3rd quarter of their 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Michael Moore runs in the go ahead touchdown to take the Bulldogs to a 10-6 lead in the 3rd quarter of their 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan.1,2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Michigan State's Javon Ringer strolls into the endzone for a touchdown in the 4th quarter of the Georgia Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Aron White catches a 21 yard touchdown pass with Michigan State's Marcus Hyde looking on in the 3rd quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Aron White is greeted by Brannan Southerland after scoring a touchdown in the 3rd quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Knowshon Moreno picks up Aron White after his 21 yard touchdown reception in the 3rd quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia coach Mark Richt yells at a referee in the second half of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia QB Matthew Stafford is sacked by Michigan State's Brandon Long in the 4th quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Knowshon Moreno is greeted by Shaun Chapas after scoring a touchdown in the 4th quarter of the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia coach Mark Richt cheers with the crowd when NFL prospect QB Matthew Stafford is asked if he will spend one more year at Georgia after the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.


Georgia's Knowshon Moreno looks up the crowd after the Bulldogs' 24-12 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando,Fl.