PREPS: Friday night lights ain't so bright

The Friday nights of well lit first quarters are over now that it is getting darker earlier. I had to bump by ISO to 3200 within the first few plays of the Athens Academy Spartans' 35-7 win over the Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines. What I wouldn't give to shoot day time high school football! Things are much better now that I have D300 compared to the D2x. Images with the D2x start to look really grainy at any ISO above 800. It is so dark at most high school stadiums that using a flash was just about the only way to get anything at all. I'm not a fan of the direct flash look. I think if done right they can look okay, but when the kids look like demons running down field with glowing red eyes there just isn't much you can do about it. With the D300 I can shoot at up to 3200 ISO and the pics are usable. Those Friday night lights just ain't so bright.


The Athens Academy Spartans storms the field as cheerleaders cheer them on before the Spartans' 35-7 win over Prince Avenue Christian Friday Sept. 25, 2009, at Slaughter Field in Athens.


The Athens Academy Spartans make the "Spartans "Walk."


Prince Avenue Christian's Felipe Howell tries to dodge a tackle by Athens Academy's Patrick Wellborn in the first half.


Prince Avenue Christian's Bobo Marshall is taken down by Athens Academy's Ben Glauser in the first half.


Prince Avenue Christian's William McNeely breaks away for a touchdown early in the first quarter.


Prince Avenue Christian's William McNeely breaks away for a touchdown early in the first quarter.


Prince Avenue Christian's William McNeely celebrates a touchdown.


Athens Academy's Chandler Gunn is taken down by Prince Avenue Christian's Bobo Marshall in the first half.


Athens Academy's Jordan Lawson catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter.


Prince Avenue Christian QB Jones Farriba scrambles as Athens Academy's Timmy McPhillips chases him down in the second quarter.


Athens Academy QB Mark Sanders pulls back a pass.


Athens Academy's Patrick Wellborn catches a Mark Sanders pass for a touchdown in the first quarter.


Prince Avenue Christian's William McNeely runs the ball in the 2nd quarter.


Athens Academy' s Henry Terrell runs the ball in the Spartans' 35-7 win over Prince Avenue Christian Friday Sept. 25, 2009, at Slaughter Field in Athens.


Athens Academy' s Henry Terrell runs the ball in the 2nd quarter.


Prince Avenue Christian's Felipe Howell bobbles a pass on 4th down late in the second quarter.


Prince Avenue Christian punter Mark Zeagler runs the ball in the first half of the Wolverines' 35-7 loss to the Athens Academy Spartans Friday Sept. 25, 2009, at Slaughter Field in Athens.