Pride on the Pitch and Market Days Classic Recap


Two shoots in one day across town? Not a problem for WeberHansPhoto. Although why gay sports organizations all host national sports tournaments on Market Days weekend is a little crazy to me.


Anyways, started the day off at Fire Pitch to capture the first soccer games at Pride on the Pitch. I was joined by a few other photographers - Maria of @on_the_run_photo and her son - who I met while shooting for the Chicago Tempest in the Women's Elite Rugby league. It was nice to have them there so I could post up in my little corner with my big Tamron 150-500mm lens at one field, not have to move around to cover the other games happening simultaneously, and take cover from the sun in the shadows.


After a few games of soccer content, made my way down to the Blackhawks Fifth Third Community Rinks to capture the final day of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association's Market Days Classic. This was my first time shooting hockey, and my assignment was to cover at least a bit of all six final games rotating between two ice rinks. I tried experimenting with the Tamron 150-500 in the stands to get some different angles, but I wasn't having much success so I stuck with my 85mm f1.8 lens instead. I was having some issues achieving black tones in post shooting through the heavily scuffed plexiglass and with the light bouncing off from the white ice, but I had good luck with the dehaze and clarity sliders in the positive direction.


After finishing up with hockey, I headed back to Pride on the Pitch to get the final games. Certainly a lot of travel and a lot of total raw pictures considering the non-stop action of both of the sports, but happy to get out and meet some new folks at these events.


Some highlights below!

A soccer athlete dribbles the ball downfield
A hockey goalie kneels in front of of the goal to stop the players nearby in blue and white jerseys from scoring
A soccer athlete attempts to maneuver the ball around opponents in red jerseys
A hockey player in a black jersey and white helmet looks ahead on the ice
A soccer goalie in a purple jersey catches the ball before it scores in the net behind him
A soccer athlete dribbles the ball downfield
A hockey player in blue and white takes a shot on a goal offscreen, surrounded by players in red jerseys
Two soccer athletes attempt to take control of the ball
A soccer athlete attempts to score while the goalie prevents the action
A soccer athlete dribbles the ball downfield
A soccer goalie laying on the ground with hand outstretched traps the ball to secure it at stop the drive
A hockey player in red and their opponent in a blue and white jersey fight for the puck that is dropped by the referee
A hockey player in a blue and green jersey controls the puck in front of themselves while an opponent dives in attempt to recover
A hockey player in blue and white fights takes control of the puck near the goal they try to score on
A hockey goalie and their teammate in pink jerseys make dives over each other to secure the puck near the net