ACFC On Film - 2024

ON ANOTHER SEASON ENDING

I have written many things throughout the season but it feels irrelevant now— mostly: this feels like coming full circle.

I am a project person— I don’t really know what to do without an objective in mind and “ACFC on Film” has felt a little directionless for a while. I was never setting myself up to start shooting sports at large; I was always interested in the story of this team above everything else and this seemed like the easiest way to offer a point of view amidst the limitations imposed by the powers that be.

If there is a story out there I still feel very passionate about, it’s the players’. I believe that every single one of them should be given feature-style coverage from their team/media and so much more effort should be put towards making them shine; real hand-crafted storytelling, Hollywood at its finest. Wasn’t it the point of bringing a team here? The players are the people we come to see— and it’s definitely the last saving grace; they are only reason I will show up in the stands come next season.

I can only applaud their grittiness and relentlessness; their upheld promise to leave it all out on the field. They always stood, week after week, game after game, in unison with the people supporting them.

For that reason maybe this will feel less like such a loss— of time, of energy, of money. Most of the time it feels like what one creates exist in a vacuum— and the only thing keeping you going is that little thrill you get during the process of creating. I will definitely cherish the experience of seating pitch side waiting for the perfect shot; of waiting to process the negatives and discovering the fruits of my labor for the first time. An excerpt from my journal on my last game day +1:

It’s been a couple hours now since I picked up my negatives— I had the luxury to be busy for a little while right when I made it home, but now I’m just stalling.
I took a peek when I stepped foot in my apartment— just a quick look at the naked negative, seeing if there was anything beyond a blurry hogde-podge of colors. It felt like there might be a couple good things in there so I left it to rest.
I had some dinner and sent a few work emails I owed— I’ve also scrolled on social media and played today NYT’s games.
And now there’s nothing else to do but face my fate.
I feel done and tired and also sad but I remember— who cares? Just get over yourself and look at the pictures. It won’t change much either way.
Yeah, do that. Look at the pictures. Savor this last thrill of discovery. A variation on “smile because it happened”, I guess.
And turn the page, at least for now.

Messiah Bright at the Coachella Valley Invitational for pre-season - February 2024

Merrit Matthias & Lily Nabet at the Coachella Valley Invitational for pre-season - February 2024

GAME 1 - vs Bay FC - Sunday March 17, 2024

First experimentation of the season: in camera double exposure

GAME 5 - vs NC Courage - Sunday April 21, 2024

Trying to capture players running at full speed— the biggest challenge of shooting film + loved getting portraits of Messiah Bright throughout the season.

GAME 6 - vs Kansas City Current - Friday April 26, 2024

GAME 8 - vs houston dash - sunday may 12, 2024

Mid day games give for the easiest light— another example of portrait vs full speed running feat. Lily Nabet and Claire Emslie.

GAME 13 - vs racing louisville - wednesday june 19, 2024

Sydney Leroux always coming in clutch— maybe my favorite celebration of the season right with the supporters.

My one true love: shooting black and white. I love the grain the TMax 3200 stock gives me every time.

GAME 15 - vs Orlando pride - sunday june 30, 2024

On field battles— loved to capture and witness the grittiness of our team. Here with Alyssa Thompson and Jasmyne Spencer.

Captain’s encouragement and team pep talk— there’s something about getting a shot of a huddle; a version of a renaissance painting come to life.

Always, always love getting shots of the little ones in the stands.

SUMMER CUP - Game 1 - July 20, 2024

Fullerton and its less than ideal light— had to fight pretty hard to get any shot worth anything. Here a post game Sarah Gorden and in-game Merritt Mathias.

Keeper portrait during warm ups: Angelina Anderson.

SUMMER CUP - Game 2 - August 2, 2024

Switch up the lenses for the second trek to Fullerton— tried to get some extension with a doubler for this Claire Emslie moment + the ever so loved Petzval lens giving me this magic swirl on DiDi Haračić.

Variations on pre-game moments; an off center starting eleven and goalkeeper portrait.

The long awaited return— Press looking at the crowd post game + post game press conference.

CP23’s penalty shot on her first game back— all movement.

SUMMER friendly - August 18, 2024

Coming back to BMO after the Summer games with another keeper, Hannah Stambaugh, and all smiles in the warm up line.

Close up on Alyssa Thompson and a promising debut for Casey Phair.

GAME 18 - vs chicago red stars - sunday september 1, 2024

Levitating Sarah Gorden before kick off.

Another gritty battle, as illustrated by this in-game huddle and Jasmyne Spencer portrait.

More from the young players on our team— Alyssa Thompson and Messiah Bright portraits.

Our beloved European players: Claire Emslie and Katie Zelem.

GAME 19 - vs Seattle Reign - FRIDay september 6, 2024

Pre-game captures for the first regular season game for Press at our home stadium.
The second shot felt like it was ruined when I took it but it’s one of my favorite this season for a player using defenders as a shield in most of her goal scoring actions.

First use of motion picture film— giving the shots this eerie feel, almost like a still taken from a moving sequence (and a new favorite for me).
Here Alyssa Thompson and Merritt Mathias.

GAME 21 - vs Portland thorns - monDay september 23, 2024

Panoramic soccer with new camera (actually made to take panoramic shots!)

One of my favorite portraits I took of Katie Zelem. Taken on motion picture film.

Movement, movement, movement. In game Madison Hammond + post game runs.

GAME 25 - vs utah royals - sunDay october 20, 2024

One last game deserved a sequence for high fives.

Went to take a starting XI picture that ended up not coming out… but got a couple shots of the players right before the game instead.
+ Snatched a portrait of Messiah Bright during warm ups.

For the first time since I started taking pictures, Press played on the right of the field, giving me a perfect angle to get some close ups.

The first season, I was always trying for those back shots with the numbers— understandingly so, I never got one for #23. Neither did I ever get any sort of closer running shots. Finally!

PS: Seeing number 23 back on the field, somehow, feels like the perfect sign to stop. The cycle ends.
She was the first story of a homecoming that, I thought, should be told. From “bringing” CP23 to LA to capturing the long awaited return (and 100th cap).
From a day in September 2021 taking a portrait in front of our stadium to finally getting a favorable photo position to get the shots I always hope for.
Closure.

May the off season treat you well.

PS: I have a handful of prints made (hand printed by me) and would love to show them somewhere. If you’re interested, contact me!