Quite frankly, that's all I need

It is the sports photographer's dream, the equivalent of making it to the "show," the "league," the "big time." Working the sidelines of an NFL game this past Sunday was, and always will be, the highlight of my Princeton photography career.

From hearing the roar of the 90,000 fans at kickoff to the privilege and honor of roaming the same battleground as these tremendous athletes, it was an experience that simply cannot be captured by words or photographs — and one that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Did I mention I got to take shots of Jessica Simpson?

The first thing that strikes you when you walk onto the field for the very first time is the unfathomable size of the stadium. It is electrifying to walk through the same tunnel as the players do and to be in the pit of an enormous coliseum where modern gladiators wage wars every Sunday.

In fact, the sidelines themselves are, in some ways, more interesting than the game — particularly when your final score is 9-7 and devoid of any big plays.

I was fascinated by this little community that exists just outside the field of play, a community that I got to live in for a day. The players are surrounded by not only coaches, referees and ball boys, but also by their families, sexy wives and groupies, former players who stubbornly stay as close to the game as possible, an eclectic marching band. That's not to mention the gorgeous cheerleaders, nosy sideline reporters, television cameramen and, of course, photographers. Put simply, FedEx Field is a much busier place than good ol' Princeton Stadium.

And to whom do I owe it all? None other than Zak Keasey '05, formerly No. 52 of the Princeton Tigers, currently No. 55 of the Washington Redskins. Thanks to Zak's incredible achievement, 'Prince' sports editor David Baumgarten '06 and I gained access to one of the most amazing sports experiences around — the season opener for a professional sports team.

Out of any sport, nothing seems to catch the American imagination more than football. Given the caliber of athletes and the massive collisions that occur on every play, football truly is a battle of wills, a team sport through and through. The drama and excitement of NFL football is, in my opinion, unmatched. Having experienced it live on the sidelines, I can now retire from sports photography a happy man.

So I thank you, Mr. Keasey, and may you have a very long and fruitful career in the league of all leagues, the NFL. Just be sure to go easy on my Giants.