Photographing the NFL in London (American Football)

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Frank Gore celebrates a touchdown in front of the NFL Wembley crowd

49ers mascot in front of Nelsons Column

If you know me or have read this blog over the last few years you'll know that my other passion is American football.  I watch and photograph many British games all over the country.  I've also travelled across to the states several times to watch games from high school, college and pro leagues (Geaux LSU, Geaux Saints).

Well this past weekend the NFL came to London for it's fourth year in a row, every year the tickets for Wembley stadium sell out regardless of which teams are chosen to play.  Every year i've gone along and watched and loved every minute but this year was different.  This year I would achieve an aim I'd long harboured as a pro photographer to photograph the game from the sidelines.


During the day on Saturday the NFL had hired out Trafalgar Square and set up a huge party for all the fans of the NFL.  Luckily for me as a professional photographer i was allowed in the bear pit in the front of the stage giving excellent access for some great shots.  During the day some incredible people and acts took to the stage including, Roger Goodell (NFL commissioner), Jerry Rice (hall of fame player), the Gold Rush cheerleaders, American rapper, Asher Roth, dance group Flawless, 49ers head coach, Mike Singletary and FHM's hottest woman on the planet Marrisa Millar (sometimes being a photographer can be real hard work).

So having spent an incredible day in the city centre it was time to head back to the Green man hotel where the evening festivities were due to  start.  The Great British Tailgate Party (GBTP) at the Green man started around 7pm with the hilarious and ever popular snail racing, much fun was had by all in attendance and many friendships were made / renewed.

Martin Wilmott (that's me) centre stage with the Gold rush cheerleaders at the NFL fan rally, Trafalgar Square

 All too soon Sunday had arrived and with it had come rain.  Thoughts of the first NFL game in London came to mind when a newly laid Wembley pitch couldn't stand up to the heavy rain and hard pounding American football game rendering it a complete mess.  Little did i kn ow at the time but as i was soon to find out the Wembley playing surface has been completely replaced with what they call a 3% synthetic mix.  It's supposed to be that only 3% of the turf is artificial, I don't know the exact measurements but it looked more like the other way round.  If you look at some of my pictures here on my facebook page, you'll notice that there's no mud or grass on the players and the only stains on their uniforms have come from the paint on the field.  Let's just say if you were a cow on the field you'd very quickly starve to death.

San Francisco's Anthony Dixon attempts to make Eddie Royals head look backwards (an illegal tackle)

So about two hours before kick off i head down to Wembley sign in and get my official NFL photographers vest with my unique number printed on the back.  I later found out that the number is used to identify anyone breaking the rules so they can be asked to leave.  I was escorted into the photographer office (which involved sharing a lift with Jerry rice) where two separate rooms of desks were filled with photographers from all over the world with their laptops plugged in sending their images to the worlds newsdesks.


The game kicks off and the crowd roars, I've never experienced anything like 80,000+ people screaming their appreciation at me from the top of their lungs (and perhaps some other stuff going on inside inside the stadium) but it felt good.  All too soon the game came to a close, and I realised I hadn't been watching the game like i normally would do.  I was so concentrating on shutter speeds, apertures, and getting the framing right the game had blurred.  Having said that I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.


At the very end of the game all the payers / coaches meet in the middle of the field to shake hands and wish each other luck, as a photogarpher this is a heaven sent opportunity not to be missed allowing close up access to the players not available during play.

Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos talks to San Francisco's Taylor Mays at the end off the game

My final shot is again proof that it's not all hard work working as a photographer, an image i'm gonna be dining out on for years to come.  Well, when this many good looking ladies ask to have their photograph taken with me I just had to oblige ;0)

The shots you never see

So last Sunday saw the opening weekend for the British American football league which has recently been renamed British American Football Association Community League (BAFACL).  As always whenever I get chance I travel with the Colchester Gladiators to cover the games.

it's inevitable when going through post production there's always those shots that never see the light of day, the ones that nobody (except me) ever sees.  Above is one of those shot's, I'd been tracking the player running with the ball towards the endzone and just as he approached the score line and a crunch tackle was about happen I panned straight into the goal post and captured the above image.  Oooops!

Over the years I've got hundreds of shots like this, maybe the ref sticks his arm up straight across the lens or a player runs in front and causes the autofocus to be confused.  At the end of the day it just comes down to trying to be in the right place at the right time and luck. 

American Football Photography at Britbowl

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A couple of weeks ago the British American Football season 2009 finished with it's annual finals. the games were played at the keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.

This year the Colchester Gladiators had achieved the honour of being the southern champions in Div 2 there BritBowl final was against the Leicester Falcons.

I set out to instead of simple shoot the game to capture the day from as a player would experience it.



Above is a short slide show of images that tell the story form the Gladiators point of view. The game itself has been touted as the best game ever played on British soil .... when you're on the wrong side of a one point game that's hard to believe.

Congratulations Colchester Gladiators

Congratulations to the Colchester Gladiators American football team after their massive win last Sunday over the London Olympians.

Before the game both teams were unbeaten they are hotly tipped as the teams to beat in the race for the playoffs and national championship.

The London Olympians are the most successful British team in history and have sent more players to the NFL than any other British team. The Gladiators hadn't beaten the Olympians for 23 years. In fact the gladiators first official game was against the Olympians 26 years ago.

The final result was 28 - 16. However it doesn't end there, as the national finals are a North v South affair it is highly likely this will not be the only time the two teams meet this season.

See the Gladiators website for more details.

The NFL in Colchester

For the last week the NFL have been running an American Football school in Colchester assisted by the Colchester Gladiators. Here's some images from one of the days.

Colchester Gladiators v Oxford Saints

American Football season starts again

At last the British league has started again! Gives me something to look forward to on Sundays again! Sorry I haven't updated the blog lately its been really busy .... wil add some more stuff soon.

Click below for the slide show of last Sundays game. The Colchester Gladiators are playing at home again this Sunday so come and down and make some noise. To see the slide show full size click here.

Saying goodbye to some new friends

All week I have had the privilege of meeting and working alongside some fantastic athletes from the USA.

A group of American Football players from all over the USA had flown into the UK for a visit and to play a couple of games against the local Colchester teams.

I know that some of the boys parents and relatives have been checking out this blog for more news so especially for them (and anyone else who may be interested) click here for a slide show of what the guys got up some of the time during the week. There is sound so make sure your speakers are on. I'll try and put the remaining images up soon.

Hope you like it. Feel free to comment

American All Stars

This week the colchester Gladiators American footbal team (who i'm heavily involved with) are playing host to a traveling American high school team of grid Iron stars. the players have been recruited from all over the USA and are amongst the best for their age groups.

I've just got back from meeting the American players at their first (official) practise at the college in Colchester. Some of the players were finding the weather a little challenging (cold) but as I explained if you don't like the weather in England wait half an hour and it will change.

From what i've seen they're going to give a fantastic display of Grid iron skills on the field and leave many of the Gladiators players with more than the occasional bruise.

I'm guessing that some of the players parents and families may be reading this to see if they can spot their loved ones so i intend to up load my images through out the week very soon. Keep an eye on this blog and i'll put a link to the images.

If you want to know more about the American All Star team and their game against the Gladiators on Friday the details can be found on the Gladiators blog by clicking here (there's also some more images from this morning).

Also the BBC were at the Gladiators training last week and there write up and video can be seen by clicking here. Any photographer out there who fancy coming along to take some action photographs under spotlight of these guys in action on friday will be more than welcome.

Essex Blades v Kent Falcons

Another Sunday and another game of American football to shoot. This time the Essex Baldes took on the Kent Falcons. Essex again looked very impressive with a big hard hitting defence allowing very little of the other teams offence to gain yardage. You can see the american football slide show by clicking here.

It's that time of year again where I go a little mad and shoot my christmas card. For anyone that sent me a card last year you'll know that my cards are not the norm. In fact last year they were so popular I had to have more of them printed. What started as a laugh between friends has suddenly become a big thing with people e mailing and asking if the new card was out yet. It's something I enjoy doing and as it's only once a year who cares ........ wanna see this years card? Sorry I only send them to people who I recieve cards from (better get one in the post quick).

Theres been a sudden rush of people enquiry about the lifestyle portrait training day (click for slideshow) to be held on the 4th March. It would appear that alot of people have decided this would make a great christmas present. If you're thinking of coming you'd better get on the phone quick to reserve your place. looking forward to hearing from you ....