Sounders FC: That Winning Feeling Again.

After seven weeks without a win, Freddie and Fredy came to the rescue and each scored a goal to lead the Sounders FC to a 2-1 win over the visiting San Jose Earthquakes.

It was another great evening with pleasant temperatures in the 70's and a full house of fans decked out for a win.

(Nikon D3, VR 70-200mm/f2.8 lens @ 200mm, ISO 320, 1/400th sec.,f2.8)

Shooting the action of Major League Soccer is always a blast, but the artsy-fartsy photographer side of me (it's not a big side, I mean, I don't wear black turtlenecks to the matches) was on the lookout for nice moments. I found this young flag bearer preparing for the pregame ceremonies and waited for some nice composition.

(Nikon D3, VR 70-200mm/f2.8 lens @ 200mm, ISO 400, 1/500th sec.,f2.8)

As a former journalist (that seems very weird to say, er, write), I have many friends in the sports media world who scoff at soccer. Too many ties, they say. Not enough action. While a couple of players are around the ball, the rest are standing around. Clearly they're not real athletes like football or basketball players.

Well, check this out as Fredy Montero leapt and corralled this long pass with his foot while still in midair before landing and controlling the ball deep in the San Jose half.

(Nikon D3, VR 600mm/f4.0 lens, ISO 1600, 1/800th sec.,f4.0)

I often get asked what the game looks like from the field level where I shoot. Photos shot with a long telephoto lens really don't show the perspective I see, but this shot of a Sebastien LeToux corner kick will give you a pretty good idea.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO 800, 1/1000th sec.,f2.8)

As in past Seattle matches, physical play was common. Multiple yellow cards were served to San Jose, who while entering the game with a subpar record, seemed bent on making Sounders FC lose their temper. After all, with the number of red cards the Sounders have amassed so far this season, making them angry seems like a reasonable strategy.

However, the Sounders held their emotions in check much of the match, and defender Tyrone Marshall and Earthquakes defender Ryan Johnson each smiled as they tied up on a corner kick into the San Jose area.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 250mm, ISO 1600, 1/800th sec.,f4.0)

Once again, opponents had to deal with the speed and skill of rookie Steve Zakuani on the left side. Here he left Chris Leitch is is wake on a first half run.

(Nikon D3, VR 600mm/f4.0 lens, ISO 1600, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

LeToux got a leg up on San Jose's Aaron Pitchkolan.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 400mm, ISO 1600, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

Seattle kept the ball in the San Jose end for much of the first half and failed to capitalize on at least three chances before Freddie Ljungberg put one home in the 42nd minute. I was shooting from left of the goal (as the players were facing) and the shot came from the left so I didn't have a great angle. But Ljungberg turned towards me and ran in my direction. The first frame is with a 200-400mm lens zoomed all the way out, and as you can see I am cutting off feet and the composition is tight.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 200mm, ISO 1600, 1/1000th sec.,f4.0)

I switched to the wide-angle camera (24-70mm) that I had around my neck in time to make a nice frame when Steve Zakuani came over to celebrate with Ljungberg. Here's the full frame, followed by a cropped version. Which do you like?

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 55mm, ISO 800, 1/1000th sec.,f2.8)

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 55mm, ISO 800, 1/1000th sec.,f2.8)

When I teach and when I speak to groups, I always preach the importance of staying with the scene and shooting, versus stopping to look at the review screen to see "if you got it". This paid off as even though I thought I had a nice frame of Zakuani and Ljungberg, when the rest of the players came over, the video board read "GOAL" and everything came together.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 55mm, ISO 800, 1/1000th sec.,f2.8)

Here's a different angle than I usually shoot. From the top of the box, I was able to look in to see Patrick Ianni heading a service towards the San Jose goal.

(Nikon D3, VR 70-200mm/f2.8 lens @ 180mm, ISO 1600, 1/800th sec.,f2.8)

Moments later, Fredy Montero scored but ran the other way to celebrate. You're never going to get every moment, so make the most of the ones that come your way.

I stayed for a bit longer in that spot and caught a decent frame when San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon came out to save a ball as Sebastien LeToux charged in.

As the game entered the final minutes, I took some chances and tried to shoot really tight with a 600mm lens wherever the ball went. Trust me, out-of-focus shots of socks and shoes and turf are NOT where it's at. Made one okay frame when Seattle's Stephen King and San Jose's Jason Hernandez battled in the air in the San Jose area.

(Nikon D3, VR 600mm/4.0 lens, ISO 3200, 1/800th sec.,f4.0)

The game got physical towards the end as San Jose scored to come with one goal of a draw and Seattle tried to retain possession. When LeToux came over to the corner I was shooting from, San Jose's Aaron Pitchkolan dumped him towards the sidelines.

(Nikon D3, VR 200-400mm/f4.0 lens @ 200mm, ISO 4000, 1/800th sec.,f4.0)

The Sounders held on for a 2-1 win to get back on the good side of the ledger, and after the game head coach Sigi Schmid was still coaching as he pulled defender James Riley over for some quick postgame instruction.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO 1600, 1/640th sec.,f2.8)

However, the fans were happy as the team finally got a victory, even if it was over the last-place Earthquakes. A win is a win, and the Sounders desperately needed one.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO 1600, 1/400th sec.,f2.8)

There was a nice moment on the field after the game when Freddie Ljungberg picked up his five-year old godson for the traditional team salute to the fans in the south stands.

(Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO 1600, 1/400th sec.,f2.8)

I'll be shooting plenty of soccer in the next couple of weeks. Sounders FC plays again this Wednesday, and then the following weekend.

Thanks for reading!