When I created a list of things that annoy me as a sports photographer, I may have omitted the biggest one; flashing stadium lights. I’m not sure how I even missed this one. I can’t think of one sports photographer who says, “You know, those flashing lights aren’t that bad at all.” Not one.
Sports is like social media in that once a trend starts, everyone and their momma has to copy it. I want to say the first time I saw flashing stadium lights was on tv during either a college or NFL football game. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be the next big thing. And now everyone does it. I’m rarely right, just ask my wife, but when I am, I hate that I am.
And low and behold. Now everyone does it. After a walk off win, after a goal, after a homerun, in between periods, innings, quarters, halves; you name it. Annoying flashing stadium lights. Then you get a text from the wire desk or from the team/league asking if you got an celebration or team running out photos. It never fails.
The answer is almost always a, “No.”
I honestly have to ask, what purpose to they serve? I thought annoying, flashing lights were reserved for the Griswolds at Christmas time.
Flashing stadium lights have no value, no incentive and no reason for existing. None. That is my personal hot take. I can almost guarantee there are plenty of other people who will concur with my line of thinking and you know what, we wouldn’t be wrong.
As a photographer, those flashing lights for entertainment are one of the worst ideas conceived to boost fan engagement. If you’re looking to get any celebration photos you can almost certainly forget about it. Photos are over exposed, under exposed, blurry photos; you name it. Even if we use Auto ISO, it doesn’t guarantee a good photo can be made.
And let’s be serious, how many are actually getting so excited for the flashing lights? I wouldn’t be surprised if the flashing lights have caused more epileptic episodes than fans clapping for flashing lights.
Like a fool, I try to time the flashing lights so when they’re not flashing I fire my shutter. It rarely works just because there is never a specific cadence these lights follow. It’s all arbitrary and annoying. I always end up with more trash than keepers. It could be super bright one second and then go completely dark the next. It’s like you’re dating a Gemini.
It’s funny to hear the collective groans from the photographers either in the photo wells or sidelines when the lights start flashing. We all have the same thought, but teams think it’s the greatest thing since the wave. We go into the work and photo rooms and the first question is always, “Did anyone get anything during the celebration?” And I will be the first to offer my unsolicited opinion that flashing stadium lights are so goddamn unnecessary.
I’m ok if the stadium goes dark, but there is a light on the team running out so I can spot meter focus on them. The problem is when it goes dark and the lights stand trying to do morse code for the planes passing by above. It’s never a team saying, “Hey photographers, what can we do to make your job a bit easier?” It’s always lets see how much we can mess with them today. It’s bad enough the game day meal of chicken tenders is always cold and the size of chicken thumbs, but now you want to add insult to injury by pulling their inner Kanye West, with all of the lights.
And just to be clear, I’m talking pre-Kardashian Kanye. Like everyone else the Kardashians have dated, the men become a shell of their former selves. It should be an elective class in college. Like study what dating a Kardashian does to a person. It’s fascinating and frightening. Anyhow, my ADHD is taking me off topic.
I’m not sure if they’ll ever get rid of flashing lights, but I will always try to advocate for their demise. There is no place for them in sports and I wholeheartedly believe that.
And I’m not the only photographer who does.