Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinemement

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin speaks at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin speaks at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

Recently I was able to cover the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement in Canton, OH. Going in to it I really did not know what to expect since I have never been to or even watched the Enshrinement on TV. Luckily though, I was able to shoot with a colleague, Charles LeClaire. The two of us arrived almost 6 hours before the event. This gave us time to make sure everything was working and time to get familiar with the surrounding area.

We were set up in the main media center, but we decided that it would be a good idea to move our stuff from the main media center in McKinley High School, to underneath the bleachers where photographers were setting up. This way we wouldn’t have the long hike back to the high school to send off pictures. We then walked around Fawcett Stadium to figure out a game plan on how the two of us could best cover the event. We decided that he would shoot head on and that I would work the side and cover the portrait sessions with the inductees and their bust. Being that it was a live event on TV meant that there were commercial breaks which gave us time to send off a few pictures after every inductee was presented with his bust.

Hours before the start of the Enshrinement we both headed out to shoot some features.

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; A fan looks out on to Fawcett Stadium before the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; A fan looks out on to Fawcett Stadium before the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA;  A young fan browses at the Pro Football Hall of Fame before the 2012 enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; A young fan browses at the Pro Football Hall of Fame before the 2012 enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

About half an hour before the official start time for the Enshrinement, NFL players and officials started to arrive.

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell enters Fawcett Stadium at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell enters Fawcett Stadium at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

The Enshrinement started with host Chris Berman.

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Television personality host Chris Berman at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Television personality host Chris Berman at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

The class of 2012 was introduced.

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Willie Roaf is introduced at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Willie Roaf is introduced at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

After they were introduced I kept close to where the players would be coming off the stage for their portraits.

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Dermontti Dawson poses with his bust at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Dermontti Dawson poses with his bust at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

However, when I heard Curtis Martin start to speak (his speech is right here) I knew it was going to be really good and thought he would be getting a lot of attention for it.  I decided to run around the field and get a few pictures of him just because.  It ended up paying off with a lead image on ESPN.com

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin speaks at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin speaks at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin speaks at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin speaks at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin (left) and former coach Bill Parcells (right) pose with his bust at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Curtis Martin (left) and former coach Bill Parcells (right) pose with his bust at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

Published photos from the night.

Curtis Martin ESPN

And lastly, my office!

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA;  at the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE