Exeter City v QPR ~ pre-season friendly

And so, back to photographing football.  Bizarrely, on a day for cricket, and having watched and listened to the second day of the first Ashes Test before driving down - before schools even break up for summer - we are already in pre-season. The visitors this evening were Queens Park Rangers, who would have attracted more to St James Park if we hadn't drawn them at home in the Capitol Cup in a couple of weeks time as well.  


As is the way of these things, it was a fairly gentle run out for all concerned.  Two different elevens for each half, which had the advantage of meaning people got to see all the QPR stars on display.  Two Korean internationals in the side meant that the game was (slightly surreal this) being shown live in South Korea.  

The game was goal less and it lacked a competitive edge but it was good to see some of Exeter's longer term injured players of last year on the park again.  Another highlight was Paul Tisdale's attire, the Football League's second longest serving manager seemed to have borrowed a jacket from the circus.  

Photographing Tennis

Been a great few days of it in terms of being able to take some sports pictures.  On Saturday I popped to the local cricket ground in order to try out a 50-500mm lens a friend lent me and then yesterday to Wimbledon for the first time, with the trusty Canon 70-200mm f2.8.  Wimbledon has a relaxed attitude to photography so long as you don't use them commercially so there was no problem taking pictures.



Some months back my son excitedly told me he had won tickets for Centre Court.  What he had actually won was the chance to buy them but it was great all the same.  His friend and his Dad had similar tickets for Court 1, so we were able to swap around and see both courts.

Centre Court was amazing and the first match terrific.  Lisicki pulled off the defeat of Serena Williams bringing to an end her 34 match unbeaten run.  She was just fantastic and, who knows, might just go all the way.  Loved her fearless brand of tennis, a real star.

Followed this with the first set of Murray's match before changing with the boys and looking in on an outside court where we were very close to the action for a bit of a mixed doubles game.

Finally to Court 1, where Berdych and Tomic really went at it with Berdych just having too much for him in the end.  A really good day out, I'd definitely do it again.