Arizona and New Mexico Football 2024
Football is winding down, and all fall sports are coming to a close. My goal this season, as always, was to photograph around 30 football games. I’m close to that target, with 26 games down and only Bloomfield and Thoreau left to go. It's been a great run, covering 4,228 miles across 12 weeks. The longest stretch was Week 10, where I logged 846.6 miles from Winslow, AZ, to Española, NM. I can definitely say I’ve been everywhere, man!
Fuel Cost:
I drive an SUV—not the most fuel-efficient vehicle. At an average of 19 miles per gallon, with fuel costing around $3.06 per gallon, I spent roughly $681.05 on fuel alone, give or take. And that's not including meals or overnight stays, so you can imagine the full cost of this journey.
Lessons in Photography:
This season taught me a lot about photography. I improved my metering skills, learned not to shy away from low-light conditions, and experimented with different gear—from a 200-500mm f/5.6 lens to a 200-400mm f/4, and even a Z50 with a 35-150mm lens. Within my budget, I think I made the most of what was available. I would have loved to rent a 120-300mm f/2.8 for a game or two, but that’s something to dream about for next season.
New Connections:
Beyond miles and lenses, this season brought new friends and, admittedly, a few rivalries. I'm driven to improve my craft, and if that sometimes seems competitive, it’s only because of my passion. I’m grateful to be where I am today, with media badges for Arizona and New Mexico and expanded photography work that now includes portrait sessions with flash strobes. This new venture is still a work in progress, but I’m excited to reveal more soon.
Appreciation:
Before I go any further, a big thank you to XL Photography out of Albuquerque, NM, and the Navajo Times! Also, my gratitude to the Gallup Independent, Tri City Record NM, and the Cibola Citizen for publishing my work. To all the athletes, fans, and especially the seniors, thank you for leaving it all out on the field. I’ve tried to capture as much as I could of these moments. Here’s a breakdown of the games I’ve covered so far, complete with miles and publishing status:
Game Breakdown
Week 1
Winslow hosting Window Rock – 262 miles – [Exported, Published]
Rough Rock hosting Many Farms – 328 miles via Rezduro – [Exported, Published]
Week 2
Holbrook hosting Page – 200 miles – [Exported, Published]
Week 3
Bloomfield hosting Miyamura – 264 miles – [Exported, Published]
Navajo Prep hosting Pinon – 64 miles
Piedra Vista hosting Durango (same trip as Bloomfield) – [Exported, Published]
Week 4
Holbrook hosting St. Johns – 200 miles – [Exported, Published]
Hozho Academy hosting Capitan – 57.6 miles – [Exported, Published]
Laguna Acoma hosting Hatch Valley – 230 miles – [Exported, Published]
Week 5
Window Rock hosting Chinle – 67.8 miles
Gallup hosting Tohatchi (same as above)
Newcomb hosting Loving – 116 miles
Week 6
Crownpoint hosting Tohatchi – 130 miles
Week 7
Chinle hosting Monument Valley – 134 miles – [Exported, Published]
Ganado hosting Page – 73.6 miles
Week 8
Monument Valley hosting Ganado – 271 miles
Winslow hosting Chinle – 262 miles
Week 9
Bloomfield hosting Bernalillo – 264 miles
Week 10
McCurdy hosting Navajo Prep – 501 miles
Wingate hosting Thoreau – 83.6 miles
Winslow hosting Page – 262 miles
Week 11
Holbrook hosting Tuba City – 198 miles
Miyamura at Los Lunas – 57.6 miles
Laguna Acoma hosting Cuba – 230 miles
Week 12
Grants hosting Silver – 179 miles
Miyamura hosting Highland – 57.6 miles
Week 13
Bloomfield hosting Valencia– 264 miles – [Exported, Published]
Week 14
Bloomfield hosting Bernalillo – 264 miles – [Exported, Published]
Week 15
XL Sports Photography (Link Soon)
A Note to the Fans:
Before basketball season begins, I’ll do my best to publish all the games on social media. The support from those who have bought photos so far has been invaluable, helping me offset fuel costs. I will keep these photos for about 6 months and after, I will purge. Sorry. I have a limited amount of storage space. So this is your chance to buy!
Photo Pricing:
Single photo: $10 (50% off)
Set of 10: $50 (50% off)
Full game (80 photos): I'd like to find that superfan that will buy all the photos. LoL. But if you are, email me: leebegayephotos@gmail.com
With each week documented, each mile counted, and each photo snapped, it’s been a season to remember. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey—whether on the field, in the stands, or behind the scenes.
Acknowledgement: