November 04, 2007 - Hawaii’s Julia Siljestrom stands in heavy rain during a soccer game against Idaho in the second half just before the game was called at Waipio Soccer Stadium. Exposure details: Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, EF 400mm f2.8, Aperture priority, 1/2000 sec at f/2.8, ISO 3200, Fluorescent white balance

I had a bad feeling about the weather at yesterday’s soccer game in Waipio.

For the most part, the day was relatively dry, but as I headed out to the stadium, the skies started looking angry. I had my rain gear at the ready.

For years, rain gear for me meant the Deluxe Garbage Bag rain cover for the lens and some flimsy jacket for me. I’d recently upgraded to the El-Swanko pant leg cut from a pair of pants from a rain suit, and the jacket top for me.

There were some preliminary tests done at Aloha Stadium during UH football, and the rig worked well.

Turns out last night would be the true test of its mettle.

The pant leg fits snugly over the lens and there’s enough to cover the camera, too. Good protection for cheap. My kind of deal.

As I walked on the field, the skies were dry, but they soon opened up and I got a good soaking. But the gear (and the top half of me) stayed dry. Good deal.

Just before the end of the first half I went up to the press box to edit and send some photos from an assignment I had right before the game.

While up there, it really started to rain. Cats, dogs…. horses…. elephants….

It was crazy. “Glad I’m not out there,” I thought.

The rains slowed a little, then got harder. And harder.

“Hey, they might call the game!” someone in the press box mentioned.

At this I gathered my gear and headed towards the door.

“You’re going out there?” someone asked.

“I got to. This is crazy!” I said, and headed into the wall of water.

When I got to the field, the rain was off the hook. My glasses were drenched and fogging (I longed for little windshield wipers) and the viewfinder on my camera was filled with water. The players on the field were doing what they could, and I was aiming my camera at what movement I could see. I had no clue if anything was in focus.

Then I saw a lone figure in the rain. It had a moody look, and would make a good summary of the deluge. So I aimed in that direction, and hoped what I was shooting was in focus.

Then the game was called, and I ran back upstairs to start sifting through the murky photos.

Turns out things were as in focus as could be, and I had a picture.

****

And with that, I head off on vacation for a while. Wish me luck at the Vega$ craps tables…