How we got this photo of the Northwestern Wildcats at the new Ryan Field
This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist Manuel Martinez. Follow him on Instagram.
What makes this photo important?
They say you only get one chance to make a first impression, so when Northwestern inaugurated its brand new Ryan Field, the challenge was to give the public a front row seat to this special day. It’s not often in sports that the game takes a backseat to the venue. On this day, the Wildcats defeated Penn State 34-13, but what most Chicagoans were most curious about was how $870 million dollars was spent on the new stadium. For this assignment, I was tasked with giving the public a behind-the-scenes look at the Wildcats’ new home with images that not only captured the scenes of the day, but the excitement of fans and players. This image is the moment the Wildcat players ran through the tunnel and onto the field for the first time. What the image needed to convey was a sense of honor and pride for having been part of the inauguration of such a special new place — one that will carry the tradition of Northwestern football forward.
How I got this photo:
The most challenging part of creating this image is that while the tunnel run was a choreographed part of the game, no photographer had ever seen or done it on this field. Everything that day was happening as a first for both the players, fans and the journalists. Predictability is important photographers for successful images in a world that can be random. Everything was new — even simple things like moving from one side of the stadium to the other or remembering where the entrance to the field was. Moments before making this image, I photographed the upper bleachers of the stadium, capturing the flyover and a wide photo of fans and the stadium. I had to run from the 300-level seats all the way down to the field in 10 minutes. I positioned myself directly in front of the tunnel and photographed the players rushing out onto the field. The whole series of events took about one minute, but what this moment meant to the fans will last forever.
Technical details:
Equipment: Canon EOS R5 with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
Plus, 11 more photos from Sun-Times and WBEZ photographers:
Northwestern University players cheer during the fourth quarter on the opening day at Northwestern University’s New Ryan Field stadium on Oct. 2 as the Wildcats host Penn State.
Manuel Martinez/WBEZ
Fan Miguel Vasquez is decked out in White Sox gear while tailgating outside Rate Field in Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami strikes out swinging in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians during Game 3 in the American League Division Series at Rate Field.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans linger at Rate Field on Thursday after the Sox lost 9 – 5 to the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 in the American League Division Series.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Pro-Palestine supporters clash with law enforcement as they counter-protest a group of demonstrators organized by far-right activist Jake Lang outside the Palestine Fest at Seat Greek Stadium in Bridgeview on Sunday.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Unhoused artist Peace Prophet holds her art in the Loop. Peace Prophet has been painting on the streets of Chicago for many years, and her works are now in private collections across the Midwest.
Manuel Martinez/WBEZ
Pre-released Reality Fracture cards, an expansion set for Magic The Gathering, are distributed to players at Dice Dojo in Edgewater on Sept. 26.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Costume Mount Maker Michael Hall stands in his studio at the Chicago History Museum in Lincoln Park on Sept. 17.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai is hugged by offensive lineman Jonah Jackson during a touchdown celebration in the third quarter against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet looks out from a pile of Bears and Jets players during a game against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Ornate details of one of the towers of the Pui Tak Center in Chinatown on Monday.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
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