On October 11, 2025, I photographed the historic Dickinson vs. Gettysburg "Battle of the Bucket" football game at Biddle Field in Carlisle, PA. Capturing this intense Centennial Conference rivalry with my modern mirrorless setup marked a massive milestone on my creative journey to photograph every sport before the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA.
There is a distinct energy that hits you the second you step onto a football sideline in October. The crisp fall air, the loud smack of shoulder pads, and the sheer speed of the game—it’s an environment I've desperately missed.
On October 11, 2025, I found myself on the turf at Biddle Field in Carlisle, PA, capturing the 88th annual Battle of the Bucket between Dickinson College and Gettysburg College. Dickinson took home the hardware with a massive 49-21 win, but for me, this game was a massive personal milestone. It was the first time I had photographed a football game since I shot for my own high school back in 2016.
The Ten-Year Gear Evolution
Standing on that sideline, I couldn't help but think about how much has changed since my Clintondale High School days in Michigan. Back in 2016, I was running around the field with a crop-sensor Canon 80D, a 50mm f/1.8 "nifty fifty," and a basic kit telephoto lens that practically begged for mercy the second the sun dipped behind the clouds.
Fast forward to this beautiful, bright autumn afternoon, and the technological leap felt unreal. I was shooting with my Canon R6 Mark II paired with the workhorse 70-200mm f/2.8.
The difference is night and day. The tracking autofocus on the mirrorless system locks onto an athlete's helmet instantly, allowing me to focus entirely on composition and timing rather than fighting my equipment. Keeping that wide f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range gave me that beautiful, crisp separation that makes the action pop off the screen with the high-energy, vibrant aesthetic I love.
Reading the Game from the Trenches
Football has always been my absolute favorite sport (with competitive bowling sitting at a close second). I spent my own high school years grinding out plays as a left tackle, and honestly, having that background changes everything when you have a camera in your hands. You don’t just watch the ball; you instinctively read the offensive line's posture, the shifting of the safeties, and the play-action development.
Because I knew how fast the game moves at the collegiate level, I kept a strict spatial strategy on the sidelines:
- Staying Ahead of the Chain: Between the 30-yard lines, I made sure to stay roughly 20 to 30 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage on the offensive side. This put me right in the path of the play, letting me capture the quarterback’s eyes as he scanned downfield and the running backs exploding straight toward my lens.
- The Endzone Transition: The second the offense pushed inside the opponent’s 30-yard line, I packed up and walked straight to the back corner of the endzone. When the field shrinks in the red zone, that's where you catch the absolute best raw emotion—whether it’s a diving layout at the pylon or a massive goal-line stand.
Chasing the Ultimate Goal
Logging this historic rivalry for my Photographing Every Sport challenge was an incredible rush. Every sport I cover pushes me to refine my tracking and exposure control, especially under a harsh, mid-day autumn sun where helmet shadows can easily ruin a great facial expression.
This entire project is fueling a massive creative fire. My ultimate, absolute dream job is to shoot on the sidelines for the Detroit Lions at Ford Field one day—if I ever land that gig, you'll probably have to drag me off the field because I'm never leaving. Until then, capturing the raw intensity of local college matchups is the perfect training ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Battle of the Bucket in college football?
The Battle of the Bucket is the traditional annual rivalry game played between the Dickinson College Red Devils and the Gettysburg College Bullets. The winner takes home a historic brown bucket trophy, a tradition established by the trustees of both schools in 1938.
Where do the Dickinson Red Devils play football?
Dickinson College hosts its home football games at Biddle Field, located within the Biddle Field Complex in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
What is the best lens strategy for sideline football photography?
A 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens is a staple for football photography. It provides the versatility needed to track plays as they approach you on the sideline, while the wide aperture isolates the players from distracting background elements.
About the Photographer
Cain McMillan is a sports and cinematic wedding photographer based in Hanover, PA. While documenting his creative quest to photograph every sport on the road to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he captures vibrant, story-driven weddings and portraits across the mid-Atlantic region.
