Ronald Davis  

Eat Em Alive by Ronald Davis

March 2025 - Eat Em Alive

About the Image(s)

Title: Eat Em Alive

With Tom’s photo of rugby last month, I decided to submit one of the most amusing sports photos I have ever taken. “Eat Em Alive” was taken at a local suburban match in Eltham Melbourne. Rugby is the most facially expressive sport I have photographed, and this is because the game is so demanding of its players, in fact brutally so. Facial expressions of players cover almost the full spectrum of human emotions. “Eat Em Alive” was the catch cry of the AFL Richmond Tigers in the national competition, but any rugby team could justifiably use this expression.

Canon 70D Tamron 18-270mm F6.3 shot at 270 mm, 1/1000, ISO 2000.
Processing Topaz AI Photo: Sharpening, Denoise Raw.
Faststone Viewer for final adjustments.

NOTE: Worth mentioning ??“ the lens used was my travel lens with its 18-270mm focal range. It has been replaced by a Sigma 18-300mm. Tamron old lens with a slow buz drive for focusing. The Sigma is much faster to focus.

This round’s discussion is now closed!
5 comments posted

Gerald Emmerich Jr   Gerald Emmerich Jr
Great shot. Good composition, background, and sharpness. I especially like the mouth guard of the player pursuing the ball carrier.
I toned down the overall brightness.   Posted: 03/05/2025 16:09:36
Comment Image
Tom Kredo   Tom Kredo
Hi Ron,
Well done. Sharp image, although I've found 1/1000th to be hit or miss for Rugby. I like the two faces are visible and there is a good story.   Posted: 03/06/2025 09:37:37
Bruce Benson   Bruce Benson
Ron, a real wowzzer image, your best post I have seen. The image Is what sports photography is all about. Bruce   Posted: 03/12/2025 11:51:27
Dr Isaac Vaisman   Dr Isaac Vaisman
Ronald, indeed we are on a Rugby state of mind. Very aggressive game with little or none protection, except the mouth piece nicely shown here, rather than hanging in the ear (attached photo)   Posted: 03/15/2025 07:38:02
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Ronald Davis   Ronald Davis
Yes Isaac it is a very aggressive game one of the last in what you may call civilized society, medieval in fact. As a young boy we would play organised games called British Bulldog. In 1950's I was a boy Cub and we played British Bulldog we had to lift a caught bulldog (person) off his feet and call out "British Bulldog". They then joined you in catching other loose bulldogs. The caught bulldog could resist in any way, punching, kicking to prevent the lift. Game was a simple way to teach rugby tactics to boys at a young age.   Posted: 03/15/2025 22:05:23