West Coast troubles: Joshua Gunter’s best images from the Browns’ defeat over the Rams.
BREAKING NEWS:West Coast Trouble…
INGLEWOOD, California — In stark contrast to last week’s Cleveland Browns trip to Denver, where I escaped to the mountains for a few hours of quiet and tranquility, this past weekend trip to Los Angeles was loud, a little dirty and far from relaxing. Granted, I saw very little of L.A in my whirlwind trip to the West Coast.
In fact, I barely left West Century Boulevard, a busy artery of a road that connected the airport to my hotel and SoFi Stadium.
The only similarity between the two trips was the outcome of the games, which both resulted in losses for the Browns.
Below is a look at my favorite photos from the Browns’ loss to the Rams.
SoFi Stadium is an interesting venue from a photographer’s perspective. The entire facility is considered “open air,” yet covered in a membrane material called Fluon ETFE fluoropolymer film.
The film allows sun through, albeit slightly diffused, while keeping rain out. It makes for nice light in my opinion. However, a massive 70,000 square foot oval video screen, called the Samsung Infinity Screen, hanging 122 feet above the entire length of the playing field, casts unusual shadows on the turf.
But I still found SoFi to be good shooting conditions, and I can’t complain about sporting shorts on the sideline for a December NFL game.
The Browns dazzled in their opening drive, with 38-year-old Joe Flacco marching the team down the field and finishing with a 24-yard touchdown to Jerome Ford to give Cleveland a 7-0 lead.
The two teams went toe-to-toe for much of the game, until about the final four minutes when the Rams went on a 16-point scoring spree.
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku leaps over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick as Los Angeles Rams safety Russ Yeast tries to tackle him in the second half of play.
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku leaps over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick as Los Angeles Rams safety Russ Yeast tries to tackle him in the second half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
This leap made for several nice frames as Browns tight end David Njoku soared through the air to avoid Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick. The play was called back after it was determined Njoku’s foot was out of bounds during the catch.
I love the energy in the frame: two players at full speed. One trying to get free for a run and the other trying to bring him down.
I like how outstretched Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith’s arm is as he tries to get a grip on Rams running back Kyren Williams.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore makes a deep catch over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick in the first half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore made an impressive catch that prompted the Rams to challenge the ruling of a fair catch after questioning whether Moore was in bounds.
The catch is now being referred to as the butt cheek completion after referee John Hussey stated over the stadium PA, “Prior to the receiver’s leg hitting out of bounds, his butt cheek landed in bounds.”
