I have never actually played soccer (football for my non-American readers). I mean, I have kicked a ball around with my son in the backyard, pretending like I knew what I was doing, but you can get away with that with a six-year-old. My husband and his family they are soccer players. My sister-in-laws both played collegiate level soccer, and my father-in-law only recently stopped playing on a team. My husband still plays at least once a week and loves the sport.

So, for his birthday, my father-in-law surprised him with tickets to the Seattle Sounders match against the Portland Timbers.  I am not sure how sporting events are in your city, but the Seattle fans are known for their volume (LOUD AND PROUD), and their team spirit is off the charts. Add that to a game against a rival team, and things get a little rambunctious.

Traffic between Tacoma and Seattle can be a nightmare, so we decided to take a bus that leaves from a local Irish pub in the Stadium District. Once on the bus, it felt a lot like being on the road as a high school basketball player (my only real reference when it comes to team sporting events); the energy was full of excitement and nerves. When we were dropped off in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square, we entered into a sea of blue and green with a dash (okay a HEAP of) parade-like atmosphere. Hundreds of soccer fans were gearing up to march to the stadium a few blocks away. Blue and green smoke bombs colored the damp air, giant blue and green flags waved, and the crowd moved forward all while chanting and shouting, “Scarves UP!” towards the stadium.

I knew I didn’t want to bring my big camera that evening; there were too many people and too many ways for it to get broken, lost, or stolen. Plus, the darn thing is heavy. It is situations like this when I am thankful for the technology of the iPhone camera. The ability to be mobile in a crowd, yet continue to document it all, is one of the things I love most about my cell phone.

How often do you opt to keep your big camera at home and travel light? Do you have a travel camera other than your cell phone? What do you love? I ask because we have been looking into getting something small for situations like this. When you aren’t shooting with your DSLR, how have you found it changes or keeps your work the same? I love how I have to see differently when I shoot with my phone vs. my DSLR or film cameras.

PS we WON! go Sounders!