My First Night Shoot at Ossett United

Gallery

This action shot captures a tense physical duel between an Ossett United player (in the blue home kit) and a Hallam FC player (in the yellow away kit).

I headed down to Ossett United Stadium to watch Ossett United take on Hallam FC. It wasn't just about the football; it was about the challenge of capturing the energy of the game when the sun goes down and the lights come on.

The Big Chill at Ossett United

Let’s get the weather report out of the way first—it was freezing.

We are talking about the kind of cold that seeps into your boots and makes you question your life choices until the whistle blows. But that’s part of the charm of local football. Despite the biting temperature, the turnout was fantastic.

The Ossett United fans were out in force, bundled up in scarves and hats, bringing a warmth to the stadium that the weather couldn't match. There’s a real community feel at Ossett and standing on the side-lines, you really feel part of that collective holding of breath when the ball goes near the goal.

The Gear: Testing the Insta360 X5

Night photography is notoriously difficult. You are battling low light, fast-moving players, and in my case, numb fingers.

For this match, I decided to do something different. I brought along my Insta360 X5.

While everyone else was focused on zooming in on the ball, I wanted to capture the entire experience. The beauty of the 360 camera is that it doesn't just see what’s in front of me; it sees the players on the pitch and the reaction of the fans behind me simultaneously.

Why the 360 worked for football:

• The Atmosphere: I could reframe the video later to show the crowd chanting.

• The Action: I didn't have to worry about missing a tackle because the camera captures everything.

• The Perspective: I managed to get some "Tiny Planet" shots of the stadium under the lights which look surreal.

The Match: Ossett United vs. Hallam

The game itself was the perfect subject. Both teams played with the kind of grit you expect from a night game.

The contrast between the bright white floodlights and the dark night sky made for some dramatic imagery. It was a learning curve trying to dial in the settings to ensure the players weren't just motion blurs, but I think I managed to snag some shots that really represent the energy of the night.

Final Thoughts

Despite the cold, I had a brilliant time. There is something satisfying about reviewing your footage and seeing the steam rising off the players and the passion in the crowd.

If you haven't been to a night game at Ossett, I highly recommend it. Just remember to bring an extra pair of socks!

Check out the gallery below for the 360 videos and my favourite stills from the night.

for the full Resolution Images Please click the Link https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HtZ0de21j9xAWd5D_CN8vIDeJ3opXvjr?usp=drive_link