Like most Americans, Mark Jones has been a tad edgy since March. An
information technology specialist in Glendale, Ariz., by trade, Jones'
passion is photography, specifically capturing high school sports images
for MaxPreps.
With more than 1,300 galleries, he ranks in the
top five percent of active shooters in the MaxPreps Professional Photographers Network, which
features more than 1,000 members nationwide.
"Mark is one of the
most dedicated and passionate photographers in our network," Director
of Photography Todd Shurtleff said. "He loves capturing the best moments
of high school sports and is willing to go the extra mile to do it."
Literally. Even in the middle of a national pandemic.
Jones said it
was tough enough missing the spring season in Arizona due to
COVID-19 — all 50 states canceled spring sports by April 1 — but state initially moved fall sports to 2021 before reversing course. Football in the Grand Canyon State starts Sept. 30.
Dixie players rush onto the field before the kickoff of their season opener in Utah on Aug. 14.
Photo by Mark Jones
"I was champing at the bit," Jones said. "I'd been quarantined and cooped up so long. I really needed to get out and shoot. I love to shoot."
So, Jones and his family came up with an ambitious plan.
With
two grown children out of the house and a wife and daughter in the airline business,
he had the freedom, time and means to leave the comfortable confines of
his home state and travel east. Over the first five weeks of the prep
football season, Jones photographed eight games in four new states for
him: Utah, North Dakota, Missouri and Kansas.
He
somehow squeezed in two volleyball matches, side trips to Utah's Zion National Park and Dixie National Forest and an impromptu
player-parent shoot before the
Seaman (Topeka, Kan.)
home game with
Hayden (Topeka).
Like he always does, Jones informed the public address announcer at Seaman he was shooting the game for MaxPreps.
The announcer noted it was Senior Day and Jones volunteered to take photos of the kids with their parents.
"I think they were real appreciative," Jones said. "You could tell people were hungry to get out and be with each other. Everywhere I went, they were very welcoming and hospitable."
Dixie students look on while wearing face masks during their home opener.
Photo by Mark Jones
The night before in Missouri, the
Van Horn (Independence) PA announcer noted Jones arrived all the way from Arizona, drawing applause, even from both teams from Van Horn and
Southeast (Kansas City).
"That was a first (getting applause)," Jones said with a laugh. "That left quite an impression."
Playing football during a pandemic has elicited many firsts and impressions, Jones said. Like having his temperature taken before entering both Utah games, a guideline precaution for all who entered games there. "It was odd, but totally understandable," Jones said.
Other notable differences from normal Friday Night Lights shoots:
• Cheerleaders and fans in masks
• Sparse, spread-out crowds
• Single-captain coin tosses
• No team benches
• Marching bands grounded in the end zone
• PA announcements reminders to social distance.
Team captains meet at midfield for the coin toss before the Sept. 10 kickoff between Southeast at Van Horn in Missouri.
Photo by Mark Jones
But Jones, like always, said his focus was heightened by the play on the field. And that, revealed in his 11 dense galleries, looked very much like high school football during any other time. Or any other state. They revealed:
• Touchdown celebrations.
• High intensity.
• Coaches yelling.
• Vast camaraderie.
• Joyous victories.
• Painful defeats.
Springville players celebrate following their season-opening victory over Dixie.
Photo by Mark Jones
"Football is football," Jones said. "Kids are kids and competition is competition. There wasn't all the noise or school stuff you normally get, but the action was just as intense."
To say the locale was remote would be an understatement, Jones said.
"It was way, way out in the country," he said. "Approaching the game reminded me being in Iowa approaching the field of dreams. It seemed like in the middle of nowhere."
The host Holsteins, named after a breed of dairy cattle, arrived in uniform, crated in a cattle truck. Considering cattle ranching is so prevalent in the region, it made sense.
New Salem/Glen Ullin players break out of a cattle truck before their Aug. 27 game against host Standing Rock/Selfridge in North Dakota.
Photo by Mark Jones
"That was an entrance won't forget for a while," Jones said. "All the games and places were pretty unforgettable."
Jones can't wait to get shooting Phoenix-area events soon — Arizona starts playing football on Sept. 30 — but his recent wanderlust has him considering other possibilities.
"I thought shooting other states would check all off my bucket list," he said. "Now I think I'd like to shoot a game in every state."
Mark Jones was all smiles while covering the Aug. 29 Legacy vs. Century game at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck (N.D.).
Selfie photo by Mark Jones
