Embrace Your Youth
Yesterday I did one of my volunteer jobs or donated my time to do some photographic work for a worthy cause. I have been doing this to both provide a service and to better improve my eye. I am selfish and I am kind.
Photographing at the Sylvan Adams Velodrome last week was an experience that tapped the resources of my camera. I found, as I have before, that getting quickly moving objects to maintain focus is not a simplistic task for my Nikon Z7II. However, it is possible, and many of the images were tack sharp.
The lacrosse images I took yesterday were also difficult if the action took place near me, but as long as I had some distance, and got the focusing box to cover where the action was taking place, I was successful.
But who really cares?
I don’t. I care about the composition and about getting, if possible a mini-story of sorts in an image.
Was I successful? Yes and no.
I think one needs to have context for many of the images that I was taking. Without that, some of the images are just people racing around a track or kids running with a stick and a ball.
Yet others almost tell a short story which is what I truly aim for.
On another note, the youth I photographed in both venues may not at this time know how very lucky and special they truly are. There are some in these images who have been to the Olympics already or are close to that precipice. They give 100% and then some. A few feel deeply about their presumed failures when success is not achieved. That is the beauty of sport.
Am I a sports photographer? No. I am just a storyteller and however, I can tell the story I will. May we all have stories and memories that never fade with time
