Hi, and welcome to Workshop at the Ranch. This edition will be a continuation of last month which talked about SUPPLY and DEMAND and how to make it in the industry. I pointed out how if the photographer can SUPPLY clients with pictures that are in DEMAND there is a business opportunity for that photographer. And that if that photographer captures the MOMENT of the game then they have something that is in SHORT SUPPLY and HIGH DEMAND, the best of both worlds. So, how does one capture the key player, the key play, the MOMENT?

Hi, and welcome to Workshop at the Ranch. This edition will be a continuation of last month which talked about SUPPLY and DEMAND and how to make it in the industry. I pointed out how if the photographer can SUPPLY clients with pictures that are in DEMAND there is a business opportunity for that photographer. And that if that photographer captures the MOMENT of the game then they have something that is in SHORT SUPPLY and HIGH DEMAND, the best of both worlds. So, how does one capture the key player, the key play, the MOMENT?

Many of today’s young (in experience) sports photographers have good cameras, fast lenses, and are enthusiastic fans of the sports they cover. This usually adds up to good images. Good images are plentiful but because they are plentiful they are like apples on a tree in a large orchard of apple trees. A solid shot of the quarter back dropping back in the pocket can sell, but, is one of hundreds of ” apples ” Today the image market is so competitive that to rise above the baskets of apples one must become a MASTER of their craft but also of their SPORT. Most of the previous Workshops at the Ranch have dealt with SKILL building. I have purposely concentrated on equipment skills and tips to help photographers to improve their images. Now the other half of the puzzle is needing attention,……..be a Master of your Sport.

The more you know about your sport, the more you know the players and teams, then, the more predictable they become. As they become more predictable, you as a photographer become more consistent and capable and VALUABLE to your client. Once you become a master of your sport and the athletes and coaches and field personnel and credencialing person and trainer and TV guys etc. etc. etc. You become an insider and can gain access to places and athletes that are not open to everyone. And if you have access beyond the normal sidelines then you have the OPPORTUNITY to put your photography skills to great use.

I believe that those who Master their Sport in harmony with being a Master of their CRAFT are the ones who SEPARATE themselves from the pack. Look at the great photographers of the last 30 years. Not only were they leaders when it came to knowledge of there equipment and the use of Cameras, Lenses, and Strobes but they could tell you all about the team,coach, players, front office, maintenance crew, ticket takers, ins and outs of the ballparks and stadiums and greeted many venue personnel by name , especially the person who hands out the credentials.

It is this knowledge and relationship with the team and those individuals who make the Game Day work that adds up to capturing the moment. By being in with the people who are the nuts and bolts of an organization and the stadium along with an in-depth understanding of the game,team,players, and coaching strategies a photographer can shoot from a variety of positions and better anticipate the play about to unfold and KNOW all the habits and routine characteristics of the star players. This is how the photographer can best serve his client. Now the photographer can rely on his SKILL and Preparation

How do I make it in this profession? Be more than a fan.

Here are two images of preparation. My attempt to master a sport. Here is Tara Lipinski’s Gold Medal winning Olympic final free program as I sketched it at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. I went to the practice and WATCHED and took notes of Lipinski, Kwan and other contenders. A photographer asked me what I was doing as I drew out this diagram. I answered, “If you had the video of the Super Bowl the day before the game would you watch it? Yes! Of Course! I would know every key moment and play of the game!”, he said. Well, I said “The super bowl just skated by you.” He sat his camera down and started watching and learning about figure skating.

Here are images from the 1998 Winter Olympics Ladies Figure Skating Final of Tara Lipinski the Gold medalist. Shot with a NIKON F5 and a NIKON 300mm f2.0 lens manual focus. These images were the lead for Newsweeks coverage that week and have resold to a variety of books and magazines over the years including the Wall Street Journal and ESPN Classics.

Many of you that come visit Workshop at the Ranch and On The Road are not sports photographers but do landscapes, nature, wildlife, or portraits. This lesson applies to all of us who want to improve our images. The more you know about the seasons, the animals behavior or the environment and weather, the more efficient you will make each outing with your camera.

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Workshop at the Ranch. The mastering of anything does not come over night but will be a journey throughout your career. While I try to prepare for every event, quick reactions are part of job success, but being prepared will always increase your reaction time. I am always trying to improve my chances and have an edge that will give my client the best image possible. I do not “hope for a break” to capture the moment, but, rely on my skill and preparation.

See you next time at Workshop at the Ranch.