Many of the pictures that line the main hallway of GlenOak High School are high-energy, action-packed moments in time. The passion of the players has been met and captured by the photographers behind the camera.
With the new school year now in session, this year’s students in the Commercial Photography program are putting themselves onto the field, making plays of their own to get incredible photos.
“It is exciting… you get a new perspective that you could not get as a fan. You take in the game more and get a deeper appreciation for it,” senior Erin Stocker said.
The process of photographing a sporting event can be challenging, the bulk of one’s time out in the field often being spent dashing around searching for the perfect action shot. An attentive eye is necessary; most photo students have to keep their eyes on the field at all times and never lose focus.
Even still, positioning is an issue for these students as there are lots of areas on the sidelines where they cannot go, leaving them to strategize and find the next best area where all of the action is happening.
“It is a whole experience, being on the field with the players, waiting for the right moment. You have to do it to understand it, because it is totally unique… You have to work with lots of photos, and be constantly moving,” senior Logan Lash said.
The students taking part in the documentation of these events appreciate its difficulty, but the topic of whether or not it is for all remains a divisive matter. Some students believe that it is an easy thing to get into, opting for a more casual outlook on the situation.
“I think it is for everyone… if you do not like the sport, you can focus on the players themselves or get some crowd shots,” senior Jacob Eby said.
Another group of students, however, believes that it is a true test of their skills in order to properly photograph these events, and not just on the field. After the event is over, there are lots of photographs that the students will have to go through in order to find the ones that capture the energy of the event best. Then, they have to edit them so that they look their absolute best, and only then will their job be finished.
“I do not think it is for everyone. It is probably not interesting to people who do not understand the sport… [and] you have to think fast,” Stocker said.
Even if it does not prove to be an enjoyable experience for them, it is not in vain- the time they spend shooting, editing and occasionally printing those photos goes towards their requirement of 250 work-based learning hours for program completion.
For those who do enjoy or are masterful in the field of sports photography, they could be appointed to work with Rick Black Photography, who has been working with this school for decades. And with enough interest, there may even be new photos put up in the main hall.
