I hate sports. I really do…only because there is no way to really control anything about what happens. You spend your photo time hoping the star will do a slam dunk, run in a touchdown, or score that winning goal. If you line up on left side of the field or net, the pass will go the right side and you won’t get the shot.
Nathaniel Welch told me once he wanted to be a pro surf photographer and spend hours shooting barrels at Pipeline. He never made a dime shooting sports action. Nathaniel now kicks butt in New York and still claims he makes nothing! He is one of the more successful guys in New York but you’d never know it. Yet he told me never to shoot sports as you’ll spend your career waiting for that sport star to run your way or catch that ball perfectly in your eye piece. If he doesn’t, you’re done.
You can’t control fate or chance…no matter how good you are with a camera.
Many pro sports guys will tell you that you can control many of the aspects of chance but most of what takes place is random. And many of those pro photographers have strobes set up in the rafters and make their lives shooting NBA or whatnot. They also have exclusive relations with sport stars and they learn to know how these athletes will move or run.
As But the…POW! Kobe Bryant runs at the basket for a lay up and pow! I get a shot.
Made TOPIX at AP…best in show for the day or something like that. I did good for someone who hates sports. Then…
Bam!
Ronny Turiaf slams one in the bucket. Either I got good or just lucky…