People often ask me if things ever slow down on my schedule. No, they really don’t. The rhythm changes.
At this time of the year, when fall sports are gearing up, the rhythm goes from the mellow, easy timing of baseball (pitch, swing, run, throw) to the faster pace of football. And volleyball. Cross country keeps its own time. Softball is enough similar to baseball that it almost carries over. Golf maintains its traditional easygoing pace.
But they’re all at the same time.
In the summer, it’s primarily baseball and softball. There may be two games in a day, also known as a doubleheader, or a couple more if there’s a tournament, but that’s it. Once I’ve got my timing down for photos, it’s the same every time.
In the fall, every sport is different. As I said, softball is enough similar to baseball I’m still in that routine. Cross country and golf have more down time as I wait for competitors, but I’ve got to be ready when they arrive.
Football and volleyball are nonstop action, and that requires quicker reactions behind the camera – not just to get the photo, but possibly to get out of the way of the ball or a player. You’ve got to have your head on a swivel sometimes.
I try to have a photo idea in my head when I get to a competition. Whether I’m looking for a certain player or a certain play, it helps me focus. Of course, I take a lot more than the photo I have in mind. Sometimes that picture doesn’t happen in that game and I need something else.
One goal of mine is getting pictures of everyone on the field of play. Again, that may not happen. Someone might get hurt (I hope not but it does happen) or be sick or be on the bench for unknown reasons.
Another goal is getting pictures of all the seniors for a given sport in the paper at some point during the season. Again, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes there are more seniors than there are photo ops. Other times, well, read the reasons listed above.
The start of a new season is fun. The possibilities are limitless. Every team is undefeated. Everyone has a chance to win state. We get to chronicle the ups and downs of every season, watching the athletes and teams improve each week.
It’s the fall sports rhythm.
