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02/03/2007 03:18:15 PM · #1 |
Realizing Your Dreams - Part 3
[continued from Part 2]
Finally, Game Day!
And the forecast called for a rain-sleet-snow wintry mix!! Barely after putting the kids on the bus, I got an email from the county school system that the schools would be closing at 10am because of the forecast.
This was the last thing I needed. It had taken a fair amount of work, arranging places for the kids to go after school; now, all my planning was unravelling.
The magazine's art director was going to go with me. I called her. Was there a chance the game would be postponed? Hardly. This game was going to be televised nationally on ESPN. We figured if the weather was too bad, we could probably reschedule, but probably not in time for the magazine's deadline. If this was going to happen, I had to figure out how to make it happen, and I didn't have time to waste.
So, rather than waiting for the school bus to bring the kids home, I decided to just go and get them, then to figure out what to do with them. It took a bunch of calls and a fair amount of hurry-up and wait, but finally, everything came together, and I was back on track.
I picked up the art director, and we headed out of town for the hour-and-a-half drive up to Charlottesville. We had a great visit, and, not surprisingly, saw no weather at all the entire trip. In no time at all, we were inside the John Paul Jones Arena, armed with our game-day credentials.
We met the assistant director of basketball marketing and he gave us a private tour of the entire facility. UVa's architects had spent a number of years developing the plans, and they truly delivered a spectacular facility. I imagine there are more than a few professional venues out there that would be envious of what UVa has.
After our tour, we met the other assistant director of basketball marketing and we discussed how we would be able to get the shots we needed. The University really was going all out to help us tell their story. Because they wanted to respect the privacy of their corporate boxholders, they arranged for us to have access to the Director of Athletics box. In addition to that, they arranged access at both the Arena Club and the Lexus Club, two exclusive hospitality lounges inside the arena. Lastly, I got a leg-band that entitled me to have access to the baseline. I was good to go.
While enjoying an incredible meal in the press center--not hot dogs and chips, but smoked turkey, dressing, gravy, the works--we laid out our plan of attack. I would shoot around the facility for about an hour, looking for feature stuff, then I'd shoot the Lexus Club. Next, I'd shoot some in the AD's box before the game. From there, I'd hustle down to my spot on the baseline and shoot until almost halftime. Then I'd sprint to the Arena Club to get in ahead of the crowd, then it would be back to the baseline. A LOT of running around, a LOT of ground to cover! But, I was ready for it.
And, it all came off pretty much as planned. There were a few hairy moments, like when I found someone had usurped the box I had marked as mine (there is a serious pecking order at these things, and I was the lowest man on the totem pole). Or, when I was told during the overtime to "watch your back, and be aware of what's going on around you" (I was in front of the student section, and they stampeded the floor after the game; luckily, no one was hurt). All the same, I was able to navigate my way through the evening, collecting the images for my essay.
It wasn't much different on the baseline, either. All of the practice paid off, and I am absolutely thrilled not just with the results, but with what I learned (more about that later). After going through my images, I think only two things could make them any better: more practice, and about another fifteen thousand dollars worth of equipment.
In the end, it really was everything I had dreamed it would be. It's really hard to describe just how exhilarating it is, to be sitting on the baseline, a few feet away from the action, having to make every shooting opportunity count. This is the real deal, To top it off, because it was a nationally televised game, my wife, mom, dad, and sisters was able to watch me "at work" as I was in one of the main camera angles every time the ball came down to my end of the court! What a trip!!
Well, this was something I've wanted to do for a long, long time, and I'm everso thankful to have been able to do it. But, it wouldn't have happened had I not been working towards making it happen, and, it would not have turned out had I not been ready for it.
So, take a moment and ask yourself, "what's my 'dream' assignment?" And then take some time to start figuring out how you to can make your dreams come true. If you want it bad enough, you can do it! It might not happen overnight, but if you are willing to make the commitment, put in the hours and effort, you CAN DO IT!
[to be continued...]
Message edited by author 2007-02-03 15:44:55. |
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02/03/2007 03:34:11 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
So, take a moment and ask yourself, "what's my 'dream' assignment?" |
These 3 parts to your story (so far) have been great reading and inspiring.
My 'dream' assignment is more than a one time assignment. I would like to eventually change careers to one of travel photography in the style of National Geographic (along with about 90 million other photographers).
To make a living from those two things that I enjoy so much is definitely a dream of mine. I'm working towards it now, but I have be a realist also and remember that competition can be fierce and even if my photography skills improve to the point of being good enough, I'm sure that there is also a lot of luck involved. I intend to be prepared when the opportunity presents itself, and I'll definitely seek out the opportunity so as to increase my chances of living this dream.
Again, I look forward to hearing of your progress. |
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02/03/2007 04:21:29 PM · #3 |
| Awesome series, Skip! I am curious about the percentage of skills required for a successful career in sports photography and how much of that would also apply to a successful career in travel or other highly competitive phtography field? I suspect photography skills, while critical are maybe 20% of the skillset required for success. I see other skills being equally as essential: marketing skills, people skills, relationship skills, tenacity, some audacity, ability to organize a plan but still be able to improvise and think on your feet (as in your story), and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. |
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02/03/2007 06:29:30 PM · #4 |
thanks!
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I am curious [edit: about what it takes]... |
i don't think it matters what field of endeavor you're talking about, whether you are talking about photography (let alone a specific type) or music or management or information technology or whatever, i believe that ultimately, you have to be able to do all of those things to some degree, if you really want to get ahead. if you don't, you can still do ok and find some level of satisfaction or success, but i think that if you really want to reach your full potential, you have to find some way to do all the things you listed. it's one thing to be technically proficient, but i don't think that's enough.
i would tend to think of it more along the lines of 1) being technically proficient, 2) loving whatever it is enough to put your personality into it, and 3) loving it enough to be able to share your passion with others. even if you're not the best, you can get pretty far when people can tell how hard you're trying. |
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02/03/2007 06:32:32 PM · #5 |
Great set of inspirational threads Skip.
It really all boils down to passion.
Yours shines through.
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02/03/2007 06:35:50 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
2) loving whatever it is enough to put your personality into it, and 3) loving it enough to be able to share your passion with others. |
Originally posted by BradP:
It really all boils down to passion. |
Oh, uh... yeah, passion. I left that out. Now you've gone and made me all introspective about what I am doing with my life - Doh! |
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