Sunday, March 04, 2007

The Sporting Life


For the past six years or so, most of my assignments have been sporting events. I’m not a huge sports fan but I enjoy photographing games because it offers one of the few opportunities in newspapers to capture real emotions. Too much of what passes for journalism these days is so heavily manipulated by PR firms and handlers that sports has become one of the last homes for capturing the decisive moment. I find that sad, but it’s reality.

Still, shooting sports has it problems as well. Each year it seems to get harder and harder to get the access necessary for good pictures. At the Save Mart Center in Fresno it has become a game between the photographers and arena security. It usually goes something like this:

Security guard: “You can’t sit there.”
Photographer: “What? I’ve been sitting here all season. Why, can’t I sit here?”
Security guard: No, you’ve never been able to sit here. Move”
Photographer: “I was sitting here 20 minutes ago and no one seemed to mind.”
Security guard: No you weren’t, now move or I’ll have the police arrest you.”

A couple of years ago I was actually led out of the arena by a couple of cops only to have a representative from Fresno State call and apologize the next day, after I had missed half the game. Every game it’s something different, I don’t remember the last time I was left alone to shoot pictures without some douchebag in a yellow jacket, or in the case of the SMC a red sweater getting in my face like a shit –eating fly.

Every once in a while despite all the bullshit I manage to make a picture that captures the essence of an event. This past Friday was one of those nights. After spending at least 20 minutes trying to get a pack of troll-like cheerleaders to move out of my way, I was able to get a pretty nice image of Fresno State players and fans celebrating in a huge, mass scrum at the end of the bulldogs last second victory over Boise State.