Most people who watch the Super Bowl are there for the action on the field. Vary rarely do onlookers pay attention to the photographers surrounding the field. Unless, of course, one gets in the way of a tackle and goes down with a player. So while, tv viewers are sung at home watching the action unfold, it is a completely different experience for a photographer on the field. Instead of preparing for the Super Bowl by opening a bag of chips and grabbing a cold drink, sports photographers like Doung Mills analyze what could happen in the game before the game even starts.
I once took photographs during high school at the Homecoming game, which was challenging enough let alone trying to anticipate where the best shots are going to come from at the Super Bowl. To get the best shots the photographer must be constantly evaluating the action on the field and anticipating possible plays before they occur. Being in the right place to get the shot is just as intense as the action occurring between the teams on the field.
The challenges of photographing sports events will translate into learned skills that are relevant in other areas. Doug Mills explains in his blog for the New York Times that “If you can shoot sports, you can shoot anything.” His experiences as a sports photographer have translated into his other assignments including covering the White House. The quick pace of sports photography is useful in other aspects, but for all the Super Bowl fans it is still probably preferable to watch from home instead of worrying where to be to capture a great image of the action. As a photographer, which teams are playing does not really matter, just catching the interesting seconds in time that will tell the story for the future.
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Reblogged this on Cards Eye View.
i love your blog, i have it in my rss reader and always like new things coming up from it.