The Draw of the Lens

"If both feet are on the ground, it's not a shot," and during my fall quarter at UC, I took my first photojournalism class. Those words were never spoken in that classroom. Nothing spectacular, just an introduction to the photographers by whom I am already inspired and learning the basics of the camera. No shooting, no editing. I was able to come away with so much from that class after reading the text, especially in the area of what it takes to truly be a photojournalist. It put a spin on everything I had ever known, and it actually made me question what in the world I wanted to do with photography, and why I was interested in the first place.
I had been shooting long before this class, and I'm still shooting now in anticipation of my first techniques class. Moreso than sitting at a desk, listening to a professor ramble, I have recently found more inspiration ever, in the form of the internship given to me by GoBearcats.com. I was approached by the university's sports communications office, and the rest is history. I cannot say how much I love what I'm doing now. If I have ever been sure that sports photography was something that I wanted to make a career, that time is now. Currently, I shoot men's and women's basketball, and in late winter/early spring, I am very, very excited to start shooting Bearcats baseball. The opportunity itself is amazing and is helping me accomplish the feat of three internships before I graduate, but the experience is what I find most satisfying.
I scroll through my pictures since the day I bought my DSLR until today and I cannot believe how much my photography has changed and improved. Gradually throughout the baseball season I can see myself developing and the eye growing stronger for what will make an incredible composition. But looking from September to now, I have taken the biggest leap. The things I have to owe it to are the fact that I can sit, game after game, on the sides of the court practicing and learning what will work and what will not. I have fairly beginner lenses, which I believe has helped make me stronger. When you don't have all the equipment in the world you have to learn to make it work with what you have and I've done exactly that. Dim lighting and sports action with a slow shutter speed and not a very wide aperture has caused me to look for what will make the shot and catch that exactly. Timing and sight. That's what makes the shot for me. But the biggest impact of all, has been from the few times I have worked with Brett Hansbauer. Brett has experience all across the board, and is also UC's contract photographer. Some of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten have been given to me by him.
"If both feet are on the ground, it's not a shot," spoken by Brett.
That has got to be one of the simplest, yet wisest things I have ever heard. I took it to heart and I can't believe how much it has helped. Looking back at some of things I took during the Reds season make me wonder, "What the hell is that!?" Everything I have learned has only reaffirmed my love for photography and makes me so excited for baseball to roll around...