THE CHALLENGE
The 2019 NAIA Track & Field National Championships is an event attended by the top track & field athletes in the nation and a sports photographers playground. For Hastings College, 23 of their athletes put up marks that landed them among the top in the country. For me, the goal was to provide all-inclusive updates of what the competition entailed through photography, video and social media management as they took on this prestigious opportunity.
THE APPROACH
Getting to know the athletes as both a competitor and a person was crucial to capturing each individual during competition. In order to show how they prepared and competed, I wanted to first understand what was important to them. What made them tick when it came to athletics. Establishing a trustworthy relationship with each athlete allowed them to be candid and comfortable with me which proved to be very important when capturing photos of them. I attended practices and also, traveled with the team, giving those who chose to tune in a chance to watch the Hastings College Track & Field Team in action throughout the competition.
