The Reality Check
Coming from years of photographing runDisney events in Orlando, I was used to a very specific system. I was typically 1 of 30 photographers, assigned to a location with a nice comfortable lawn chair at 2:00 AM, waiting for the race to come to me.
But standing on the sidelines at the Long Short Invitational hosted by Dickinson College, it hit me: I’m not 1 of 30 anymore. I’m 1 of 1. If I didn't get the shot, it didn't exist for the team. This overcast afternoon in Pennsylvania was the official "get my feet wet" moment for my new journey: Photographing Every Sport Until I Can Photograph the Olympics.
Breaking the "Sitting Still" Habit
In the first two races, I played it safe. I shot the start—which, if you’ve ever tried to shoot a cross-country pack head-on, you know is a beautiful mess of elbows and adrenaline. I stood where everyone else stood. By race three, I realized that to get the cinematic sports photography I wanted, I had to stop waiting and start moving. I noticed a pack of photographers heading toward a patch by the woods. I realized that if I wanted that angle, I had to beat the runners there.
"Here’s the thing they don’t tell you about sports photography: sometimes you’re as much of an athlete as the people in the frame."
The Sprint
Okay so I’m a big guy, I was wearing jeans and boots, and I had my Canon R6II with a 70-200mm f2.8 swinging off me and a camera bag full of lenses, batteries, an Insta360 Ace Pro 2 all in it. I had to sprint a straight line to the woods to beat the runners on their curve. I made it, caught them emerging from the tree line with that perfect compression, and then with just a little breather, had to sprint back to catch the winner crossing the finish line. I was not prepared for this in the slightest.
The Olympic Lesson
Cross Country taught me that the road to the 2028 Olympics isn't just about gear or technical settings; it’s the ability to read the room. You have to anticipate the flow of the game and be willing to hustle to the spot no one else is thinking of.
What I Learned for Next Time:
- Hustle > Comfort: The "comfy chair" mindset is officially dead.
- The 1-of-1 Mentality: When you’re the only one capturing the story, you can't afford to be stagnant.
- The Gear: The 70-200mm is the great for this sport, but I might need better running shoes if I'm staying in the woods.
Does your team have a story worth telling?
I don’t just sit on the sidelines, I will hustle to capture the moments that most photographers miss. If you want "1-of-1" coverage for your next meet, tournament, or season opener in Pennsylvania or Maryland, let’s get to work!
