Practice, Patience, and a New Perspective: A Tale of Three XC Seasons
Occasionally, I dive back into my photo archives. And when I stumble upon my first season of cross-country photos, I can’t help but stop and appreciate how far I’ve come.
I don’t look back and hate the photos I took—I love them. I love that I stepped outside of my comfort zone to get to where I am today. They're a reminder that growth is a process. Now that we're deep in the 2025 season, I can make direct comparisons to my work from 2023, and the difference is a powerful lesson in what happens when you stick with something.
The Starting Line: From Parent to Photographer
Like many parents, my journey into sports photography started from the sidelines. I’d been a photographer since I was a kid in my high school’s darkroom, and after a long career in content creation, I found myself behind the lens again. At my first cross country meet, I toyed with the idea of bringing my camera to snap some photos of my kid.
This quickly led to taking photos of more kids because, frankly, it was great practice. You know how the story goes—it continued and grew into a whole thing. Now, a few years into shooting cross country and track, I feel like I have a decent grasp on it.
2023: Capturing the Moment
In my first year, my goal was simple: get a clear, focused shot. I was proud of the images I was getting, and rightfully so. They were moments frozen in time, and they represent the foundation of everything I’ve learned since.
Looking back, I can see I was just scratching the surface. My compositions were simple, my positioning was safe, and I hadn't yet learned how to anticipate the story within the race.
Gunnar Hatlen (Olympia) competing in the JV race at the 2023 John Payne Invitational. Gunnar went on to win this race in a time of 18:50.2. I rented a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS Lens and found my potential.
2025: Telling the Story
Fast forward two years. Same races, same courses, but a completely different approach. The biggest change isn't my gear (though that helps!); it's my knowledge and my eye. I've learned to see the bigger picture.
It's about capturing the grit on a tough hill, the shared look between teammates, the exhaustion and triumph at the finish line. It's about telling the story of the athlete, not just capturing a picture of a runner.
The Lesson: Just Keep Showing Up
The difference between these photos comes down to one thing: practice. It’s about showing up, meet after meet, and trying things. Sometimes I’m shooting for a specific artistic vision, and other times I just go with the flow, enjoying a day outside surrounded by trees, loud parents, and teenagers cheering one another on.
If there's one piece of advice I can give, it's this: just keep going. Test things out, do something that feels silly, get artsy. You will learn so much more by doing than by waiting for the perfect moment.
Thanks for taking a look back with me. Now, on to the next race!
