Why an "Underwhelming" Gallery Was My Biggest Victory

Each year, Olympia High School hosts its 2-mile cross-country extravaganza, a special night that doubles as a celebration for the team's seniors. In the past, I’ve always photographed it by pushing my camera to its limits, trying to make the most of the stadium's minimal light. It’s a fun, if not difficult, exercise in low-light photography.

Leah Hennen passes Wesley Stevick in the last 100M

This year, I wanted to create something truly special for the seniors. I decided to stop searching for light and start bringing my own.

This was a brand-new experiment for me. As I opened my 7-foot umbrella on the sidelines, I could see people—my wife included—wondering what on earth I was doing. I pushed ahead, setting up my strobes, checking my PocketWizards, and running test shots. Everything worked. Now, all I had to do was wait for the races to begin.

Almost immediately, I hit a snag I hadn't considered. In a typical race, I can fire off a burst of photos to guarantee I get a good one. With strobes, I had only one chance per runner to nail the focus, timing, and position. This wasn't going to be easy. It was a fight to get the shot, but it was a fight I needed. It forced me to learn timing.

Just as I started to get a feel for the rhythm, a light drizzle began. My strobes aren't waterproof. I had to ditch one light, leaving my big umbrella to shield the other. Instantly, I was back at square one, frantically adjusting settings and just hoping for the best.

After editing, I'll admit I felt a little underwhelmed. I walked away with a few shots I really like, but far fewer than I normally would. Yet, my biggest victory of the night wasn't in the photos, but in the experience. It's one thing to practice with strobes in a controlled studio; it's another to do it at a live event with hundreds of athletes and parents moving around in the dark.

This served as one of my favorite shots from the night.

The real takeaway was the lesson. Next time, I’ll set up in a less conspicuous spot and, most importantly, I'll have rain protection for my gear figured out in advance. It was a challenging night of learning, but a thrill to try something new for a team and a group of seniors worth celebrating.