My Season With The Columbus Crew

       Of all the sports I have photographed, I never expected to shoot professional football (soccer). At the beginning of the campaign (Season, for all you non soccer fans out there.), I got an unpaid internship with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. I had shot a few matches the previous campaign, but nothing really special. My photojournalism teacher, Doral Chennoweth suggested that I apply for it. I put my application in and I wasn't expecting to hear from them. Doral texted me one day out of the blue just before the campaign and told me to call them. So I gave them a call. A few days later I was shooting Media Day and that Saturday I was shooting their first match of the season against DC United.
        It was different because I had a new Sigma 120-300mm lens, and I was shooting a completely new sport. I had to learn how to make adjustments such as handling a bigger and longer lens on my body and having to time the focus and release the shutter. It was rough the first few games. A few of them were out of focus, had too much noise, I wasn't getting enough shots, and they were thinking about letting me go. So I frantically called Doral one night asking what I should do. He said "Brent, first of all, calm down. Secondly, Never give up."
        He told me if I wasn't getting good enough action shots, pick out some of the rowdy loud fans in the crowd and shoot them. THANK YOU NORDEKE!!! He also told me to relax and have fun. The very next game I hit many action shots and got a few shots of some colorful people in the stands. Instead of getting seven, I was getting 20-30 printable shots!!. I got them consistently. I began to believe in myself that I could actually pull this off.
       My previous camera, the Nikon D300s was a good all around camera, but it was getting too much noise in the higher ISO's. I got a new camera body for my birthday, a Nikon D4s (Thanks Mom and Dad). This is Nikon's top of the line body that professionals use. I had to learn how to use this new body as it was different from the previous one. The noise was no longer an issue and I was still getting the 20-30 shots needed. About halfway through the season, Tim Miller, the Communications Manager and my boss found me before a match and said "Brent, we would like to extend your internship for the rest of the season. Do you want to shoot for us?" The answer was a huge resounding "Yes!"
       I would like to thank my wife Tara for rooting for me in everything I do. Many thanks to Tim Miller for giving me that second chance. I would also like to thank my parents David and Shirley Clark for being on my side since the day I was born. A special thanks to Doral Chennoweth for encouraging me and giving me the best advice any teacher can give their student, "NEVER GIVE UP"!! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I GIVE YOU MY SEASON WITH THE COLUMBUS CREW SC!!!!