by Gary Fong
Photographer: Joshua Scheide, Odessa American, www.oaoa.com
In the heat of coverage, there’s no time to think…just react to what’s in front of the lens. Joshua Scheide, of the Odessa American, arrived early on the basketball stadium for the women’s championship game. But an urgent phone call from the sports editor turned a quiet moment into a race to meet deadline.
The editor wanted photos of the game, currently playing in the 4th period. The game clock was counting down to the final three minutes of the match. Scheide put down his cellular, pick up his camera, and shut the world out of his thoughts to concentrate on the images before his lens.
Both teams were playing at fever's pitch. They were trading baskets at opposite ends of the court. No one could foul out, no one could make an error, each team member had to perform like there was no tomorrow. In a few minutes Scheide had whatever images he could shoot in the last moments of the game. Championship games have no sense of humor about “do-overs”. He had to have the quintessential images of game in his camera.
Now for the nit picking
Doing a fast edit, Josh found the frame capturing the ferocity of the game. He cropped for maximum impact and transmitted it to his office. Yes, there are arms and heads cut off, but the spirit of the moment is reflected in the emotional expressions of the ball carrier. That emotion is primary to the image. Not the arm and head amputation of the defender.
It’s the close intimate action coverage that brings the reader into the page, then into the story. Photographers like Joshua Scheide do the impossible for his readers. While reacting to what’s in front of his lens, he concentrates on making the everyday, something special.
My greetings me very liked your blog