This past weekend I had the great fortune to document the love of basketball that exists within the hearts of many Native Americans. We covered a couple basketball tournaments at tribal colleges in rural Montana and spent some time on the Crow Agency Reservation. The NCAA Champion Magazine article has not been published yet, so we don’t want to show too much, but here is a quick preview.

After leading for most of the game, the Ohio State Buckeyes let the Nebraska Cornhuskers make their greatest comeback in history to win 34-27. Here are a couple images from the game.

The latest NCAA Champion Magazine was published this week with Indiana’s Andrew Poore gracing the cover. This is the 11th cover I’ve shot for this magazine. We photographed him at the Rooftop Quarry in Bloomington, IN, made famous in the 1979 film Breaking Away.

NCAA Champion Magazine Summer 2011

Covering sports for 50 years, there are a couple of thrusts that have been beneficial for myself. When photographing the USA Track & Field national championships in Eugene, OR in late June these ideas came into play – as they always do.

First is knowing the sport, the significance and who the key athlete is – and how he or she is unique.  The decathlon is the premier and most grueling event in all of track and field.  With ten separate events whose points add up to decide the winner, this year’s outcome was pretty certain – barring injury or some unpredictable event.  Ashton Eaton was the heavy favorite and the ultimate winner.  Eaton’s strength, unlike many previous champions, is competing well in each of the events.  After having watched and photographed many decathlon competitions over the years the pole vault remains the single event that involves unique skill and form.  My archives at Sports Illustrated over the years indicate that even premier athletes struggle when competing in the pole vault.  With terrible form.  Eaton’s style is the best I’ve ever seen in the decathlon pole vault.  I concentrated on this event and selected a position in the stands that cleaned up the busy background and would best show his championship style.  The whole sequence shows Eaton’s style while there are a couple of frames that would serve well as a single picture from the event.  But the key here is knowing what best shows why Ashton Eaton is the winner.

The other element is the unexpected – and at some point in a track meet (and most other sports), it will happen.  Chris Steppig, from our offices, covered every race from what I call the “insurance position” – that spot where you have it covered in a more routine way but prepared for the unexpected.  When there was the missed hurdle at race’s end, Chris was prepared.  And again, it is a decisive moment that tells why the winner won.

And both of these pictures were the result of proper planning.

-Rich Clarkson

©Rich Clarkson

©Chris Steppig

©Rich Clarkson

I love photographing track because there is an infinite number of photos, angles, expressions and moments to capture. Everywhere you look, someone is doing something that makes a picture, so narrowing down and waiting for the moment is one of the biggest challenges. The challenge is what keeps me coming back and I can say that it is my favorite sport to photograph.

-SN

©Steve Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates

©Steve Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates

©Steve Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates

©Steve Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates

©Steve Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates

©Steve Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates

©Steve Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates