This weekend we produced two pieces for the BCS Championship Game in New Orleans.

First, we showed up early to document the ‘love for the game’ and the passion that drives both teams and their strong base of fans.

Secondly, as NCAA photos we turned the game into a moving time-lapse of photos showing the excitement of the game (minus the score!).

Outstanding achievement. Two of many words which could be used to describe Rich Clarkson’s illustrious career in photography.
This Monday Clarkson was awarded the Outstanding Achievement award for sports photography from the Lucie Foundation. The Lucie Awards, for those who may not know, were founded to honor the greatest achievements in photography from around the world. The award itself is a who’s who of photography, drawing the most well-known figures in the photography community. Rich Clarkson is joined by an elite group which include names such as Bill Eppridge, Dawoud Bey, Eli Reed, Nancy McGirr and Nobuyoshi Araki.

“While it was a honor to receive one of the Lucies, it was especially fun to see two longtime friends as the other winners. Eli Reed and Bill Eppridge were honored and richly deserve the recognition. And for me, it was fun to see so many friends of New York and elsewhere (Joey Terrill flew in from Los Angeles, Jodi Cobb from Washington among others) for the evening.”

©Joey Terrill

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

As a collective group of 5 photographers covering the 2011 Men’s Final Four in Houston,TX we have nearly every angle and scenario planned out. In the end it’s often exciting to see what each individual on the team walked away with in images. No perspective goes undocumented.

-JD

©Joshua Duplechian/NCAA Photos

©Ryan Mckee/NCAA Photos

©Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos

©Joshua Duplechian/NCAA Photos

©Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos

©Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos

©Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos

©Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos

©Joshua Duplechian/NCAA Photos

©Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos

©Joshua Duplechian/NCAA Photos

Rich Clarkson, on the eve of his 58th NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, talks about some of his best memories from photographing almost 60 years of March Madness