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

The world of photography lost one of its giants, a victim of cancer of the pancreas, when Brian Lanker was taken from us Sunday night. (March 13)  Brian’s early career began working at the Topeka Capital-Journal with our talented staff (where he won a Pulitzer)  before he moved to photo director of the Eugene Register-Guard.  But it was his later years that defined his amazing contribution to photography with work for major magazines, creating stunning photo books and sparking the careers of many aspiring photographers.  The most generous and caring person I have ever met, Brian made all our lives better.  He was the most remarkable person I have ever known and a true American Treasure.

-Rich Clarkson

Brian Lanker embraces Rich Clarkson at a surprise party hosted in Eugene, Ore. Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey records the scene. ©Paul Carter

A great look back at Rich Clarkson’s 25 years at the helm of the Topeka Capitol Journal photo department, a period of time where many of today’s finest photojournalists entered into the profession under his tutelage.  NPR covers the unusual gathering in late July that brought together so many from TCJ’s staff for the first formal reunion in over three decades. http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/07/21/128674753/topeka