As the Sports Editor for the Knight Times, I was given the opportunity to work alongside somebody I look up to, somebody who has helped me through my sports photography journey.
On December 18, I was able to shadow Andy Abeyta at a Firebirds game.
Abeyta is a photojournalist for The Desert Sun. He works around the Valley, and can often be seen photographing high school sporting events. You may even have seen him at our very own Shadow Hills games.
Abeyta has also visited the Journalism class to help student journalists understand the basics of photography. He shared his past experiences and passed on wisdom and advice to the students.
During my time shadowing him, I was able to climb the catwalks above the ice, go behind the scenes, and get professional insight on the life of a full time photojournalist. I was also able to ask questions, work with high quality cameras, and be in the media room after the game.
Being allowed to take a few photos in the catwalks above the ice gave me a ton of new ideas and skills to shoot photos from above. I had a perfect vantage point to see where the photographers and other media personnel worked throughout the night.
I even got to borrow some of Abeyta’s cameras; it was a highlight to experience the professional quality. This helped me get a better feel for photography. Shooting sports can be difficult at first but with some trial and error I was able to get photos I had never gotten before!
This opportunity has given me a new spark of love for sports photography. Everybody was very encouraging and kind, leaving me with such a great impression. Being down by the ice felt like a glimpse into my future.
Thank you for the opportunity Andy!
