UIL State
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) provides educational extracurricular academic, athletic, and music contests for secondary schools across Texas. In 2018 and 2019, UIL leadership invited me, along with a few other students from my highschool, to be the official photographers for the football state championship games. The games were held at the AT&T (Cowboys) Stadium and as an official photographer, I had a press pass that allowed me full access to the field and press box. I shot alongside photographers from the Texas Tribune, MaxPreps, and other news outlets covering the championships.
As a 16 year-old who had spent his whole life behind a camera, the opportunity to shoot on the field of the cowboys stadium was a dream come true. We had to cover each of the 12 championship games divided by school size over a three day period, but I was too excited to feel the exhaustion. I remember bounding up and down the field all day and night eagerly trying to get the best angle on the field before another photographer could take it first. In between games and during half times, I would run up to press box number one to offload my pictures to the UIL staff who then used my images for social media, marketing, and news distribution.
The thing I love most about photography is the power you have to capture important moments. I have worked my entire career as a photographer to refine the art of capturing a smile, a tear, or a hug. Those beautiful moments of life are the ones worth saving and I believe they are a gift I can give others. During the championship games, I had many opportunities to capture those special moments. So much emotion sits on the field for those players, students, and families during those games, especially for the seniors who are playing the last game of their highschool career. I photographed cheers from supporting parents, celebrations of a well fought victory, and tears of a close defeat. It was an honor to be there to photograph those honest and real moments of life.
Fun Story:
United States Senator John Cornyn was scheduled to do the ceremonial coin toss before both of the 2019 6A games. Since my work area was in press box number one, John Cornyn happened to be set up right below my box answering questions from reporters. I sat there for awhile trying to get up the courage to approach him to ask for a picture with him, but just as I found the gumption, Mr. Cornyn said he was finished with questions and turned to leave. I chased after him and tapped on the shoulder of a young guy at the back of his entourage to ask if I could get a picture. His assistant told me that if I meet him on the field right after the coin toss, then he would make sure I got a picture. I did what he told me and waited to meet him as he walked off the field. Although I was all sweaty and gross from running up and down the field all day with heavy equipment, I got my picture with the senator.
