×
×
homepage logo
SUBSCRIBE

An Atypical Typical Day

By James Roh - | Feb 26, 2013
1 / 4
Baseline
2 / 4
Dunk
3 / 4
Chase
4 / 4
Coach Quincy Lewis

 

For press photographers throughout the state, February signifies long days at basketball courts covering the highly competitive high school basketball tournaments.  With the girl’s tournament ending this past saturday, the boy’s were quick on their heels to determine their own state champs for the season on Monday.  Being on the night shift that day, I was sent up to Weber State University’s Dee Events Center in Ogden to photograph three Utah Valley boys teams compete in the first round of the tournament.

 

As a rule of thumb, photographers are almost always required to have quick access to a car in case something comes up.  However, because I was assigned to photograph three games over an hour’s drive away from our coverage area, I thought it was safe to carpool with our sports reporters in order to save money on gas.  

 

But as luck would have it, not only did breaking news occur while I was away, but it came to me!  Starting in Lehi, a high speed car chase became very serious as the driver sped north on I-15 and came to a screeching halt in Kaysville, about 20 minutes south of where I was covering the games.

 

An urgent call from my photo editor, Mark Johnston, sent me driving to the scene of the crime driving my coworker’s car.  I found the incident using backroads that paralleled the highway and hopped out of the car with my camera and lenses.  Despite a few hundred yards of deep snow covering a field, I knew I had to get the shot and began running towards the flashing police lights and the damaged car.  Once close enough, I began photographing fervently.  But just as soon as I got there, the police officers began yelling for me to leave the scene despite not being across police line.  Within minutes, I noticed an officer heading my way from where I came.  I knew my time photographing was limited at that point and continued to snap away while possible.  As expected, I was asked to leave but luckily I had had enough time to get what I needed.  

 

During that time, I had received another phone call from Mark saying that the paper needed photos of Lone Peak’s head coach for the next day’s paper.  The only problem was that the game was half way over at that point!  Once again, I hopped back in the car and rushed to game just in time to catch the fourth quarter and get the photos needed.  With soaking wet shoes and feeling slightly overwhelmed, I was able to turn in photos from all of my assignments and cover the remaining game.  While this type of craziness is not a common occurrence for me at work, yesterday reiterated that I actually don’t have a “typical day” at work and should always be prepared for the unexpected.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)