JACOB DANEK
PHOTOGRAPHY
EMOTION
Capturing an emotion is tricky business. As humans, we tend to change emotions fairly quickly, and most emotions cannot be conveyed easily with a single click of a camear shutter. However, every so often, we capture an image that screams emotion. Looking at the image gives the audience an inside look at what the subject was feeling at that exact moment. This emotion is why we take pictures. Pictures are not simply ink on a page, but something that makes the audience feel something.
WE WON: Being in the right place at the right time: this is half of what photography is about. The right angle and correct positioning can make or break a photo. This photo was taken after a powderpuff football game. The seniors had won against the lowerclassmen, and after their win they ran off the field, cheering like a group of athletes who had just won a state title. But they hadn't...for this game was simply for fun. That's the beauty of it, sometimes emotion gets the better of us, and we can't help but cheer, scream, and laugh. I love this picture because it shows the pure joy that took over the players and coaches. However, since the players were streaming off the field, I had to dodge multiple screaming girls in order to not be tackled. This picture was featured in the September issue of The Informer and will aslo be featured in the 2015-2016 Looking Glass yearbook. It also was entered in this year's MIPA awards for magazine style cover and school spirit photo.
One More Tug: I like this picture because it captures the determination to win. These two students are putting every ounce of their strength and grit into tugging the rope. Like usual, I had to put myself in a somewhat dangerous position in order to capture this image. I had to sit on the floor, feet away from the students who were trying desperately to win. One wrong move and one of them could have crushed me and my mother's expensive camera. This photo was featured in the September issue of the Informer.
Out of My Way: Every so often, during a tough game, you feel like you really want to run someone over. Your intentions are not to hurt the other player, but somewhere along the lines, the voice in your head that tells you "be nice," is silenced. What is left is an animal drive that screams, "get out of my way." That's what I love about this picture. The player is striving to make a layup, and the girl who is gaurding her is a mere obstacle in her way. This photo was featured in the February issue of The Informer.
Moving On: This photo was taken after the Laingsburg volleyball team won against their arch rivals, Bath. I knew that I wanted to get a shot of the bench and their reactions, so I zoomed in, past the players on the court, hoping to capture their victory roar. I wasn't expecting the bench to be so overjoyed, but they were, providing a great backdrop for the main subject, number 3. This photo was featured in the November issue of the Informer and is also being entered in this year's MIPA awards for school spirit photo.
What Just Happened: One of my favorite parts of taking pictures during a sporting event is the moments where both teams are wondering, "what just happened?" This is an example of that. Both teams were wondering why the referee called a certain call, and instead of being mad or happy, people were dumbfounded. I was able to capture this emotion, an emotion that is sometimes forgotten in the fast paced world of sports. This photo was featured in the September issue of The Informer.
How Long Are We Supposed to Hold This Up: After a big win, especially a district championship win, players are able to breath a sigh of relief after a hard fought battle and celebrate with their team. This photo was taken after the volleyball team won districts against their rivals. They immediately stormed the court, holding their trophy high for all the community to see. I was worried, since they were facing the opposite direction, that I would be unable to capture their emotional celebration. Luckily, one of the players was facing the crowd and her pure joy was evident. This photo was featured in The Meridian Weekly, a local newspaper that encompasses the Laingsburg and surrounding areas.
This is REALLY Weird: Pep assembly games often border on the weird side. This game, where homecoming queen candidates were wrapped in plastic wrap, is definitely a little weird. The girl in the photo shows this weirdness. Even though the usual emotions of happiness, excitement, and anger are not evident here, it gives the audience an accurate representation of what is happening at this exact moment. This photo will be featured in the 2015-2016 Looking Glass yearbook.
Not Just an Ordinary Bench: Being benched is usually a bad thing. You weren't good enough, or you are injured, unable to participate in the sport you love. However, the bench is a place where emotions run deep. The girl in the red shirt tore her ACL for the third time and was unable to participate during a season where the team made history, making it to the Breslin Center for the first time in school history. She cheered with every made three-pointer, lay-up, and free-throw. This picture was featured in the March issue of The Informer.