ShutterSpeed

WTE Prep Athletes of the Week East High School's Brittany Rehm and Ramon Robinson. Both Rehm and Robinson won the high jump last weekend. Rehm, a senior, also ran the second leg of the winning girls 4x100 meter relay. Robinson, a sophomore added a win in the triple jump. AAron Ontiveroz/staff

This shoot with East High jumpers Brittany Rehm and Ramon Robinson was fun, but sort of long (only in terms of extension cord, or course).

Like Lamont Sanford (not affiliated with Cheyenne eatery Sanford’s), I acted like a big dummy. Instead of parking near the track at East High, I chose to park near the main office some 472 miles away. Why? Because I wanted to obey the rules, which read something like, “Any person(s), who is not a student, faculty or staff member, entering the premises of Cheyenne East High School during operating hours must first sign in at the main office or suffer the consequences of crossing Laramie County School District No. 1. and the code of the Thunderbird” I did not actually read the rules, but I’m sure it’s in there somewhere.

a series of goofs that prompted me to move into stage two of shooting a portrait without much planning -- panic. AAron Ontiveroz/staff

Anyway, after leaving the office, I began walking through the school towards the track. It took an estimated 3 hours, two camels and a Perrier to complete the venture, but eventually I did. Upon arriving, I first noticed a group of junior high students practicing in the high jump area I wanted to shoot in. No big deal. I asked the coach if my models could alternate with his team during their workout. Mostly, my model (only one actually jumped) muscled her way in and took multiple turns. The coach asked if his team could finish up and then the mat was mine.
While chimping through my images, I decided the initial portrait was no good, so I worked out the finished product of both athletes in one frame quickly.
I fist shot them with hands on their hips, but Ramon did not look hip (i’m as clever as a five year old).

To make his leg-like arms appear shorter, I asked him to tuck them away. He agreed and I shot two or three more frames and ended on the eventual final product.

Back to the big dummy stuff, the initial journey to the track was difficult, but I failed to also realize that it was downhill, so the trip back was like walking up a moderately steep mountain with Jim Belushi strapped to my back.

Lesson learned, don’t try, be lazy and park close.

Technical Info

subject: east high track studs brittany rehm and ramon robinson

location: east high track at okie blanchard stadium

camera body: canon mark II
lens: 17-35 (18mm

ISO: 50

shutter speed: 1/250th

f-stop: f-22

strobes: yes — one white lightning 1600. positioned left of models with an open head. the sun was helpful, too. the sky was no good all day before and almost immediately after.