Big Games and Priceless Photos
Carolyn Vo
KIPP: San Jose Collegiate
Milpitas, CA
Auburn University Athletics sports photographer Todd Van Emst spoke to the AU High School Journalism Workshop students about his career in photography, journalism and communications on June 20.
As a photographer, Van Emst deals with many complications, ranging from getting the right and best shot of the event to competing with other photographers on the field. Van Emst tells his students that he “put[s] in lots of hours on nights and weekends.”
“I don’t have a favorite photo or a photo that I am most proud of. Maybe it’s because I have taken it yet,” said Van Emst. The Time and effort that he dedicated into editing and producing the photos allowed for companies such as the Associated Press to buy the photos he had edited.
During his workshop, Van Emst showed students his photos of the AU football team. Of the most memorable, he describes the national championship game in Glendale, AZ as, “Mesmerizing, yet extremely hard to gain access to the places I needed to be.”
Van Emst attended every football game and traveled with the team for away games. Although he shoots specifically for AU sports, he chooses to shoot for the opponents as well to as there was demand for their pictures as well.
No matter what the situation is, Van Emst advises students to “shoot everything because when you look back at it, it was a moment that was memorable.”
Some of the challenges of being a photographer in his position are the referees and the chain gang, officials who mark the first down, because they can get in the way of a picture that is possibly usable.
Van Emst explains to the AU students to, “Not limit yourself to just sports photography.” As he had learned through his 25 years of experience, there are few ways to succeed in life, but if you follow what you love it will never be boring.
KIPP: San Jose Collegiate
Milpitas, CA
Auburn University Athletics sports photographer Todd Van Emst spoke to the AU High School Journalism Workshop students about his career in photography, journalism and communications on June 20.
As a photographer, Van Emst deals with many complications, ranging from getting the right and best shot of the event to competing with other photographers on the field. Van Emst tells his students that he “put[s] in lots of hours on nights and weekends.”
“I don’t have a favorite photo or a photo that I am most proud of. Maybe it’s because I have taken it yet,” said Van Emst. The Time and effort that he dedicated into editing and producing the photos allowed for companies such as the Associated Press to buy the photos he had edited.
During his workshop, Van Emst showed students his photos of the AU football team. Of the most memorable, he describes the national championship game in Glendale, AZ as, “Mesmerizing, yet extremely hard to gain access to the places I needed to be.”
Van Emst attended every football game and traveled with the team for away games. Although he shoots specifically for AU sports, he chooses to shoot for the opponents as well to as there was demand for their pictures as well.
No matter what the situation is, Van Emst advises students to “shoot everything because when you look back at it, it was a moment that was memorable.”
Some of the challenges of being a photographer in his position are the referees and the chain gang, officials who mark the first down, because they can get in the way of a picture that is possibly usable.
Van Emst explains to the AU students to, “Not limit yourself to just sports photography.” As he had learned through his 25 years of experience, there are few ways to succeed in life, but if you follow what you love it will never be boring.