Victoria Marathon
Last year I ran the 8K run at the Victoria Marathon, and after a lengthy running hiatus last winter and spring I wanted to do it again this year. Unfortunately I wasn't able to run myself into the shape I wanted to be in, but instead another opportunity presented itself; Don Denton, the photo editor at Black Press, contacted me and offered me the chance to photograph the marathon.
I went for one last run to see if I was ready to participate in the 8K or not, and subsequently decided to take the work instead. A great experience? Yes. Was I done when I was done? Pretty much. Lugging two camera bodies and a heavy backpack (which I tried to keep as light as possible) around for five or six hours - even running from the start line, over the Legislature lawn, to catch the runners going past the Empress hotel - left the bottom of my feet swollen and sore. But it was worth it.
Three of the following images (and one more which isn't here) found their way to the pages of most or all of the Black Press papers in Greater Victoria.
Half marathon runners going past the Empress hotel.
Dr. Corey Renaud stretches before the marathon. No, this is not a Photoshop disaster.
Almost every marathon runner in the front row was on the clock when the race started.
James Lander, Philip Samoei, Gilbert Kiptoo and Bernard Onsare got the early lead in the full marathon.
A young woman was overcome by fatigue less than 200 metres from the half marathon finish line and was taken care of by the medical crew.
Half-marathon runner, whose full name I couldn't find, needed a breather after the race.
Anna Russell receives a medal after finishing the half marathon.
Catrin Jones was the surprise(d) winner of the women's full marathon.
Jeff Thompson won the wheelchair marathon.
And then two photos of newlyweds at the finish line:
Michelle Morris and Oliver Hohertz got married on marathon day and then walked across the finish line a few minutes ahead of the first marathon runners.
Newlyweds Oliver Hohertz and Michelle Morris were interviewed by media after they walked across the finish line at the Victoria Marathon.
A bit of Black Press
I've been shooting a bit for Black Press since late August, mostly Scene and Heard, but I've also taken on a few editorial shifts.
The S&H assignments may not sound all that exciting (find two to four people at an event, press them together, take their picture, get their names), but they've been a great learning experience for me, for one simple reason: I'm shy.
I've always been rather reluctant to approach strangers in order to take photos of them, so instead of confronting my fear (for lack of a better word) I've taken on the role of sniper, photographing people from afar - the longer the lens, the better. The S&H assignments have forced me to do the opposite. I won't say just yet that I've completely turned things around, but I'm close.
Enough of that. At these S&H events I've done those typical and relatively safe shots, the ones that go in the paper, but I've also tried to do something a bit more creative - images which might stand on their own with just a caption. These photos usually don't find their way onto the pages of Victoria, Saanich or Oak Bay News, but some of them have, and that tells me I'm doing something right. Right? Right.
The following images are from both S&H assignments as well as ones taken at editorial shifts.
Ron Gaudet, chief of the Oak Bay Police department, gives a speech at the Tour de Rock Mix and Mingle, as the rider jerseys wait to be presented to the 2010 Tour de Rock riders.
Jennifer Gibbs, of the Oak Bay Police, walks to receive her rider's jersey at the Tour de Rock Mix and Mingle, while current and former riders watch.
Mattie Ball, a resident at Ross Place Retirement Resort, gave all the Tour de Rock riders a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Sergeant at arms, Ron Cavin, is ready for the parade led by the Prince Edward Legion Branch #91 Colour Party, before the new expansion for the Juan de Fuca 55+ Activity Centre was opened.
Rhonda Broadfoot paints a masterpiece on a young boy's face at the Hartland Landfill Open House.
Chris Burdge and Paul Holmes, organizers of a Social Media Camp conference, let the world know that they are being photographed.
A tree needed to be cut down in Oak Bay, and the workers left a "tombstone" just for Halloween.
Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin sings 'O, Canada' at the unveiling of a statue of Emily Carr in downtown Victoria.