Thomas Miller | Sept. 14, 2010
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| Photo by Thomas Miller |
| Longtime pro photographer Rich Clarkson looked over journalism student Thomas Miller's portfolio. Miller said he came away "feeling great" about his future after listening to Clarkson. |
I had stayed up until 4 a.m. preparing my portfolio and studying his work, but I was still nervous when I walked into my critique with the legendary Rich Clarkson. I had not heard of Clarkson before, but I knew his work. He was responsible for capturing so many great sports moments. He caught with skill alone, because he cut his teeth in a time before auto focus.
I sat down across from him and instantly I forgot why I was nervous. He glanced through my photos, quickly at first, and then went back through them, methodically pointing out a cluttered back ground here and touch of softness there.
But he was never harsh, and he was never hostile. I left my portfolio with him and left feeling not only like I had gotten a new perspective on what I needed to improve, but what I was doing right.
I had to move quickly to my next critique with Gary Bogdon, a successful freelancer and shooter for Sports Illustrated. I was shocked by how friendly Bogdon was. It wasn’t that I expected him to be rude or cold, it’s just that he shoots for Sports Illustrated. He shoots Super Bowls and World Series, and here I was with photos from Little 500.
That was the stuff Bogdon wanted to see. Later, at the Sports in Focus panel event, Bogdon and Clarkson would both tell the audience that great sports photos come from Little League games and intramural tournaments. You don’t go to the Super Bowl to get the great shot.
I spent my day with some of the leading photographers in the nation and instead of feeling nervous or dejected, I ended the day feeling great about where my photography is and where it is going.
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