A “Simple” Handshake

Every year, about a month before the UK vs. U of L football game, a luncheon and golf outing for coaches, former players and media are held at the University Club golf course in Lexington. The lunch and press conference take place in a park-style shelter outdoors. I’m supposed to get a shot of University of Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks and University of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino “together”. Problem is, they’re almost never together. Upon their arrival, the media surrounds the coaches separately for interviews and then, at the luncheon, each coach comes up at different times, from opposite sides of the shelter, to a podium for Q&A. I really hate to rely on a posed photo, and lately, there are more and more media there (I counted nine tripods).
Luckily, before the luncheon began, both coaches appeared in a promotional video benefiting visually impaired children. After the video everyone relaxed. As the coaches spontaneously shook hands, someone walked through my frame. But just before they released the handshake, I got a clear shot, but it was a split second opportunity. (Then the coaches began to separate immediately. The published photo is next to last in this sequence.) Point is, sometimes the most “simple” request, and the most unassuming photo you see in the newspaper, might be the most challenging photo of the week to take. And these photos show why professionals rely on motor drive.

TECH INFO: 90mm (zoom); ISO 200; 1/200th/sec.; f.7 (programmed auto exposure); Nikon D2H.

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