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Lights, Camera, Success

By: Kyle Crawford

 

Lights, Camera, Action…, the journey that would mold my future toward success had begun. In 2004 I started traveling the country, filming a sport that is so unknown, yet well respected among the greatest athletes of our generation. Going from state to state, race to race, capturing some of the most intense action one would ever hope to see. The sport is downhill mountain biking, specializing in speed and endurance at ski areas around the world.

 

Some of the most talented and competitive athletes come from around the globe to the NORBA (National Off-Road Bicycling Association) sponsored nationals here in the United States. As I was traveling from place to place, I saw what not every thirteen year old would usually see. I had experienced more in one year than some people experience in a lifetime.

 

At such a young age, I found myself gaining an idea of responsibility, leadership, and respect. While filming this adventurous sport, I was sent up in the middle of the woods on the edge of some of the most intense ski slopes, alone amongst other professional photographers and videographers from big name publications. I started to gain contacts with these professionals and soon began to learn the field.

 

My father, and travel companion, raced in these events, and watched my interest in photography flourish. Since my parents had been divorced for ten years at the time, my father was drawn into this sport and decided to bring me along for the ride. Not only was this some valuable bonding time, but it was a once in a lifetime experience that I won’t ever forget. My father had seen my passion for photography, and had bought me my first single-lens reflex camera, also commonly referred to as an SLR, which is a must in the field of photography.

 

From then on, my camera has been at my side. From the Rocky Mountains to the coast of Maine, from the winding, narrow roads in Yellowstone to the open, straight highways of Kansas, my camera has been my life, my way of getting away from the struggles and troubles of today. With all of these captivating moments of diverse experiences, I had found who I was, and where I wanted to go in life. I had experienced many cultures and lives, from the common old folk farmers who take their time plowing to the busy lives of the business man transferring from subway to sidewalk.

 

With my expanding portfolio of images from around the country and mastering film photography, I had received my first digital SLR in the spring of 2007. At first digital photography was just a blur. Before the flash could fire, I began to develop an extensive understanding of the new age of digital photography, with help of another powerful influence in my life, my uncle. My uncle had taught me common techniques, the functions of a common camera body, and the business aspects of the field that I was interested in pursuing. As time went on, our relationship grew unbreakable and lifelong, as did my love of photography.

 

Within the last two years as I have focused on my plans for the future, I shall make my passion my career. I am destined to pursue the career in which I have progressed so well. I am looking to extend my knowledge within the field of photography and photojournalism. While studying at one of the finest universities, I will strive for success. I will take pride in my academic and personal achievement, and until the day I lay to rest, I will never forget where I come from, what I have gone through to get so far, and who has helped along the way.

   

Equiptment:

Cheap 35mms

Canon Rebel K2

Canon Rebel XTi

Tamron 10-24

Canon 18-55

Canon 28-90

Canon 50mm f/1.8

Tamron 28-75 f/2.8

Canon 70-200 f/2.8

Quantaray 70-300

Canon 100 f/2.8

Canon 430EXII Speedlite