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Sports photographers among the unsung heroes of cardboard
We all enjoy ripping packs and anticipating what we may get. We enjoy going to card shows, our LCS, or using our laptops or phones to purchase cards to add to our collections.
But we often don't think about the process leading to the production of the cards we love so much.
One of those important aspects we rarely consider is sports photography. Who's taking those awesome action shots that make cards so attractive? And how does that magic happen?
In the digital age, it's much different than in the past. I wonder if some collectors think a photographer just shows up when the game starts, snaps some shots, and goes home. I hope most of them realize there’s much more to it than that.
Sports photographer Brian Rothmuller is based on the West Coast, and his day starts hours before the first pitch, tipoff, kickoff, or puck drop. He has to get the spot he wants, get set up, and decide what shots are needed.
Most photographers are independent contractors, so getting that key or crucial shot could be the difference between a good week and a bad week. Also, something I didn't realize until Brian and fellow photographer Nick Wosika clued me in is that photographers do their own editing, which usually occurs post-game. While the game may be over, their work isn’t. The number of shots taken does not always guarantee success. Sometimes, the editing process is not as fruitful.
Rothmuller stressed the importance of always being ready for a shot that could come at any moment. While most photographers are sports fans, getting caught up in the game they are working on is not ideal and could cause you to miss a crucial shot.
The travel can also be cumbersome and, no, there's no secret tunnel to beat the traffic. Brian enjoys what he does but the real reward comes in seeing his shots on the finished card products.
Most of the time, he finds out his photo was used only when he sees the finished product when it's released. What's amazing to me is how he remembers which shot he took. Chalk it up to a photographic memory.
So, the next time you rip open a pack and admire the great cards contained within, think about some of the unseen work that went into producing and delivering those cards. I do now, for sure!
— John Newman is a collector, dealer, and the host of the Sports Card Nation podcast. Catch his Hobby Quick Hits on Monday and his guest interviews on Friday on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach him at sportscardnationpc@gmail.com or on Twitter at @sportscardnati1
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John Newman is the host of the Sports Card Nation podcast
