Subtitle: Why I love drum corps photography
I’ve thought a lot about his topic for some time. This answer is really easy, but I would be remiss if I did not give a bit of my back story.
Drum corps literally saved my life. I won’t spill all the bloody details, but in my adventures across the country via motor bus, I found reasons to keep breathing. In the process, I forged some tight familial bonds; had incredible life altering experiences; met some of the kindest souls and shared with a larger community the joy of being part of something greater than myself. Did I win a world championship? Nope – and I didn’t need to. It was the experience of working hard, learning, pushing myself, pushing with others, working together, doing things I never thought I would do, seeing places I never imagined seeing; feeling the highs and the lows and yes, even learning how to (or how not to do) laundry in the middle of Iowa and other exotic places.
Drum corps opened doors.
Drum corps gave me hope.
Drum corps gave me a place to belong.
I value each moment in the sun more so now than I did when each summer day meant learning, rehearsing, travelling, suiting up and sharing my love for the activity with those assembled to witness it. We laughed together, cried together. Grew together and then followed our own life’s pathways. This is true for each level of corps I participated in – both DCI and DCA.
Because of the passion for the activity I felt as a performer, I wanted to share it with a new generation of kids. I wanted to teach – so I did. Drum Corps, marching band, winter guard and winter percussion. Some groups I was a tech while at others, I was the creator and designer but at every level, I loved every bit of it just the same. I valued every moment. I wanted my “kids” to feel the same high of accomplishment, the low of just missing the goal; the thrill of performing and grandeur of being more than you ever dreamed of. For some of my kids, that was mastering a simple drop spin, or catching a 6, or feeling the perfection in the solo part, seeing the standing ovation. The range of accomplishment was wide and every ‘victory” was savored just the same. Except I was on the sidelines; and it felt great.
Being on the sidelines today for me has taken on a new meaning. I have combined a long standing passion for photography and melded that into my drum corps experience. I’m grateful an outlet exists where these two worlds collide. I’ve actually been doing it for more than ten years. It was the perfect “full circle” transition from performer, to teacher to witness.
Summer shooting opportunities are fleeting and I take every opportunity I can to take in a show. See the dedication, the passion; the sweat and toil; the sheer joy of laying it on the line. And I love the view from the lens. I love sharing that view. I don’t do it for pay – like most involved in the activity – I do it because I love it.
I started sharing my images on my own website in 2007 and my collection has grown quite a bit since. Truthfully, what is shown on the website is a small portion of images captured over the years. What I see when I go back to see what I posted are the faces of the kids – most of whom I do not know – but I know I can connect with that kid because I too, stood on those fields in the hot summer sun. I have a sense of what they are feeling in that passing moment.
So, that’s why I love it. It keeps me on the sidelines where I can witness and then savor the moments that make this activity great. I hope I am preserving a memory for somebody. I hope to continue to share the love of what I do with those out on those fields for quite some time.
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