I’ve covered the Texas Water Safari every year since 2006 and every year I’ve had a news outlet to shoot for. This year started out different. I didn’t have an official assignment.
I once heard some great advice from a photographer shortly after he was forced in to a freelance career. He said he didn’t know what to do without an assignment, so he just kept shooting like he always had. He felt better after shooting a few events for no one but himself, and soon the work started rolling in. I wasn’t forced in to a freelance career, but I’ve thought back to that story many times.
This time I went to Aquarena Center, just like I do every year, to shoot Safari participants as they set up their boats. I’ve shot it 5 times before, so I was wanting to do something a little different and I had the freedom to do so.
I went around to competitors and asked them 5 questions: 1) What’s your name? 2) How old are? 3) Where are you from? 4) How many times have you done the Safari? 5) How are you feeling about this year’s race?
Then I took a quick on-the-spot portrait (mug) and asked them if they could portray physically how they were feeling the day before the race.
Here are some of the results of the experiment:
Brothers and team mates Matthew, 22, of Ft. Worth (left) and James McDonald, 25, (right) of Austin pose with their grandfather and team captain Pat McDonald, 74, on Friday at Aquarena Center. (The photo at the top of the post conveys how they felt about this year’s race.) This is their first attempt at the Texas Water Safari.
“The hardest part will be putting up with eachother,” said James.
“Be nice to your brother,” added their mother, Becky McDonald.
John Mark “Lone Wolf” Harras, 52, of Houston, lays under his boat on Friday at Aquarena Center to convey how he feels about this year’s Texas Water Safari. Harras, a member of the 6-man team the Cowboys, has finished 25 Safaris and has started 28.
“This is going to be a veterans’ year,” said Harras. “You have to balance your need to go fast with your ability to over heat. I think people are going to hammer, hammer, hammer and that’s a mistake. You’ve got to keep your cool.”
Brian Frey, 23, of Houston, jumps in to his boat to show his excitement on Friday at Aquarena Center while his team mates prepare their boat for this year’s Texas Water Safari. Frey has started two Safaris and completed one.
“I’m excited,” said Frey. “I’m a little worried about the water levels, but I’m ready to get started.”
Holly Orr, 28, of San Marcos, stands quietly confident as she poses for a photo during check-in time on Friday at Aquarena Center. A photo of her “inspiration,” her two sons is taped to the boat’s bow. Orr is one of a team of six women, calling themselves the Safari Sirens, who will attempt to be the first all-female 6-man team to finish the Texas Water Safari. “It’s gonna be tough,” she said, “but we’re pretty determined.”
One of the best parts of my job is meeting characters like these, so every once in a while I like to do these series. I have a few more that I’ll post at a later date.
And as for the advice of the freelance photographer, well, it must have worked because tomorrow I’m back to working for newspapers!
If you’ve never seen the Texas Water Safari first hand, it starts tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Aquarena Center in San Marcos. Rio Vista Falls is also a great place to see the action!
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