2003 Luau: Community Journalism: Covering Prep Sports by Bob Larson

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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2003-07-10

2003 Luau: Community Journalism: Covering Prep Sports by Bob Larson
By Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter

Photo by Bob Larson

Little League baseball in Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Anyone that shoots sports for a newspaper --- big or small -- eventually covers "preps".

Hundreds of photographers from Katy, TX to Doylestown, PA to West Monroe, LA to Concord, CA --- home of the De La Salle Spartans, winners of 113 consecutive games --- document prep football each Friday night.

But is covering "the preps" just snapping a few punch-flash frames on the sidelines of a high school football game? Or does high school sports, which in many communities is a near religious experience, have possibilities for much more meaningful photography?

Bob Larson, a staff photographer with the Contra Costa Times, will explore these issues in his breakout classes, "Community Journalism: Covering Prep Sports" part of the Sports Shooter Workshop & Luau Nov.
7 - 8, 2003.

Most photographers have their sights set on covering big-time sports events but Larson points out that access is "always better at high school and community sports events" and that getting as close to the action like he does at prep games is "impossible" at NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball games.

Larson will also discuss how he turned covering a local school, De La Salle High, into a 10-year personal project.

"I'll be showing photos and talking about long term projects," Larson said, "I've been covering De La Salle football for a decade and now they are a big story ... the best prep football team in the nation."

But Larson said you don't have to look at the local schools you could be covering for stories. A potential story can be as close as the next room.

"Do you have kids in sports, friends who have kids in sport?. Its an easy way to make a picture story," he said, "Part of my program, I will show the story I did this year on my son's baseball team."

While many photographers are complaining about how tough it is covering major college and professional sports (just check out the SportsShooter.com Message Board for evidence), Larson describes covering high school sports as "a labor of love" and added "I'll explain why and show you the photos in my presentation."

Throughout his talk Larson will show participants ways to improve their prep sports coverage as well as show some technical tips, like who to shoot in dark gymnasiums and stadiums.

The Sports Shooter Workshop & Luau will be held at the Manhattan Beach Marriott Hotel, Nov. 7 - 8. For more information and on-line registration, go to SportsShooter.com and click on the link "Workshops".

Bob Larson's breakout "Community Journalism: Covering Prep Sports" is just one of 15 different classes being offered at the Workshop & Luau. Featured speakers include: Vincent Laforet of The New York Times, Deanne Fitzmaurice of the San Francisco Chronicle, Jose Luis Villegas of the Sacramento Bee and Ben Van Hook, former Pulitzer winner turned documentary film maker.

Bob Larson reference links:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/larson
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news_story.html?id=777
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news_story.html?id=207
http://www.sportsshooter.com/special_feature/2002_luau_video/larson_prep_sports/index.html

For more information and on-line registration for the Sports Shooter Workshop & Luau:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/workshops.html

(This is one in a series of stories on the faculty of the Sports Shooter Workshop & Luau.)

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Workshop & Luau Info