Better than all the Rest
In 2024, I was a season ticket holder and casual photographer for Racing Louisville. When friends asked if we ever went to the men’s games, I would wrinkle my nose and ask why we would do that. Oh, young Elizabeth! Sweet, naive, Elizabeth of last year, you had no idea what you were missing!
This year, I wised up. Maybe I was wanting to put my new camera and massive zoom lens to good use. Maybe I wanted to ask Kyle Adams what kind of conditioner he uses. Regardless of the reason, I geared up for the 2nd Lou City match of the season.
Why not the first match? Keep in mind that in March, I was waiting for a beautiful sunny day when it was between 65 and 70 degrees with low humidity to cover a match. I wasn’t sure if I would get decent pictures, and if I did, would anyone want to see them? I certainly didn’t know any of the Lou City players. In fact, I got such a cool picture of Arturo Ordoñez and some guy playing for Lexington that I was excited to post and write about, but my husband had to tell me just how cool it really was. Because it had Cam Lancaster in it. And Cam used to play for Lou City. The team that I was now photographing. Ahhhhhh, I get it! Ok, that’s pretty cool, said March Elizabeth. Was he any good?
Fast forward to November. For the playoff game, I sat on a wet pitch with my hood up with the worst kind of drizzling rain swirling around at all times, my camera in its special protective gear which made it impossible to see what kind of pictures I was getting, yet also a huge smile on my face for nearly 90 minutes. (I don’t have to tell you why I said nearly.) I can now recognize Cam by his run. I know the players’ names, numbers, and favorite scents from Bath & Body Works. And at least some of them recognize me, in a way that you recognize that you’re getting a cold and better stock up on Kleenex.
But enough about me. Let’s talk about my favorite moments of the season! They say that you can save a thousand words by just taking a picture (I may be paraphrasing there) so join me in some scrolling. Since you have probably seen these pictures before, I have relied on every lazy photographer’s favorite tool to make them more interesting. Get ready for some filters!
After you’ve enjoyed the pictures, feel free to circle back for a fun Q&A to fill that void in your heart left by the lack of photo comments.
Q: What kind of camera do you use?
A: The kind my friend recommended. My wonderful friend (who is a talented photographer) would view the pictures of Racing matches that I posted on Insta last year and kindly told me that I needed to get a camera that tracked moving objects and [insert the teacher’s voice in the Charlie Brown movies because I truly don’t understand when people talk about camera technical properties]. He sent me a link to a camera and lens that he recommended. I put them on my Christmas list and Santa (Michael) delivered them to me. I’m pretty sure I have a Canon.
Q: Where did you study Photography?
A: Until recently, I didn’t know that you could actually take classes in Photography, like at a college and everything. Needless to say, I have never taken such a class and it’s just too late now. There’s no going back.
Q: Then what on earth makes you qualified to be on the pitch and take pictures of our Boys in Purple?
A: The first time I went out on the pitch, I went all the wrong places and did all the wrong things. Turns out there’s a piece of paper that sits in the Photographer’s Room (Yes! Our own room!) that outlines where on the pitch we are and are not allowed. I went to the latter. The official photographers for the club would kindly fuss at me to “not stand here” or “stay behind there” without once screaming “didn’t you read the piece of paper?!?” or grabbing me by the media vest and pulling me out of the way (which I did see them do with another photographer at the last match of the season). By the end of the season, there were at least ten more photographers than there were at the beginning of the year. They were all half my age and probably twice as good, but at least I never had to be physically removed from an area I wasn’t supposed to be.
Q: Are you running for a political office given your excellent way of providing long non-answers?
A: No.
Q: Why do you take more pictures of Kyle Adams than his mother probably took of him as a child?
A: I have no idea what you’re talking about. I try to take an equal number of pictures of all players but am somewhat limited by a) where I sit/ stand on the pitch, b) the action happening in my area, c) the playing time of each player, and d) my desire to take pictures of Kyle Adams.
Q: Will you be back next season?
A. Yes. New and improved. Possibly with raisins.
