By Jack Neese

Varsity soccer celebrates after winning the 2023 State Championship. Photo credit: Jack Neese.

Capturing a timeless moment is what any photographer dreams of; the kind of moment that keeps you up at night, dreaming and envisioning, hoping one day to have that chance. Perfection is not given, but rather earned through the dedication of the photographer. Balancing between perfect angles, to perfect lighting, a photographer must do it all. While there are a variety of different types of photography, from still frame, to sports, to portraits, it all comes down to how close to perfection the final piece comes out to be.

Cougars lacrosse playing defense versus St. Christopher’s. Photo credit: Jack Neese.

For me, photography didn’t become a part of my life because of a lurking urge to learn or master the art of photography. Rather, it was about being with my brother and his friends. On a Saturday morning in January 2022, my brother Hudson (‘23) asked me if I had wanted to go to one of his Bon Air Basketball games. Being an eager younger brother at the time, I jumped at this opportunity, and remembering that I had just found my mom’s 2011 Nikon DSLR 5500, I asked if I could take pictures. Hudson, being the somewhat caring older brother, agreed to my request, and so I went along to every game for the remainder of the winter. 

Since this moment, I have developed a deep love for photography and have jumped on every opportunity that arises to hone my craft. In the fall of 2023, I photographed my first Collegiate game, the state semi-finals for boys soccer versus Norfolk Academy. For the semi-finals and finals, I was on the field photographing every moment I could possibly capture, and this led to the start of my portfolio and my first photography account on instagram, @Neese_Photography. While I was limited to the amount of winter sporting events and games I could attend due to my commitments to Collegiate swimming, I still was able to find time for a limited amount of basketball games. Although these pictures were not my finest work, they were the basis for what was to come.

Varsity football captains meet at midfield for a coin toss. Photo credit: Jack Neese.

As winter ended and spring began, I had initially thought I would not be able to photograph any spring games or events due to playing varsity lacrosse. But when I received the news in early March that I would be out for the season due to an ankle surgery, I found the silver lining of my injury: I could now photograph and begin videography for the lacrosse team. Even though I had been looking forward to playing varsity lacrosse since Lower School, I did not let one dream ruin the possibility of another. I stayed optimistic and took this opportunity to build a strong foundation for my mechanics and technique in photography. For every away and home game, I captured several goals, turnovers, and even witnessed the team winning the Prep League title for the first time since 2015. 

This fall, I have been fortunate to be able to photograph for all home varsity football, soccer, and field hockey games, as well as shooting for other local high schools in the area. Through these experiences, I have learned how to work with different environments, from rain to sun, and even a few games under the lights. As I look to my future, I believe this will be a hobby I carry with me onto college, and possibly into jobs after. As for my remaining years in high school, I will continue to photograph for any and all sports teams, as well as continuing to learn from peers and mentors. The distinctive challenges that arise make photography a growing hobby, allowing for new changes to always be accommodated, allowing me to capture a variety of moments.

Callie Rodgers (’24) maneuvering through defenders. Photo credit: Bill Ruhl.

For Collegiate’s Sports Communications Manager Bill Ruhl, his photography career started roughly eight years ago at the Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His responsibilities there included sports media and journalism, as well as coaching. He could do it all. The main reason he started to shoot sports photography was the fact that the “school was lacking pictures” and needed someone to fill that role. Eager to learn, Ruhl jumped on the opportunity and quickly learned “the in and outs of photography.” Although he had never ventured into the photography world, he is “always up for a challenge.” After moving to Richmond and starting at Collegiate in August 2022, he has made a meaningful difference in the media coverage of our sports programs and has mentored the Collegiate Sports Broadcasting Club as well.

Hayden Rollison (’23) sliding into third base. Photo credit: Maggie Bowman.

As for the future at Collegiate, Ruhl hopes to “endorse student athletes with a variety of media,” as well as “promoting the school and athletes in a positive environment.” Ruhl also believes that “Collegiate is on the right track to compete with college sports media” and hopes to receive more student assistance in the coming years.

Maggie Bowman’s (‘23) interest and growth as a photographer has not been like mine or Ruhl’s, but instead came from a shared interest with her father. Her dad was an “aerial photographer,” who used “point and shoot cameras” to capture moments from the sky. He also “always had a camera lying around the house,” which sparked her interest in following in her father’s footsteps. The first game she photographed was a ”Collegiate boys lacrosse game” in the early spring of her Junior year. There, she found a strong passion for sports photography and began to pursue it for the remainder of the spring. In addition to lacrosse, Bowman loves to photograph baseball, as the “dust in the pictures add more intensity” than a photo would on grass or turf. 

An Auburn defender against a Vanderbilt wide receiver. Photo credit: Maggie Bowman.

As a current Sophomore at the University of Auburn, Bowman has been a part of the student newspaper, The Auburn Plainsman, for the last two years and has additionally started an internship with Auburn Athletics. This new opportunity has allowed Bowman to photograph all home football games, which she described as “not only the most predominant and superior atmosphere, but the most encouraging,” as well as other major sporting events going on around the campus. While at first this was not a paid internship, earlier this fall they “reversed these rules and are allowing students to be paid by the university.” This change allows Bowman to take advantage of her skills and receive compensation for the considerable amount of time and work she puts into photography. For me, Bowman has been a great role model, and she has relayed a great deal of advice that she has received in the past, in hopes to help me grow as a photographer.

A Benedictine wide receiver celebrating after a catch. Photo credit: Beckett Enroughty.

As for the future of Collegiate in regards to photography, many younger students have begun to experiment with photography, creating instagram accounts and other social media platforms to display their photos. Alex Seevers (‘29) began his “photography because I loved sports, and I wanted to dive deeper into sports and capture moments that can last forever.”

Cougars rushing the ball. Photo credit: Alex Seevers.

Seevers, alongside peers Beckett Enroughty (‘29), Harry Reid (‘29), and Grant Shrestha (‘29), run the instagram account 804 Media and are creating names for themselves, constantly exploring the Richmond area for picture-taking opportunities. With the rise of photography and videography among these younger students, Collegiate looks to have a promising future in sports media.