That’s just one of the things my photojournalism professor, Mark Johnson, told us.
And it finally clicked today.
I am covering the 12th Annual Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta all this week. Today I went to the racetrack to cover Johnny O’Connell, one of our local guys who just happens to be an incredible driver for Corvette Racing.
I left the house this afternoon, and decided to wear shorts since it was hot and humid and I knew I’d be outside all day. Plus, it gets really hot near the tracks. So I went through the gates at Road Atlanta and parked. Did I mention that The Times has its own official parking spot? Ha!! So cool!! After I picked up a photo vest, I ventured over the bridge to find Corvette Racing’s tent. I found it pretty quickly and started to talk with a mechanic for the team. I asked him where the team would be setting up for the practice run later that afternoon, and he pointed across the road. I asked if it would be ok to shoot over there, and he looked me and up and down and said, “Yeah, I guess, but they’ll probably want you to wear long pants.”
Now if I wouldn’t have had Mark as a teacher, I would have been sweating bullets. PANTS? But I’m wearing shorts! How could this be!
BUT, because Mark told us to always be paranoid and carry a mess-load of junk in our vehicles JUST IN CASE, I simply walked back to my car and changed into a pair of jeans.
HA! Thanks Mark! Because of you, I didn’t have to frantically run to the nearest clothing store and purchase the cheapest pair of long pants I could find. Thanks to you, I didn’t have to ask a random woman to lend me her jeans quick in the name of journalism.
No, this gal did not have to fail faster to learn her lesson. And thank goodness too!
Corvette Racing driver Johnny O’Connell of Flowery Branch talks with Britoni Burdette, center, of Marietta and Jennifer Sheevy of Atlanta Tuesday before a practice run at Road Atlanta.
Dave Barefield, left, fills a Corvette with gasoline while Corvette Racing mechanic Jim Durbin checks the fuel levels Tuesday before a practice run at Road Atlanta.
Corvette Racing driver Johnny O’Connell of Flowery Branch is helped into his Corvette Tuesday during a practice run for the 12th Annual American Le Mans Series. O’Connell will compete in the GT2 class this year.
Corvette Racing driver Johnny O’Connell of Flowery Branch, left, talks with friend Dan Fastuca Tuesday at Road Atlanta. (Lindy, if you’re reading this….doesn’t that dude kinda remind you of your Mark???)
Corvette Racing crew members work on a Corvette in the pit during a practice run Tuesday.
Corvette Racing driver Johnny O’Connell holds onto his seat while waiting for his turn to drive.
4 Comments
September 25, 2009 at 3:06 pm
hahah yay sara!!! I guess I should put some jeans in my car
September 25, 2009 at 3:11 pm
You mean you don’t all ready have a pair in your car?? You had better get on that Wegel!!!
October 7, 2009 at 2:23 am
You know, I told you when I took the class there you’d have to wear pants. So some selective memory, eh?
But I’m glad you remembered something from class … that’s always a nice feeling as a teacher.
October 7, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Yeah, but it was sooo hot. I thought I could get away with wearing shorts. I remember more than something from the class. Fill the frame; wait for moments; watch your backgrounds! See!!