The diversity of the amount of events in track and field leaves an infinite possibility of different shots, lighting, and faces. It’s constantly changing. Its non-stop action keeps me continually moving in my mind to create a new photo that I haven’t seen before.

It’s springtime — being in the sunshine with a camera in your hand is second to none: moving with the athletes in the epitome of seasons, meeting the people, coaches, intermingling with everyone, and watching the courage on display.

For me, the experience of the season came from a kid named Allie Staub from Slidell.

Allie was running the 1600 meters, maintaining second place about 30 yards behind the leader, after she’d started off leading. Somewhere around the 1200 meter mark, she lost her right shoe, but continued to run her heart out. Then, at the 1500 meter mark, she kicked in on one shoe, past the lead runner to win the race.

As I watched her face in agony, crossing the finish line, pounding the pavement, it’s almost as if I felt her pain, joy, and exhaustion through the lens. I was full — I hadn’t had an experience like this looking through the lens in so long.