Jared “Fro knows Photos” Polin was right
Jared Polin recently spoke at the BILD conference held at B&H photo store in NY. I watched online as the famous photographer and YouTuber delivered a chronological walkthrough of his run to current success punctuated by iconic rock n roll band shots which most people would never gain access to. Successful people often do this, especially online celebs, claiming to be completely self made while omitting the fortune, luck or nepotism that gifted them the pathway.
Jared’s talk was, though, entirely based around great advice. Advice his parents gave him as a kid: “Just ask for what you want”. He was passing on simple wisdom. Proven wisdom.
(Youtube Link at bottom)
I have subconsciously and naturally employed this tactic in life, but never conciously and deliberately. Maybe being a Brit, there is some reticence. After all, isn’t it impolite? Pushy? Rude even? I’m a confident person. At ease around others. Yet, ingrained is the notion of imposition.
Listening to Jared, I recognised for perhaps the first time, how possibly I’d missed opportunities in the past. I resolved to be more like my American cousins. More direct.
One week later, I was covering a fortnightly 10-mile cycling time-trial race at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit. Another glorious, midweek summer evening. Hopefully I’d get some nice shots for the riders. The organiser, in passing, nonchalantly informed me “You’ll get some good shots tonight, Sarah Storey’s here.”
Sarah Storey? Who’s she? Obviously he couldn’t possibly mean Dame Sarah Storey, Britain’s most successful Paralympian of all time. 19 gold medals between London 2012 through Paris 2024. Multiple World Championships. 30 medals in Paralympic track, road and swimming! Surely not. Must be someone with the same name. Most likely a local who’s quite good. These events were filled with very good amateur riders.
I got on with my job. Pre-race shots of riders warming up in the paddock. Riders heading out to the circuit to recon and prepare. Shots in the can, I headed toward the circuit for the race to begin. Suddenly, from a secluded part of the paddock, a rainbow jersey. Awarded only to world champions. And a gold helmet.
Dame Sarah Storey heads out for a recon ride - Goodwood Motor Circuit - Lee Campbell Photos
Having recently returned from covering the Giro d’Italia, I’m no stranger to world-class athletes. But this was unexpected. Out of context. I aimed to get some good shots of Sarah in action wearing the rainbow bands. There’s a lot a photographer can do to make a sports shot great, but you can’t just conjure up a world champion at an iconic location whenever you want. I thought I’d somehow missed her. Turned out she wore a different, Team Storey kit for the actual race.
Post-race, still working, I got the prerequisites. Teams celebrating. Emotions. The bikes, kit, aero tech etc. Sarah wasn’t present. Peeking around a corner, I could see her cooling down on a static bike next to her RV. Surrounded by her husband, kids and friends. I really wanted to get some candids. I knew I could do them justice. I was confident in my skills and kit. And yet…reticence. Surely I’d be intruding right? I wouldn’t want a stranger poking their nose into my private time. I turned.
That’s when I heard Jared. “Just ask. What’s the worst they’ll say?”.
Sarah said she’d love some shots that captured the post-race glow.
Dame Sarah Storey - https://teamstoreysport.com/sarahs-cycling-results/
Jared Polin’s keynote speech - https://froknowsphoto.com/this-changed-my-life/