Calling All Aspiring or Established Sports Photogs

Courtesy Don Callahan

The DFBFan can use your help and in the process we'll give you a visible outlet to present your work on BCF4S!  I've never considered myself to be solid at photography.  Instead, I'm just one of the majority that finds myself looking at what the folks with the 'eye' and skills produce in the moment with their cameras and simply marvel.  Since we began the blog heading into the 2010 prep football season we've been especially grateful to a number of outlets and individuals that have been incredibly generous in allowing BCF4S to use their work as an impacting visual complement to the posts we've written.  Words can only say so much and I'm smart enough to know that a great picture can mean so much more.

Throughout last season we were fortunate to have the resources of the News & Observer prep sports photographic contingent on board, and as we did last season, we'd like to extend our thanks once again to those that provided us with that incredible opportunity.  In a few words, their work is incredible!  The photographs that many of us see on that Saturday morning after Friday Night Lights in the morning edition, accompanied with many more incredible shots on-line, are some of the best you'll find and we were fortunate to have the opportunity to provide another outlet to highlight the hard work of the staff.  For those that may not be aware of the vast on-line repository that the N&O has at their website, follow the link that follows to start looking at some of their most recent work [Link to Recent Millbrook Official Practice Photographs].  You'll notice that any of the photographs you see can be purchased - so be sure to check the N&O's site out each new week as there is a great chance you'll find that incredible shot that would be great on the wall or desk.

We've also been blessed to have the opportunity to utilize photographs from Don Callahan.  Recently, especially in our Beast of the Hill articles [Article One, Article Two], you've seen a number of incredible shots of members from the PAC-6 and the visual impact has been impressive in adding to the content we've tried to provide to our readership.  We look forward to our continued relationship with Don and hope that you will enjoy these photographs as much as we do when we are putting together our posts.

Earlier this summer we also had the opportunity to work with Dallas Jackson of Rivals.com and Marques Burnett of iHigh.com and both provided us the opportunity to use some of their photographs of both Hillside and Southern Durham at the Byrnes passing tournament.  As more teams from the local area engage in regional and national events I'm sure that both Dallas and Marques will cross paths with our local prep student-athletes and we'll look forward to working with them to bring that visual element to the local fans and supporters back here in North Carolina.

Finally, we'd like to thank some local individuals including Jeff Clark over at Jordan High School for providing us with a few photographs from their recent Holt Foundation Passing Tournament Championship.

As much as we deeply appreciate the opportunity that each of these sources provided over this past year and in some cases will continue to provide, we find ourselves moving into the 2011 prep season with the prospect that our resources overall will be much fewer than what we had this time last year.  It is at this crossroads that we call on any aspiring or perhaps established sports photographers for your support.  Whether it's a hobby or something that is financially your cornerstone, we could use your help!  If you would be interested in allowing BCF4S to use your work in association with the various stories we create throughout the year, then feel free to contact the DFBFan at durhamfbfan@gmail.com for additional information.

Again, thanks to all those that helped in the past and a special thanks to those that are continuing to help the blog into the future!  It is greatly appreciated!