Several weeks ago, I returned to my hometown of Stamford, TX, to handle some less than joyful affairs. My aunt and uncle had passed away, and I assisted in some matters of their estate. Word made it to me that my hometown football team would play in Clyde, TX that night. I decided to warm up my camera and take a quick breather from my executor duties with a little hometown football.
The stadium buzz and energy wasn’t missing, despite the masks worn by the parents and fans of the teams. The excitement was amplified once the game got going. Stamford and Cisco both played with determination and focus, but there was one particular moment that stole the show. Trent Bailey, number 77, of the defense from Cisco snagged an interception. While it wasn’t ideal for Stamford, I can’t deny how incredible this moment was for the young player. As a defensive lineman, this may have been the only time he ever touched the ball during a game, and it was a firework of a play.
Knowing how important a moment is like this, I searched the away team’s stands looking for Trent’s parents. After asking several people who number 77 was, I found the athlete’s father and shared the images with him. The delight in Mr. Bailey’s face was visible, and after an exchange of contact info, I was able to share the final photos with them. This is undeniably one of my favorite parts of what I do as a photographer. I know that these images will be memorable for Trent and his family for a long time.