Tibby McDowell BFA Thesis Fall 2011
Extending the field of play: All I ever really needed to know I learned in sports
As an individual my character has been shaped by the valuable lessons learned on the field of play. I take these lessons of trustworthiness, respect, fairness, responsibility, caring and citizenship into all aspects of my life. As I establish myself in the sports venue as a photographer, I strive to continue representing the example of these characteristics through the lens of my camera. By choosing sports photography as my creative practice I am reaffirming the role sports play in my life.
My work is about representing sports through still photography as a way to accentuate the positive. My photography practice helps me focus on the physical elements of the game and the emotional aspects of the player. I use my work to inspire other athletes to model good examples on the field as well as of the field of play. Photography has been a part of my life since I was very young, and the same is true for sports. The intention with my work is to bring both passions together to create my own place in the sports photography genre. With my creative work I strive to capture the character and emotion athletes express so I can deliver it to my viewers in a single image.