Just days ago, the wickedly talented and totally energetic Karen DeSanto casually asked me if I would consider donating my time as a photographer to take a picture of women in pink T-shirts. “Sure,” I said. “Why not?”
“Great!” she said. “They’ll be in the shape of a ribbon, you know, on a baseball field. It’s for ‘Catch for a Cure’.”
In my mind, I was already thinking in terms of lenses and cropping and positioning and lighting and final product.
“Oh yeah,” she said. “One more thing. You’ll be in a small plane. Though I think they might be able to put you in a helicopter. You know. To shoot them from above.”
Um…
So less than a week since I was snagged in the Express Lane at my local supermarket by the you-can’t-say-no-to-me DeSanto, I gingerly placed my camera bag at my feet in the helicopter and put on the headset.
The pilot, Eric Peterson, and the man who coordinated all of the aviation efforts, Bill Johnson, were wonderful. Eric had removed the doors to allow for better photographing. Bill held my Blackberry — and assured me that I wouldn’t fall out. (Thank you, Wild Bill!) He was also the logistics man. It would take six minutes for Eric to remove the last door and clean the window. Another six from liftoff to our final destination. So I texted Karen, who already had her 150+ pink shirted people in place: “We’ll be there in 12 minutes!!”
Sure enough, 12 minutes later, we hovered over the field where all of the women were standing like statues. It was an amazing sight. Arm-tingling. Had I not been so afraid of falling out of the helicopter and getting “the” shot, I probably would have been a little more emotional. I mean really. How many times in your life does something like this go so well?? (Note: fear turned to thrill pretty quickly. It was an awesome ride! And I’d do it again in a second!)
The field was manicured. Every. Single. Blade. Of. Grass. Teri Fichter had spent countless hours watering, mowing, and measuring to make everything perfect. I later learned that when we left the airport, the pink-shirted people began their trip to the ribbon area, single file. They walked along the fence in order to keep the field pristine. Teri organized over 150 people (and a dog!) to stand in the shape of a perfect ribbon on a very hot day. And it worked perfectly.
Bill had come up with the helicopter. Eric volunteered his time. Karen was so organized, and all of the ladies knew just what to do. A minute later, and they were waving. Then they all put their hands on their hips. Then they were on the ground. Then up again.
I had 300+ images in no time!
So this weekend (Labor Day), take some time to check out the Catch for a Cure games at Pierce Park in Baraboo. I’ve heard Saturday night’s festivities will include a pig roast, live band and some crazy-good ball players from all around the area. All gathering for a cause we know is so important: cancer research.
The shot above is my favorite…check out the Baraboo bluffs. Beautiful! Devil’s Lake is just off to the right.
