Unique: A Day within the Lifetime of NFL Photographer Logan Bowles

Logan Bowles didn’t have aspirations of turning into an expert photographer when he was youthful. With a images profession spanning over a decade, he has created a formidable portfolio, that includes a number of photos within the NFL Hall of Fame and worldwide publications. Bowles strives to create one thing greater than himself and the subject material of his artwork, weaving collectively unstated tales by means of his digital camera lens. The Jacksonville native and lifelong Jaguars fan gave me a glimpse into his world by permitting me to shadow him on the Jaguars’ Media Day, the place he mentioned his profession and fandom.

With gamers set to reach round 8:30, it was an early begin to the day at EverBank Stadium. After checking in and making our manner upstairs, Logan started to work. With over 20 media days below his belt, that is like second nature to him. Due to begin instances that run from 6 am to 11 am, preparation begins weeks prematurely. The league sends a template of poses and the mandatory photographs to numerous shops, together with Fox, CBS, and NBC, to create graphics, adverts, and social media posts. The template features a model information and technical specs. The listing and analysis required for the non-Jacksonville groups is shorter, as Bowles aids in capturing each Jaguars participant.

Since it’s uncommon for a media day to go easily, he ensures that his cameras, digital camera batteries, and lenses are able to go. After digital camera prep, testing lights and flashes, taping cords down, checking the laptop computer setup, and syncing each stations, we’re ready for the gamers to reach. When heart Robert Hainsey steps in entrance of the digital camera, the room comes alive. Despite a DJ and gamers screaming whereas recording hype movies backstage, Bowles controls his station with prompts similar to “smile, cross your arms, uncross your arms.” His analysis turns out to be useful when chatting with gamers who seem uncomfortable in entrance of the digital camera.

Asking questions on the place they went to highschool, their households, and tattoos, the benefit with which he creates rapport with gamers is that of a consummate skilled. When speaking with Logan, he confused the significance of treating gamers like regular individuals and being personable so he could make them look nearly as good as doable. As the day progresses, Bowles has captured photos of 46 Jaguars, together with Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter, Foye Oluokun, Josh Hines-Allen, Logan Cooke, and Brian Thomas Jr. Once the gamers are accomplished, the photographs are sorted into particular folders, containing each JPEG and uncooked photos, for the groups and league to edit.

After experiencing his tenth Jaguars Media Day, Logan opened up concerning the man behind the digital camera. Despite desirous to be within the stands to supply help, he found a love for documenting and telling tales. Drawing inspiration from Duval County, Bowles has photographed almost each sport possible, together with soccer, soccer, basketball, skateboarding, browsing, softball, baseball, and a Call of Duty match at Disney. His numerous expertise, the significance of regularly studying, by no means settling, and guaranteeing that the next picture is healthier than the final, together with the information that there’s all the time somebody higher behind him, prevents him from turning into complacent and pushes the fixed evolution of his craft.

While the analysis and photographs requested by the NFL for media day are just like sport day, there are some slight variations. Photographers arrive on the stadium a minimal of three hours early, aside from greater video games like Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl, they arrive seven to eight hours early. When requested, the significance of staying locked in, understanding his medium, and making educated guesses was famous. The prep work, consisting of checking in and connecting, is extra intense as a result of an image is transmitted from the digital camera to the desk in roughly 15 seconds, edited, after which posted inside one minute. Images need to be chosen shortly, and the environment will be chaotic. To personally put together for the potential chaos, Bowles takes a quiet second for himself, texts his mother, and refrains from consuming beforehand.

Bowles by no means needs to let down the individuals who took an opportunity on him. While on the sidelines, Logan stays impartial and doesn’t get emotionally invested. He’s there to seize moments and do a job. He said that it isn’t laborious to focus, that he was informed early on by Paul Figura to disconnect and deal with individuals with respect. It can be disrespectful to not deal with his place as a job as a result of it’s his profession, not a pastime. I requested if there have been any misconceptions that he wish to handle to those that take into account skilled photographers hobbyists, and he reiterated that it’s a enterprise. The NFL is a billion-dollar enterprise that contracts him to shoot photos. No matter the dimensions of recognition, from airports to buying and selling playing cards, Logan Bowles thinks it’s “always cool” to stumble throughout his work within the wild.

Atlanta holds a particular place for Bowles. His first NFL image was taken there; he has shot a Super Bowl, a National Championship, an SEC Championship, and the Chick-fil-A Bowl within the stadium. Part of his household lived within the metropolis, and his two Hall of Fame photos have been captured in Atlanta. Logan was at residence when he acquired a telephone name from Canton, Ohio, informing him that his image, “Take Off for Six”, had gained the Action Category in the course of the fiftieth Annual NFL Hall of Fame. To set himself as much as catch Julio Jones diving, Bowles kneeled between two individuals by the pylon. His second Hall of Fame win, “Together As One” from the 2023 season, took residence first place within the Feature Category. Like with the primary win, he was assured that it was price ready to seize that second as a result of you’ll be able to inform when one thing is nice.

With the range of his craft, Bowles finds himself on the highway typically. This upcoming soccer season alone, he’s scheduled to shoot roughly 50 video games. One week requires him to journey to Baltimore on Thursday, Charlotte on Friday, and Jacksonville on Saturday. How does somebody with that schedule handle to loosen up and obtain a work-life stability? When requested, Logan admitted that whereas he must be higher at making that stability, he finds solace in watching sports activities, the film Friday, and laughing together with his pals. He famous that his favourite off-field second was a highway journey together with his pal Travis for the Jaguars’ Divisional Round Playoff sport in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.

While he has photographed each Jaguars draft decide since 2016, Bowles was with Trevor Lawrence the evening he was drafted, and flew again to Jacksonville with him on a personal jet. Logan talked about the character that Lawrence displayed and the way humble he was. Bowles additionally had an encounter with Jags legends Fred Taylor and Mark Brunell after taking a purple eye to London. The two have been standing on the valet service when Logan stumbled out of his taxi. It was the primary time he was on a first-name foundation with Taylor. The dialog naturally flowed to Jags gamers previous and current that get missed in the course of the “greats of the franchise” dialog. Bowles nominated David Garrard, Rashean Mathis, Ross Matiscik, and Logan Cooke as names that aren’t mentioned sufficient.

Before his mindset shifted from desirous to be a fan within the stands to preferring the sidelines, the lifelong Jaguars fan was a season ticket holder for seven seasons. With the vantage level that few have, he has witnessed the journey of the Jaguars from the franchise’s inception to at this time, each as a fan and an expert. Logan talked about how loud The Bank was in 2023 whereas “Never Scared” by Bone Crusher performed in the course of the Wild Card Playoff sport in opposition to the Chargers, and associated that second to how quiet the stadium was in the course of the 2017 Patriots playoff sport. Apparently, safety fought one another after Fournette’s landing. With honorable mentions to 2010 and 2011, the 1999 season is his favourite up to now, regardless of the Titans stealing the playbook being the Jacksonville conspiracy concept that he believes essentially the most.

The Ron Artest Seattle Seahawks sport introduced again significant late-fall soccer for Logan. Does he assume significant soccer is again? He highlighted the similarities between having actual coaches and the chance for Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter to emulate Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, whereas noting that the vibes inside the group are totally different. He predicts Jacksonville will win the division.

What’s subsequent for Logan Bowles? What objectives does somebody set when they’re already extremely completed? He is presently sitting at seven Super Bowls and hopes to achieve ten. Logan has aspirations to win first place within the Overall class for the Hall of Fame, shoot the World Cup, the Masters, Ryder Cup, Olympics, and the Jumbo Shrimp. He’ll head again to London in an expert capability, however relating to the Jaguars enjoying there yearly, he doesn’t assume the followers should have a sport taken away from them. To these seeking to get into sports activities images, Bowles suggests asking quite a lot of questions and being open to critiques. If you need to do it, discover a method to make it occur. One Jaguars participant said that Bowles is one of the best, and I’m inclined to agree.

Thank you Kam Nedd and the Jaguars for entry to Media Day