In Sports Media Lab, IU pictures college students chronicle Little 500 past the observe: IU Information

Lauren McKinney, a scholar in The Media School, captured this picture of Alpha Chi Omega’s Ellie Marsella main her group out of their sorority home via a tunnel of supporters as they ready to trip to the stadium for the Women’s Little 500. Photo by Lauren McKinney, Indiana University

In a category designed to reflect an expert sports activities media newsroom, college students at Indiana University Bloomington spent the spring semester documenting one of many campus’s most iconic traditions via a brand new lens.

The Media School’s Sports Media Laboratory course, taught by adjunct teacher James Brosher, teaches college students easy methods to produce skilled picture documentation of the Little 500 – the annual collegiate biking race identified for its historical past and neighborhood influence. The experiential studying course blends pictures, enhancing, storytelling and decision-making, with college students assigned to cowl groups as in the event that they have been working photojournalists with a beat.

“This is high stakes,” mentioned Brosher, an IU alumnus who works as a senior photographer for IU Communications and Marketing along with his educating function. “This is such a unique event, especially in the world of cycling. Whatever we can do to tap that potential and utilize it for student learning, I think it’s a fantastic thing for the university.”

Ready for the true world

Structured to simulate a working sports activities media atmosphere, the category emphasizes not simply taking pictures images however managing the complete workflow, from planning forward to enhancing and creating metadata. Students are geared up with skilled gear, together with state-of-the-art Canon R6 cameras and high-end lenses usually seen on main sports activities sidelines.

Instructor James Brosher helps Grace Urbanski, a senior sports activities media main, as they shoot Little 500 group images. Photo by Chris Meyer, Indiana University

Brosher mentioned the objective is to push college students past technical expertise into real-world readiness.

“The learning outcomes are to expose, compose, tell deep stories, exhibit professionalism and develop a brand,” he mentioned. “I’m trying to teach them how to use the camera, how to see with the camera, how to capture stories and how to work quickly.”

Brosher shared with college students his experience as a veteran sports activities photographer with ample expertise protecting main occasions, together with the latest College Football National Championship in Miami the place the IU Hoosiers claimed victory.

“Getting to learn more about the race through James has been really nice, and he’s been a great mentor,” mentioned Grace Urbanski, a senior sports activities media main who’s co-director of the Little 500 Network. “I think the most important thing I’ve learned is to focus on things that aren’t necessarily happening on the track, because you’ll get a lot of good, candid moments outside of the track.”

Urbanski mentioned the course has helped her really feel extra assured as a photographer. She shares her best shots on Instagram, which has led to freelance alternatives. Her portfolio and expertise at IU additionally led to a job provide with the Buffalo Bills.

Every picture tells a narrative

The newsroom-style construction of the Sports Media Laboratory course displays real-world expectations, the place photographers should anticipate huge moments, adapt shortly and ship polished work below stress.

Little 500 Student Photography

The course emphasizes the significance of not simply capturing a second however telling a narrative via the digicam lens. In addition to protecting race days, college students photographed the biking groups for a number of weeks main as much as the massive occasion, together with group practices, qualification races and team-building moments.

Levi Jones, a senior finding out journalism, mentioned studying easy methods to emphasize storytelling over easy motion pictures has helped him develop.

“If the whole team that I’m covering is going out and getting lunch to bond, I can cover that and go with them,” Jones mentioned. “Those little moments kind of culminate and grow into how the team is shaped.”

Levi Jones, a senior finding out journalism, mentioned studying easy methods to emphasize storytelling over easy motion pictures has helped him develop as a photographer. Photo by Chris Meyer, Indiana University

Jones, who hopes to work as a photographer past commencement, mentioned Brosher instructed the category to not be afraid to get near the motion. He took that recommendation to coronary heart and now will get as shut as potential to seize the topic’s feelings.

Opportunity and neighborhood

Students mentioned they benefit from the pleasure and drama that’s at all times a part of the races. For lots of them, it was not their first time taking pictures the Little 500.

“It’s electric,” mentioned Brady Owen, a sophomore sports activities media main who joined the Hoosier Network his freshman 12 months. “Last year, I was on the outside of the track, so I was in the mix of the fans, and I was right next to all the teams in their pits. It’s just incredible.”

In addition to the Little 500, Owen has had alternatives to {photograph} the Big 10 Championship soccer sport at Lucas Oil Stadium and basketball video games on the street and at residence.

Urbanski and Jones each work for the IU Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, which helped them observe the IU soccer group throughout their historic wins in Oregon, on the 2025 Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and National Championship.

Grace Urbanski exhibits just a few pictures to her fellow classmates in The Media School’s Sports Media Laboratory course. Photo by Chris Meyer, Indiana University

Urbanski even traveled to Houston with IU soccer head coach, Curt Cignetti, as he accepted the Coach of the Year Award. She mentioned each expertise has been rewarding and priceless, however she has a smooth spot in her coronary heart for the Little 500. It’s the occasion that she appears to be like ahead to yearly – not only for the joy, however for the neighborhood.

“I think that the community aspect is what keeps me coming back and just being able to make friendships with people that you never thought you would meet through something like this has been super neat,” Urbanski mentioned.

Students at The Media School usually work together past the classroom as they cowl happenings across the Bloomington campus. Working in scholar media and taking programs like Sports Media Laboratory helps them create connections with their friends and mentors which have a long-lasting influence.

“It’s very unique because at The Media School you get to know everybody so well,” Owen mentioned. “I think that’s very important, especially in the media field, to know people and to network. It’s an unbreakable bond between everybody – from if you’re a photographer, to broadcast, to beat reporting – everybody’s just so close.”

Check out extra of the scholars’ images featured on the Escape Collective’s website.