The photos in this gallery were shot by Daulton Venglar and by Taylor Wiseman. This year’s Young Journalist Program was a double-header: cover the IMSA TUDOR 2 hour and 40 minute race in the morning and then the World Endurance Championship 6 Hour race in the afternoon. One of the projects that we asked the Young Journalists to undertake was photographing the race, not just writing about it. In this ambitious assignment in real time/real world journalism, we were assisted to a massive degree by our kind friends and professional associates at CANON photography. Specifically, CANON sent two Senior Professional Marketing Specialists, Michael (“Mike”) Sheras and Jim Rose and three cases of CANON professional grade DSLR equipment, including the CANON EOS 1D Mk IV, EOS 1DX, EOS 5D Mk III along with an amazing assortment of their Image Stabilized Zoom lenses, batteries chargers, etc. CANON’s Bob Malish was the driving force and contact behind the project; he’s headquartered in Dallas and took the time and made the considerable commitment and large physical effort to personally deliver the gear to the team. It wasn’t easy and I know first hand, because I carried the gear out and had a chance to experience the serious physical effort that Malish put forth carrying it in. But Hardware wasn’t the only element CANON brought to the project: It brought Software and Photographic Knowledge, in the form of Sheras and Rose, who were onsite throughout the two-day race weekend, performed clinics, coaching sessions, and equipment guidance for the Young Journalists, only one of whom (Daulton Venglar, who is the Photo Editor for the Daily Texan at the University of Texas) had previous photographic experience. Risi Competizione’s Team Photographer Regis Lefebure also provided track-side coaching, as did Keith Rizzo, who is another shooter for Risi Comp and COTA. You can see how fast the team raised their photographic game by taking a close look at this Gallery of Photos, which was produced during the WEC race. The lesson here: good coaching, great equipment and the right, ambitious attitude and effort will deliver the goods. There will be another, more extensive post on the photographic component of this year’s YJP (Young Journalist Program) but in the meantime, enjoy the Gallery. And special thanks to Daulton and Taylor for producing this work, to CANON for their assistance and support, to COTA and to the WEC for access and support, to Regis Lefebure and Keith Rizzo for their help and professional knowledge, and to the Young Journalists (Daulton Venglar, Taylor Wiseman, Rachel Wenzlaff, and Michelle Sanchez) for their enthusiasm and energy for the project.
