Practice Makes Perfect

"Gary Stevens, jockey of Oxbow, warms up on a mechanical horse prior to the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland."

CLICK HERE FOR SLIDESHOW

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to document the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course for Getty Images.

Each year, this day gets more and more difficult. While the familiar charm radiates from this old racetrack, as a photographer you never want to be redundant with your images.

Sure, the race itself will always change, story lines will never be identical and you can never predict how a horse will run a race.

However, shooting features that tell the story of the day - infield revelers, fashionable fans, others races, and more - can looks the same year in and year out. This year I tried to look at the day in a different way and followed my curiosity to places no other photographers were venturing.

I felt that my images of the day were very much different than years past and was very happy with my take. But as in any team-based assignment, I couldn't have done it without the talented Getty Images team. 

Every time I shoot an event with a team of inspiring friends, photographers I want to edit the entire day's take from everyone and share that. From each and everyone's hard work, wonderful visions and images, to laughs and pushing one another - it's always fun. With that, I firmly believe if you're having fun and have the support of your teammates, editors while working hard, good images will come.

After a long day of wet, dark weather, Gary Stevens, jockey of Oxbow, won the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes. Stevens, a 15-1 odd, rode Oxbow to a Preakness victory, crushing the dreams of a Triple Crown for the Kentucky Derby winner, Orb.