Outdoor Rink

"Fans cheer as the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Washington Capitals during the third period in the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park on January 1, 2015 in Washington, DC."

Typically as a freelancer, the year begins off slow.

Assignments come in gradually as everyone begins to plan out the new year. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to start of the year working as I documented the Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals for Getty Images.

As much as I wanted to be on the ice, the game is more about the environment. Only one game a year is played outdoors in a venue such as Nationals Park, so I had a lot of fun hustling around the upper deck of the stadium looking for different vantage points.

Near the end of the third period, I found three fans sitting next to one another with the same Capitals jerseys on. I quietly camped out behind them waiting hopefully for a game-winning goal that would cause some jubilation.

It paid off, as these two fans jumped up as the Blackhawks drew a penalty - which added a layer to the already great general view.

The best part of this photo was a couple days later, the gentlemen to the right, had seen this image and connected the dots and emailed thanking me for documenting this moment. He mentioned that he didn't even know the guy to his left and had no idea I was there.

I love when sports fans rally together when they don't even know one another - but I love it more when I can be there to document a scene without them even knowing I was there.