Derby week is incredibly exhausting, waking up by 5am to shoot morning workouts takes its toll on you. I now have two consecutive Kentucky Derby races under my belt, maybe I'm good luck for Victor Espinoza? American Pharoah and Dortmund were heavy favorites entering the week, both trained by Bob Baffert, putting them in the same barn. Most of the week I was assigned to camp out at Baffert's barn.
There was an added excitement for me during the weekend since the judging for the IPPA (Illinois Press Photographer Association) contests were on Friday. Right before the Kentucky Oaks race, I found out that I won student photographer of the year and second place in sports photographer of the year in the professional contest.
This year I had been thinking about getting one specific shot for at least a month before the race. I wanted to use a tilt-shift on the first turn, getting the stands in the background. Even though I used a tilt-shift last year from the roof, it was difficult to get the lens how I wanted it. My friends Alex Evers and Ting Shen helped a lot to get it as perfect as possible, I kept making adjustments to it until a little less than an hour before the start of the race.
After the race I headed straight to American Pharoah's barn, unfortunately it wasn't very exciting back there since only the exercise rider was back there. The Zagat family (owners), Bob Baffert (trainer) or Victor Espinoza (jockey) didn't make their way to the barn for as long as I was there, until about 9pm. I really wish they did, the light was great!
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| MAY 2, 2015: The field on turn one during the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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APRIL 30, 2015: Jockey Christophe Soumillon looks at Mubtaahij after morning workouts in preparation for the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM
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| APRIL 28, 2015: Scenes from morning workouts as horses exercise for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| MAY 2, 2015: Victor Espinoza, aboard American Pharoah, celebrates after winning the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby as Gary Stevens, aboard Firing Line, reacts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| MAY 2, 2015: Jorge Alvarez, exercise rider for American Pharaoh, is reacts after American Pharoah, ridden by Victor Espinoza (not pictured) won the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| APRIL 29, 2015: Ahmed Zagat holds the American Pharoah placard after the post position draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| APRIL 26, 2015: American Pharoah, trained by Bob Baffert gets a bath after exercising for the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| APRIL 29, 2015: Justin Zayat (center) talks with Bob Baffert after morning workouts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| APRIL 29, 2015: American Pharoah, trained by Bob Baffert, exercises in preparation for the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| APRIL 29, 2015: Bob Baffert during the post position draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| APRIL 29, 2015: Maybellene, trained by Bob Baffert, gets a bath after exercising for the 141st Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| MAY 1, 2015: The field at the start of the 12th running of the Alysheba at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| MAY 1, 2015: Angela Renee, ridden by John Velazquez, during the 141st running of the Kentucky Oaks during the 141st running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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| MAY 1, 2015: Scenes from Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/Cal Sport Media |
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| APRIL 27, 2015: Scenes from morning workouts as horses exercise for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Jon Durr/ESW/CSM |
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