Logan Bowles didn’t have aspirations of changing into an expert photographer when he was youthful. With a images profession spanning over a decade, he has created a formidable portfolio, that includes a number of footage within the NFL Corridor of Fame and worldwide publications. Bowles strives to create one thing greater than himself and the subject material of his artwork, weaving collectively unstated tales by means of his digicam lens. The Jacksonville native and lifelong Jaguars fan gave me a glimpse into his world by permitting me to shadow him on the Jaguars’ Media Day, the place he mentioned his profession and fandom.
With gamers set to reach round 8:30, it was an early begin to the day at EverBank Stadium. After checking in and making our means upstairs, Logan started to work. With over 20 media days below his belt, that is like second nature to him. On account of begin instances that run from 6 am to 11 am, preparation begins weeks prematurely. The league sends a template of poses and the required pictures to numerous retailers, together with Fox, CBS, and NBC, to create graphics, advertisements, and social media posts. The template features a type information and technical specs. The checklist and analysis required for the non-Jacksonville groups is shorter, as Bowles aids in capturing each Jaguars participant.
Since it’s uncommon for a media day to go easily, he ensures that his cameras, digicam batteries, and lenses are able to go. After digicam prep, testing lights and flashes, taping cords down, checking the laptop computer setup, and syncing each stations, we’re ready for the gamers to reach. When heart Robert Hainsey steps in entrance of the digicam, the room comes alive. Regardless of a DJ and gamers screaming whereas recording hype movies behind the scenes, Bowles controls his station with prompts reminiscent of “smile, cross your arms, uncross your arms.” His analysis turns out to be useful when chatting with gamers who seem uncomfortable in entrance of the digicam.
Asking questions on the place they went to highschool, their households, and tattoos, the convenience with which he creates rapport with gamers is that of a consummate skilled. When speaking with Logan, he careworn the significance of treating gamers like regular folks and being personable so he could make them look pretty much as good as attainable. Because the day progresses, Bowles has captured footage of 46 Jaguars, together with Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter, Foye Oluokun, Josh Hines-Allen, Logan Cooke, and Brian Thomas Jr. As soon as the gamers are executed, the pictures are sorted into particular folders, containing each JPEG and uncooked photos, for the groups and league to edit.
After experiencing his tenth Jaguars Media Day, Logan opened up in regards to the man behind the digicam. Regardless of eager to be within the stands to supply assist, he found a love for documenting and telling tales. Drawing inspiration from Duval County, Bowles has photographed practically each sport conceivable, together with soccer, soccer, basketball, skateboarding, browsing, softball, baseball, and a Name of Obligation event at Disney. His numerous expertise, the significance of regularly studying, by no means settling, and making certain that the next picture is best than the final, together with the information that there’s all the time somebody higher behind him, prevents him from changing into complacent and pushes the fixed evolution of his craft.
Whereas the analysis and pictures requested by the NFL for media day are just like sport day, there are some slight variations. Photographers arrive on the stadium a minimal of three hours early, aside from greater video games like Monday Night time Soccer and the Tremendous Bowl, they arrive seven to eight hours early. When requested, the significance of staying locked in, figuring out his medium, and making educated guesses was famous. The prep work, consisting of checking in and connecting, is extra intense as a result of an image is transmitted from the digicam to the desk in roughly 15 seconds, edited, after which posted inside one minute. Photographs should be chosen shortly, and the ambiance could be chaotic. To personally put together for the potential chaos, Bowles takes a quiet second for himself, texts his mother, and refrains from consuming beforehand.
Bowles by no means needs to let down the individuals who took an opportunity on him. Whereas on the sidelines, Logan stays impartial and doesn’t get emotionally invested. He’s there to seize moments and do a job. He said that it’s not exhausting to focus, that he was instructed early on by Paul Figura to disconnect and deal with folks with respect. It will be disrespectful to not deal with his place as a job as a result of it’s his profession, not a passion. I requested if there have been any misconceptions that he want to tackle to those that take into account skilled photographers hobbyists, and he reiterated that it’s a enterprise. The NFL is a billion-dollar enterprise that contracts him to shoot photos. Regardless of the dimensions of recognition, from airports to buying and selling playing cards, Logan Bowles thinks it’s “all the time cool” to stumble throughout his work within the wild.
Atlanta holds a particular place for Bowles. His first NFL image was taken there; he has shot a Tremendous Bowl, a Nationwide Championship, an SEC Championship, and the Chick-fil-A Bowl within the stadium. A part of his household lived within the metropolis, and his two Corridor of Fame footage had been captured in Atlanta. Logan was at house when he acquired a cellphone name from Canton, Ohio, informing him that his image, “Take Off for Six”, had received the Motion Class throughout the fiftieth Annual NFL Corridor of Fame. To set himself as much as catch Julio Jones diving, Bowles kneeled between two folks by the pylon. His second Corridor of Fame win, “Collectively As One” from the 2023 season, took house first place within the Function Class. Like with the primary win, he was assured that it was value ready to seize that second as a result of you’ll be able to inform when one thing is nice.
With the variety of his craft, Bowles finds himself on the street typically. This upcoming soccer season alone, he’s scheduled to shoot roughly 50 video games. One week requires him to journey to Baltimore on Thursday, Charlotte on Friday, and Jacksonville on Saturday. How does somebody with that schedule handle to chill out and obtain a work-life steadiness? When requested, Logan admitted that whereas he must be higher at making that steadiness, he finds solace in watching sports activities, the film Friday, and laughing together with his mates. He famous that his favourite off-field second was a street journey together with his good friend Travis for the Jaguars’ Divisional Spherical Playoff sport in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in 2023.
Whereas he has photographed each Jaguars draft choose since 2016, Bowles was with Trevor Lawrence the evening he was drafted, and flew again to Jacksonville with him on a personal jet. Logan talked about the character that Lawrence displayed and the way humble he was. Bowles additionally had an encounter with Jags legends Fred Taylor and Mark Brunell after taking a crimson eye to London. The 2 had been standing on the valet service when Logan stumbled out of his taxi. It was the primary time he was on a first-name foundation with Taylor. The dialog naturally flowed to Jags gamers previous and current that get missed throughout the “greats of the franchise” dialog. Bowles nominated David Garrard, Rashean Mathis, Ross Matiscik, and Logan Cooke as names that aren’t mentioned sufficient.
Earlier than his mindset shifted from eager to be a fan within the stands to preferring the sidelines, the lifelong Jaguars fan was a season ticket holder for seven seasons. With the vantage level that few have, he has witnessed the journey of the Jaguars from the franchise’s inception to as we speak, each as a fan and an expert. Logan talked about how loud The Financial institution was in 2023 whereas “By no means Scared” by Bone Crusher performed throughout the Wild Card Playoff sport in opposition to the Chargers, and associated that second to how quiet the stadium was throughout the 2017 Patriots playoff sport. Apparently, safety fought one another after Fournette’s landing. With honorable mentions to 2010 and 2011, the 1999 season is his favourite to this point, regardless of the Titans stealing the playbook being the Jacksonville conspiracy principle that he believes probably the most.
The Ron Artest Seattle Seahawks sport introduced again significant late-fall soccer for Logan. Does he assume significant soccer is again? He highlighted the similarities between having actual coaches and the chance for Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter to emulate Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, whereas noting that the vibes throughout the group are completely different. He predicts Jacksonville will win the division.
What’s subsequent for Logan Bowles? What objectives does somebody set when they’re already extremely achieved? He’s at the moment sitting at seven Tremendous Bowls and hopes to succeed in ten. Logan has aspirations to win first place within the Total class for the Corridor of Fame, shoot the World Cup, the Masters, Ryder Cup, Olympics, and the Jumbo Shrimp. He’ll head again to London in an expert capability, however relating to the Jaguars taking part in there yearly, he doesn’t assume the followers need to have a sport taken away from them. To these trying to get into sports activities images, Bowles suggests asking numerous questions and being open to critiques. If you wish to do it, discover a option to make it occur. One Jaguars participant said that Bowles is the most effective, and I’m inclined to agree.
Thanks Kam Nedd and the Jaguars for entry to Media Day