Rat City Roller Derby S16EP2: Home Opener
Earlier this month, Rat City held their second bout of Season 16 at Edmonds Community College, featuring their four home teams: Sockit Wenches, Derby Liberation Front, Throttle Rockets, and Grave Danger. Again, I had the privilege to photograph these incredible skaters for a few hours, alongside two veteran photographers, Danny and Kirk. We were treated to a double header and the bouts lived up to the hype and then some!
I know they got some incredible photos! For me, it was my second (and third) bout, so I was still very much learning how to swim in the ocean! Unlike the last time, I placed myself on the outside of the track right away, where most of the action occurs and I had a clearer shot, and moved around some. After previously shooting their first bout in December of 2019, I was much more comfortable with the bout times/format, their speed, and recognized a few of the skaters as well, and their skating styles. All of this, coupled with my love for sports in general, helped me time up the shots a little tighter, and just getting better at seeing overall. On a technical note, my camera (Canon 6D MK II) is not meant for sports! In time, I will need to invest in a faster camera, but I am figuring it out, doing my best to make it work, and, again, getting more comfortable on the track as a whole.
On a serious note, I am learning much about what it means to the league and the skaters to have photos of themselves, and seeing their names and faces shared across media platforms. That visibility reminds them that they are talented, they belong, and they are worth everything. The league linked a good Wired article about this, which you can read here. This means everything to me. As much as I enjoy taking photographs and getting technically more proficient at it, this takes precedence over everything else. It is a true honor to capture and share their moments for them.
Below is a small collection of photographs from the bouts. It was difficult choosing only a few to show here! Check out my Instagram if you want to more!
