Like most of the nation on July 7, 2019, I was glued to the TV, watching history as the US Women’s National Team captured the World Cup victory, in Lyon, France. Little did I know that a little more than 24 hours later I would be on a sun-drenched tarmac at the end of a runway in the North Area of Newark Liberty International Airport, documenting the moment the champions brought the trophy home.
At 9:38 AM the following day, I, along with the majority of the New York media received a press release from US Soccer with a media application to cover the team’s arrival from France later that day, at Newark Liberty International Airport.
With outspoken swagger and poise, the USWNT had become a societal lightning rod that superseded sports on and off the field, advocated for gender equality in the U.S., and ran straight into a political divide. It was too important an opportunity to miss.
No risk, no reward.
It’s all about the location. The press “pit” mentality in New York is ruthless. Arriving early is pivotal for getting a spot. You’re battling not only with other still photographers, but video production crews and producers, as well. I lived a mere 20 minutes from the airport, so I arrived in the first wave of journalists.
Tripods sprouted all around the front guard rail, with gear bags and cables lining the hot tarmac with names like ABC, NBC News, CBS, Inside Edition, and even TMZ taped to the sides. All we could do was hope and pray that the team shows up where they are supposed to.
As soon as the rest of the press core all arrived and dialed in their shots, the scene became a bit more accommodating. No less than six helicopters hovered over the area, creating a constant buzz that echoed through the tarmac.
The plane was late. The crowd was irritable, and Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, who was set to welcome the team, spent a few minutes with the media crew in anticipation of the team’s arrival.
The moment the players cleared on-board customs, and the first members of the team exited, exalted and exhausted, everyone had their house in order. As soon as the trophy appeared at the top of the jet way, I was ready to go.
After a very short photo op with the team captains, the rest of the team exited en mass, which made isolating subjects very hard, due to the crowds that were forming, along with team photo media, who constantly had to be dodged. Megan Rapinoe, the outspoken field general for the team, lived up to her reputation, posing proudly with the trophy, all the while expertly leading the celebration.
All in all, the welcome lasted around twenty minutes, which was more than enough time for any photographer to get something. 1,212 frames later, I had a shot selection that every media outlet would be able to craft a narrative around. From isolated individual reactionary shots, to group selections, along with environmental storytelling, it ticked off all the boxes I listed for myself on what I needed to achieve.
