At Lincoln Southeast High School, junior sports photographer Ori Batenhorst has given himself a place on the sidelines, where he captures the thick and thin of LSE athletics. What began as just an interest in sports has grown into a hobby and job that allows him to capture the biggest moments of the school year.
Batenhorst said his interest in photography developed naturally because he always pictured himself working and being around athletics in some type of way. “I always wanted to do something sports related when I’m older rather if it’s coaching, being in the media,” he said. “Photography just came to me and I loved the idea of being able to capture big moments and being able to tell stories with photography.”
Being part of the sports environment at LSE, even without playing, pushes him to continue improving. “I really like being able to make connections with new people throughout sports,” he said. “I like being involved with sports even if I’m not playing.”
Among all the sports he photographs, football and basketball stand out for their intensity, crowd, especially the student section involvement. According to Batenhorst, the atmosphere can really affect the quality of the photos. “The student section definitely plays a big factor in sports photography,” he said. “I love the celebrations when a big play happens.”
Not every sport offers the same environment that makes shooting turn out well. Volleyball, he said, presents the biggest challenge. “There is so much moving around in a small gym and it’s hard to keep up with the action,” he said.
Because student energy has an effect on the overall experience, Batenhorst said the crowd and students influences how engaged he feels during games. “If it’s a boring game with no student section, or the players aren’t excited then it brings down the vibe for me and I’m not as locked in on the game,” he said. “So the student section definitely plays a big factor.”
Working with athletes directly has become a regular part of his process. Students often request personal photos, and Batenhorst said communication is key. “They need to know when, where, what sport,” he said. He also keeps pricing affordable, usually charging between fifteen and thirty dollars for a shoot.
The response from classmates and athletes makes the work actually mean something for him. “It makes me happy to know that people appreciate my work and think it’s good,” he said. “I like to feel involved and photography is my way to get involved here at Southeast so I’m glad it’s in the newspaper and on social media as long as I’m getting credit for it.”
Looking ahead, Batenhorst plans to stay in the sports and athletic culture through photography and videography. “I definitely want to keep doing this in the future,” he said. “I want to save up money for some new gear. I want to do videography as well.” While he is still exploring career options, he knows one thing for sure. “It’s definitely going to be something sports related,” he said.
