Tom Vani :: photography

Show Navigation
back to search results
Info

I have always had an interest in what draws people to groups and the events that define them. Whether they are performance artists going to Burning Man or campaign supporters attending a major political rally, a gathering of people in a single place at a specific time has held a certain fascination. What brought them there? What did they want from the experience? What did belonging to the group mean to them? What did they see? For my photographs I look for the iconography and honorees of the event, the scripted moments that reinforce the group identify, and the reactions of those in the group as they become part of the experience. Very few football teams have training camps that are open to the public. While the regular season games are about winning and losing, the preseason camps are about making the team and proving you have the conditioning to compete. The players come out and practice the same plays over and over again. There is little excitement as no game is at stake but you would not know that from the attention of the fans. In fact, the camp is as much about the fans as it is the players. From the on-site pro shop selling Cowboy paraphernalia, to the mobile "Hall of Fame" that honors their legacy, this is about reinforcing identity. When you are there you know who you are.

Add to Lightbox Download
Filename
feastforfans102 .tif
Copyright
Tom Vani
Image Size
2544x2228 / 32.5MB
Contained in galleries
I have always had an interest in what draws people to groups and the events that define them. Whether they are performance artists going to Burning Man or campaign supporters attending a major political rally, a gathering of people in a single place at a specific time has held a certain fascination. What brought them there? What did they want from the experience? What did belonging to the group mean to them? What did they see? For my photographs I look for the iconography and honorees of the event, the scripted moments that reinforce the group identify, and the reactions of those in the group as they become part of the experience. Very few football teams have training camps that are open to the public. While the regular season games are about winning and losing, the preseason camps are about making the team and proving you have the conditioning to compete. The players come out and practice the same plays over and over again. There is little excitement as no game is at stake but you would not know that from the attention of the fans. In fact, the camp is as much about the fans as it is the players. From the on-site pro shop selling Cowboy paraphernalia, to the mobile "Hall of Fame" that honors their legacy, this is about reinforcing identity. When you are there you know who you are.