A retired man in Mid-Michigan, Dave Ferguson, has spent 13 years voluntarily photographing high school sports at Williamston High School, making the images freely available to students and their families online. Ferguson covers a wide range of athletic events, including both boys' and girls' junior varsity and varsity basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer games. He positions himself on the sidelines, utilizing a high-powered camera lens to capture the action.
Ferguson emphasizes his goal to photograph every athlete, not just those who receive significant playing time. He noted that he aims to remain until the end of games to ensure he gets pictures of students who may not play extensively, as well as those who are on the field or court for the entire duration. According to Ferguson, while many people use cell phones for photos, his camera offers a superior quality. Williamston High School football coach and parent of four, Steve Kersten, attested to the value of Ferguson’s contributions, stating that his work greatly benefits students and their families. Kersten suggested that Ferguson's high-quality photographs could have earned him thousands of dollars, as they effectively "make their seasons come alive, again with memories."
Ferguson’s passion for photography stems from his father, who worked selling cameras. He expressed an appreciation for how pictures preserve good times and allow people to remember positive experiences. This motivation was significantly deepened by a poignant encounter with a woman seeking a photograph of her son playing sports after his death. Ferguson recalled his sadness at not having an image for her, an experience that reinforced his commitment to taking more pictures. Beyond just the players, Ferguson also captures images of coaches, referees, students in the stands, and band members. He maintains high standards for his work, often deleting a considerable number of images that do not meet his technical criteria, particularly due to the challenge of keeping subjects in focus.
Despite the effort involved, Ferguson has no intentions of discontinuing his sideline presence, finding joy in the energetic atmosphere of the games. In addition to his sports photography, Dave Ferguson is also recognized as an accomplished nature photographer. Since the pandemic, he has extended his photographic outreach by mailing monthly pictures of wildlife and nature scenes to a group of senior citizens who lack access to technology.