When it comes down to it, I feel I've got the greatest job in the world. My spot as the New York Jets team photographer lets me see both the inner and outer workings of the Green & White up close, and to be able to do it with a camera in my hands is living a dream.
Of course, with that comes great responsibility — to show you, the fan, the excitement you see on the field as well as a glimpse of what life off of it is like. My goals are always the same: to create something that is visually pleasing, full of energy and feeling. Most things happen in the blink of an eye, but a good photo can help create a lasting memory.
Recently, the team bestowed a second honor to my name, that of photo manager. In photo circles, it's the equivalent of all those fancy titles like DDS, Esq., Mayor McCheese, things of that nature. This in turn has brought up a new set of challenges — good ones, too. To paraphrase a forward-thinking GM, I try to look under every rock each and every day to discover some classic material to help tell the story of the New York Jets.
Sometimes it's been digging through a few forgotten boxes in storage that might contain some vintage transparencies. Others, I feel like Bruce Campbell's character on "Burn Notice," leaning back and "making a few calls to an old Navy Seal buddy" to see if I can convince them to sift through their family photos and archives to perhaps pluck a dusty jewel we could use. So far, both have produced good results.
My director and friend, Randy Lange, a man who enjoys finding a new Namath, Weeb or maybe even a Wahoo as much as the next man (so long as the next man is our boss, Bobby Parente) has had as much fun as I have finding new classics. He, in turn, has implored me to create this gallery space, which I hope you will enjoy as much as I do.
In honor of the AFL's 50th Anniversary, let's get it started right with some of our favorites from the Shea Days. Please check back soon for another installment and feel free to let us know what you think!
— Al Pereira, Esq.
