I’ve never excelled in athletics, so I find it strange that I’m drawn to competition. Maybe it’s the anticipation before a race, when no matter how many teammates surround you, there’s a moment when athletes are all alone with their thoughts – running through a last-minute checklist in their minds, remembering every move and strategy.

In the midst of that tension, I’m happy to be a spectator with my camera glued to my face. The luxury of witnessing a race through a zoom lens is just as thrilling to me as if I were on a bike waiting for the starting gun.

Most of my photography is for advertising, so I have time to set everything how I think it should be. I’m in control of the situation.

But the three days of the 2005 Collegiate Road National Championships in May in Lawrence were incredibly exciting because I left my comfort zone and shot in unfamiliar environments where I had little control.

It’s good to step away from your normal routine and be an outsider in your own life.