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SOUTHERN INDIANA – Joe Ullrich would tell you he isn’t artistic. His photography, however, tells another story.

Ullrich, a regular sports photographer for the News and Tribune, will be shooting his 11th Kentucky Derby this Saturday. He only missed one Derby in the past 12 years – 2020 – when COVID protocols prevented him from attending. He has been primarily a sports photographer for the News and Tribune for 14 years covering everything from regular season games to state championship celebrations.

This Saturday, he will be joining hundreds of other photographers to capture the 150th Kentucky Derby.

“I’m pretty sure my affinity for sports photography is based on the fact that I am a very technically-minded individual,” Ullrich explained. “Sports photography is based on a mechanical and technical shooting style and that fits my human profile perfectly. Unfortunately, I possess little artistic ability so I rely on my technical proficiency to succeed at my craft.”

And succeed he does. Capturing everything from high school sports to natural landscapes and wildlife, Ullrich has a portfolio that would match up to the most accomplished photographers. But he only shoots pictures after his “real job” is done for the day.

By day, Ullrich works as an electrician and certified Generac Generator repair technician. He is the lead electrician for ABTech Electrical Service. He has worked at ABTech for 10 years and currently installs Generac whole-home generators and performs maintenance and repairs as a certified Generac repair technician.

By night, however, Ullrich dons his Nikon camera and lenses, and captures memories for the News and Tribune and all the families it serves in Clark and Floyd counties. The 57-year-old photographer is a Sellersburg resident and limits his professional photography to shooting for the News and Tribune and his own personal satisfaction.

“I really only shoot for the News and Tribune and myself. I have spent some time outdoors photographing nature landscapes and have done some wildlife photography,” Ullrich said.

Ullrich became interested in photography as a boy. He says his interest was instilled by his grandfather, another avid photographer.

“I remember as a youngster looking at his photos and gear and always thought it would be something I would like to learn about,” Ullrich said. “My mom had a Yashica 35mm camera that I was able to get my hands on and start using on some of my Boy Scouts trips around the country. That was the first time I was bitten by the photography bug.”

Ullrich was attending training in the Air Force at Ft. Dix New Jersey when he bought a brand-new Minolta X-700, using that equipment for several years during his stint in the military.

Today, Ullrich sports all Nikon equipment – moving from basic film cameras early on to highly advanced digital equipment today.

“When I was stationed in Greece, I purchased two Nikon lenses to use with a Nikon camera body that I was going to purchase at a later date,” Ullrich remembered. “I ordered the camera body a month later and for some reason, the purchase didn’t go through. So, I had these two Nikon lenses for 10 years and did not have a body for them.”

Ullrich ultimately bought that camera body and has been a Nikon user ever since.

“The main reason I went with Nikon is that all the photographers that I had been around in the past were mostly using Nikons and, at that time, they were at the top of the camera market.”

Since his first Derby in 2013, Ullrich has seen and captured with his camera hundreds of races. All the preliminary races each year are his practice ground for the two minutes he gets to photograph the “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

“I go to Churchill Downs and get my equipment set up and I go and practice for two or three days keeping in mind the Kentucky Derby is the moment I need to capture,” Ullrich said.

When asked about his favorite moment thus far at the Kentucky Derby, Ullrich is quick to credit all of the great moments documenting the historic event. He does have a favorite, however.

“I would say one of the best moments I have would be when American Pharoah won the triple crown. Having spent some limited time in and around horse racing, that moment was pretty special,” he said.

American Pharoah won the American Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2015. He was the 12th Triple Crown winner in history, and in winning all four races, became the first horse to win the modern Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing.

Of the thousands of images Ullrich has captured through the years, he doesn’t really have a favorite. He does love shooting natural landscapes and nature photos because, “coming home with some really cool photos and an adventure you can attach to them is about as good as it gets.”

Outside of his day job and photography, Ullrich can be found backpacking, hiking, camping and working in his garden. He also enjoys fishing and hunting.

This week, however, he will be hunting for that perfect Kentucky Derby photograph to compliment his already extensive collection of work.

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Texas Border Business

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By Ric Cavazos / Mercedes EDC

Jackie Valdez’s office is mobile and can be found anywhere from South Padre Island to Mission and upstate to San Marcos.

These communities and many others in Texas have been locations for the outdoor photographing work of the Mercedes-based Valdez. A look at her stunning portfolio of work features marching bands and high school football players, cows and cowboys at the Livestock Show, and newly engaged couples in love. The visual backdrops are often the natural light and open skies of the Rio Grande Valley and the endless variations of clouds on the move behind those photographed.

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‘My goal is to reach people outdoors,” Valdez said. 

Angles and skies, Valdez says, are among the key elements of her photography. So are the people in her photos, be it a young girl in her quinceanera best or quarterbacks in live game action reaching back to throw a deep pass. The X-ray technician-turned-photographer has shifted a hobby into a full-time job. Valdez’s focus is on improving her already impressive work and becoming a brand in her own right.

“My goal is to be a travel photographer,’’ Valdez said. “I want people to call me from different parts of the country to do work for them.’’

Getting Started

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Before getting a wider recognition, Valdez had to start local even if it meant overcoming suspicions connected to a long-standing football rivalry.

She recalled some of her initial photo work was coming from Edcouch-Elsa. Clients from the Delta Area admired Valdez’s work in looking at her portfolio, but her being from Mercedes raised some questions.

“When it comes to what I love to do, it doesn’t matter that I’m from Mercedes,’’ she recalled with a chuckle, adding the concerns raised from E-E clients were good natured.

The scope of her work shows a have-camera-will travel viewpoint. In one of her photos, a teenage boy sits on a park bench at Market Square in Brownsville, appearing to look off into his future. Another photo features a smiling girl standing on a nature park walkway in twilight, holding a sign that says, “Gone to UTRGV.’’ A football player from Mission is featured in another photo holding his football helmet as the sun sets behind the stadium’s bleachers. 

Her hometown is featured in many of her photos, especially when it comes to the city’s signature event, the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show. One photo shows a teenage girl wearing a cowboy hat kissing her cow at night as a Ferris wheel turns behind her. 

Looking a Valdez’s gallery of photos, it can be hard to believe that in her words she had “no training, no classes.’’ She obviously did possess a great eye and natural talent to frame and visualize images in utilizing natural light and sky to further boost the quality of her photos. 

Valdez’s work has not gone unnoticed. In recent years, the Mercedes Chamber of Commerce recognized Valdez for her contribution to the arts.

Doing More

Valdez cities her faith and expressed a gratitude to God for the talents she been able to develop with her photography.

A mentor and professional photographer in Dallas, Rick Davila, has also been a key element in her progression as a photographer in her own right. Valdez relishes the time flexibility being a full-time photographer gives her. She can set her own schedule in making sure to attend important events relating to her children’s’ school activities. Valdez’s ambitions in photographer are big and she appreciates pursuing those dreams from her hometown.

“I’m going to keep getting my name out there,’’ she said. “I want to do more.’’

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