The other side of the lens

The hardworking guys and gals who bring you all the action on Bassmasters TV and bassmaster.com rarely get any attention. Here's a look at their work.

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During the course of the Bassmaster Elite Series, all of the attention is on the Elite anglers and what they do while competing against the best bass anglers in the world. Showcasing those anglers, though, is a group of hardworking men and women.
During the course of the Bassmaster Elite Series, all of the attention is on the Elite anglers and what they do while competing against the best bass anglers in the world. Showcasing those anglers, though, is a group of hardworking men and women.
They spend their days with a pen in hand,
They spend their days with a pen in hand,
Or a big lens like the one James Overstreet uses so well.
Or a big lens like the one James Overstreet uses so well.
Small lenses work too for guys like Siego Saito.
Small lenses work too for guys like Siego Saito.
At every weigh-in you'll see a line of photographers working hard to capture the action.
At every weigh-in you’ll see a line of photographers working hard to capture the action.
While the video guys like Ben Oliver hoist keep heavy camera on their shoulder to capture the excitement.
While the video guys like Ben Oliver hoist keep heavy camera on their shoulder to capture the excitement.
And there’s always excitement in an Elite event.
And there’s always excitement in an Elite event.
Big catches that need to be seen.
Big catches that need to be seen.
This gallery is a tribute to the working stiffs of Bassmaster,
This gallery is a tribute to the working stiffs of Bassmaster,
Who bring you the incredible video,
Who bring you the incredible video,
The heart-stopping photos, like this one that forced Jim Sexton to grab his ticker.
The heart-stopping photos, like this one that forced Jim Sexton to grab his ticker.
Awesome GoPro video and cutting edge BASSTrakk, from Shaye Baker and Trait Crist.
Awesome GoPro video and cutting edge BASSTrakk, from Shaye Baker and Trait Crist.
Sending out Tweets and Facebook updates like Tyler Wade is constantly doing.
Sending out Tweets and Facebook updates like Tyler Wade is constantly doing.
Some of them spend every minute on the water.
Some of them spend every minute on the water.
Often joking with the Elites they are the only ones guaranteed to be on the water all four days.
Often joking with the Elites they are the only ones guaranteed to be on the water all four days.
They are there on cold days.
They are there on cold days.
And really cold days.
And really cold days.
Warm days.
Warm days.
And rough and tumble windy days.
And rough and tumble windy days.
Sometimes they are privy to a little yelling like Wes Miller up close and personal with Mike Iaconelli.
Sometimes they are privy to a little yelling like Wes Miller up close and personal with Mike Iaconelli.
They occasionally get a hug for their hard work.
They occasionally get a hug for their hard work.
Or a fist bump, like the one Brian Mason received from Jacob Wheeler.
Or a fist bump, like the one Brian Mason received from Jacob Wheeler.
A lot of times they get a backache, and need a minute to recover like Justin Darling on Toledo Bend with Dean Rojas.
A lot of times they get a backache, and need a minute to recover like Justin Darling on Toledo Bend with Dean Rojas.
But only a minute before it’s back to work.
But only a minute before it’s back to work.
They see every catch, capturing it with a heavy camera.
They see every catch, capturing it with a heavy camera.
Or with a GoPro on a pole.
Or with a GoPro on a pole.
Letting them get close to a fighting fish.
Letting them get close to a fighting fish.
Or even an aerial view.
Or even an aerial view.
Especially in those places that are hard to get.
Especially in those places that are hard to get.
They also hang out of helicopters, like Carey Barrett on the Delaware River.
They also hang out of helicopters, like Carey Barrett on the Delaware River.
And capturing other working stiffs from the air, working a GoPro on a hairy ride.
And capturing other working stiffs from the air, working a GoPro on a hairy ride.
Or getting Seigo Saito shooting photos, while Pete Robbins sits on the back deck and blogs.
Or getting Seigo Saito shooting photos, while Pete Robbins sits on the back deck and blogs.
At times it seems like cameramen are everywhere.
At times it seems like cameramen are everywhere.
Even in the driver’s seat when a fish is caught right in their lap, like Owen Gurwell.
Even in the driver’s seat when a fish is caught right in their lap, like Owen Gurwell.
But they never stop rolling.
But they never stop rolling.
They shoot from every angle, even from behind, like Brian Mason getting this fish catch.
They shoot from every angle, even from behind, like Brian Mason getting this fish catch.
Or when Rick Mason shoots Jason Christie culling on Lake Dardanelle.
Or when Rick Mason shoots Jason Christie culling on Lake Dardanelle.
They even capture the culling, like Chris Mitchell photographing Brent Chapman’s upgrade at Cayuga Lake.
They even capture the culling, like Chris Mitchell photographing Brent Chapman’s upgrade at Cayuga Lake.
A day on the water at an Elite event is nonstop action.
A day on the water at an Elite event is nonstop action.
Most of it is straightforward work.
Most of it is straightforward work.
At times you do two things at once, run a camera and a phone, like Wes Miller shooting a conversation for War Room with Rick Clunn on Lake Dardanelle...
At times you do two things at once, run a camera and a phone, like Wes Miller shooting a conversation for War Room with Rick Clunn on Lake Dardanelle…
Or Chris Lane on the St. Johns River.
Or Chris Lane on the St. Johns River.
Or with Mark Davis on Table Rock with Rick Mason getting two angles at once.
Or with Mark Davis on Table Rock with Rick Mason getting two angles at once.
Then switching to a an angle that’s tough on the back.
Then switching to a an angle that’s tough on the back.
Some of it is fun and games.
Some of it is fun and games.
But it’s always right back to work.
But it’s always right back to work.
The day starts early, with emcee Dave Mercer pitching in to get a GoPro perspective.
The day starts early, with emcee Dave Mercer pitching in to get a GoPro perspective.
On the water every imaginable camera is used, like this slow-motion camera.
On the water every imaginable camera is used, like this slow-motion camera.
Designed to catch the intricacies of every catch for the viewer.
Designed to catch the intricacies of every catch for the viewer.
The shooting never stops, with any manner of camera.
The shooting never stops, with any manner of camera.
Capturing every possible angle.
Capturing every possible angle.
From down low,
From down low,
To around the corner of an angler’s shoulder,
To around the corner of an angler’s shoulder,
And in every environment known to a fish.
And in every environment known to a fish.
Occasionally, you have to be quick on your feet, like Eric Kafka covering Matt Herren at BASSfest.
Occasionally, you have to be quick on your feet, like Eric Kafka covering Matt Herren at BASSfest.
Even then they can get in the way.
Even then they can get in the way.
But only slightly.
But only slightly.
But what’s a guy to do, whose job is to bring to the masses the best and most intimate catches.
But what’s a guy to do, whose job is to bring to the masses the best and most intimate catches.
Sometimes we miss, like on this fish Davy Hite swung in the boat at the St. Johns River, leaving Marty Dashiell having to catch up.
Sometimes we miss, like on this fish Davy Hite swung in the boat at the St. Johns River, leaving Marty Dashiell having to catch up.
These working stiffs always get to see the special moments.
These working stiffs always get to see the special moments.
The key moments when an angler wins, like this fish on Table Rock for Mike McClelland.
The key moments when an angler wins, like this fish on Table Rock for Mike McClelland.
Or even this relatively small one for Brett Hite on Lake Seminole captured by Rick Mason on GoPro.
Or even this relatively small one for Brett Hite on Lake Seminole captured by Rick Mason on GoPro.
Or this one on video the same day.
Or this one on video the same day.
Regardless of the weather, they are there with camera in hand.
Regardless of the weather, they are there with camera in hand.
In the rolling waters of Lake Michigan,
In the rolling waters of Lake Michigan,
or the relative calm of Lake Seminole.
or the relative calm of Lake Seminole.
By the end of the season, most of them look a lot like writer Steve Wright trying to keep it all together.
By the end of the season, most of them look a lot like writer Steve Wright trying to keep it all together.
<p><em>Editor's Note: The guy who put this gallery together thought he would escape without mention. Steve Bowman is one of these working stiffs who operate on a handful of hours sleep to bring you all the action on bassmaster.com. He also occasionally eats a banana on a boat, even though he knows better. </em></p>
Editor’s Note: The guy who put this gallery together thought he would escape without mention. Steve Bowman is one of these working stiffs who operate on a handful of hours sleep to bring you all the action on bassmaster.com. He also occasionally eats a banana on a boat, even though he knows better.