He takes photos of local high school sports for free, here’s why

WILLAMSTON, Mich. (InvestigateTV) — A retired Mid-Michigan man has spent 13 years photographing Williamston High School sports, uploading the images to a website where students and families can access them at no cost.

Dave Ferguson photographs basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer games — both boys and girls, junior varsity and varsity — from the sidelines using a high-powered camera lens.

“I mean everybody’s got a cell phone now, and I guess the difference is, is that my camera’s a little bit better than their cell phone,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson said he makes a point to photograph every player, not just those who see the most playing time.

“I try to stay till the end of the game to make sure that the kids who don’t play a whole lot, I get pictures of them as well as the people who play the whole game,” he said.

Williamston High School football coach and parent of four Steve Kersten said Ferguson’s work has benefited students and families alike.

“He could have made thousands of dollars doing this, because he takes such great pictures,” Kersten said. “Really make their seasons come alive, again with memories.”

Ferguson said his appreciation for photography traces back to his father, who sold cameras.

“I guess I came to appreciate the fact that there are pictures of things — they allow people to remember the good times,” Ferguson said.

That motivation deepened after a woman approached him looking for a photo of her son playing sports following his death. Ferguson said he did not have the image.

“Makes me sad just to think of it,” he said. “And I didn’t have it either... I’m sorry.”

He said that experience drove him to take more pictures. Ferguson said he photographs coaches, referees, students in the stands, and band members in addition to players — and deletes a significant number of images that don’t meet his standard.

“It’s hard to keep people in focus, which is why I end up deleting a whole bunch,” he said.

Ferguson said he has no plans to step away from the sidelines.

“Most people are there having fun, and so it’s a good place to be,” he said.

Beside photographing sporting events Dave Ferguson is also an accomplished nature photographer.

Since the pandemic he has been sending a group of senior citizens, who don’t have access to technology, pictures in the mail of wildlife and nature scenes once a month.