Twenty seconds. For photographer Terence Rushin ’10, that length of time is both eternity and nothing – beautiful, blistering chaos.
Terence Rushin holds his CNN 2023 Year in Pictures image
The University of West Georgia alumnus had scored the College Football Playoff National Championship gig and was prepping for Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show when he heard they only had 20 seconds to get the shot.
“That was one of the most chaotic, yet thrilling, photoshoots I’ve ever done,” Rushin confessed. “All I remember is darkness then exposure of light. I went into autopilot, and before I knew it, I was sitting in the waiting area. It was constant energy. You must trust yourself to know your craft and capture the moment.”
While 20 seconds seems extreme, Rushin said other concerts are usually more relaxed.
“I’ve done some shows where photographers can be in the pit for the first few songs, and then we can stay throughout the show and wander around the venue. This allows for another type of storytelling, where you have more of an opportunity to experiment.”
Rushin has come a long way since he received his first camera for his 10th birthday from his mom. Yesterday’s vacation and yearbook photos evolved into on-campus jobs as a UWG undergrad with The West Georgian, the Classroom Support multimedia team with Information Technology Services and WUTV.
“UWG was the first time I earned money for doing something I love,” he recalled. “It was $5 for every black-and-white photo and $10 for every color, front-page photo. I would challenge myself to see how many photos I could get in the paper every week. It was such a welcoming environment. The free pizza was a plus.”
Today, when Rushin’s not at his 9-to-5 as digital communications specialist, he is a live music photographer for Getty Images whose work was most notably included in CNN’s 2023 Year in Pictures.
“That was a full-circle moment that motivated me even more to pursue my dreams and spread the good word about music photography,” Rushin shared, adding that Rolling Stone magazine is a big goal of his, along with shooting a Super Bowl Halftime Show. “I’ll continue to try to be synonymous with that space and, hopefully, inspire future generations of photographers.”
UWG News recently spoke with Rushin about his post-UWG experiences. Here are some notable soundbites and images.
Elton John
“There is no other sensation or environment like it. One of my goals is to capture high-energy and high-adrenaline vibrancy-induced images that are reflective of that scene. It’s thrilling to see the screaming fan who’s been waiting at the venue and finally make it to the front row. When they see the artist they’ve been waiting for, and I see the artist, I feed off their energies – zone out and lock in.”
Andre 3000
“In the photo pit, the energy is right. I’m weaving in and out, maneuvering around other photographers or security guards. It’s like a nice little obstacle course. My heart is racing. It’s an exhilarating experience, being able to think on my feet, adapt to different light and environmental settings. In this atmosphere, it’ll be super dark one minute and crazy bright the next.”
Janelle Monáe
“Sometimes when I capture photos, I can see the image in my head, before looking at my camera. When I can perfectly capture what I was visualizing, I usually know that I’ve got the shot, and I smile or giggle to myself. The CNN’s 2023 Year in Pictures photo was one of those moments. It was a proud moment that I was able to share with my mom before she passed away last year. She was always one of my biggest cheerleaders, along with giving me my first camera and the love of music.”
Queen
“Every time I come across a photo of mine in the wild – a magazine or website – it's always a shock to my system. I’m not trying to do it for glory, but it’s very satisfying. It's a reminder of the reason I’m chasing this crazy dream of capturing these energetic moments that I live for. I hope I also inspire my children to seek the things they are passionate about and show them that achieving their goals is within their grasp.”
