In Sports Media Lab, IU photography students chronicle Little 500 beyond the track: IU News

Lauren McKinney, a student in The Media School, captured this image of Alpha Chi Omega’s Ellie Marsella leading her team out of their sorority house through a tunnel of supporters as they prepared to ride to the stadium for the Women’s Little 500. Photo by Lauren McKinney, Indiana University

In a category designed to reflect an expert sports activities media newsroom, students at Indiana University Bloomington spent the spring semester documenting considered one of the campus’s most iconic traditions by means of a brand new lens.

The Media School’s Sports Media Laboratory course, taught by adjunct teacher James Brosher, teaches students how you can produce skilled picture documentation of the Little 500 – the annual collegiate biking race identified for its historical past and group influence. The experiential studying course blends photography, modifying, storytelling and decision-making, with students assigned to cowl groups as in the event that they had been working photojournalists with a beat.

“This is high stakes,” stated Brosher, an IU alumnus who works as a senior photographer for IU Communications and Marketing along with his instructing position. “This is such a unique event, especially in the world of cycling. Whatever we can do to tap that potential and utilize it for student learning, I think it’s a fantastic thing for the university.”

Ready for the actual world

Structured to simulate a working sports activities media atmosphere, the class emphasizes not simply taking pictures images however managing the full workflow, from planning forward to modifying and creating metadata. Students are outfitted with skilled gear, together with state-of-the-art Canon R6 cameras and high-end lenses usually seen on main sports activities sidelines.

Instructor James Brosher helps Grace Urbanski, a senior sports media major, as they shoot Little 500 team photos. Photo by Chris Meyer, Indiana University

Brosher stated the aim is to push students beyond technical abilities into real-world readiness.

“The learning outcomes are to expose, compose, tell deep stories, exhibit professionalism and develop a brand,” he stated. “I’m trying to teach them how to use the camera, how to see with the camera, how to capture stories and how to work quickly.”

Brosher shared with students his experience as a veteran sports activities photographer with ample expertise overlaying main occasions, together with the current College Football National Championship in Miami the place the IU Hoosiers claimed victory.

“Getting to learn more about the race through James has been really nice, and he’s been a great mentor,” stated Grace Urbanski, a senior sports activities media main who’s co-director of the Little 500 Network. “I think the most important thing I’ve learned is to focus on things that aren’t necessarily happening on the track, because you’ll get a lot of good, candid moments outside of the track.”

Urbanski stated the course has helped her really feel extra assured as a photographer. She shares her best shots on Instagram, which has led to freelance alternatives. Her portfolio and expertise at IU additionally led to a job provide with the Buffalo Bills.

Every picture tells a narrative

The newsroom-style construction of the Sports Media Laboratory course displays real-world expectations, the place photographers should anticipate large moments, adapt rapidly and ship polished work below stress.

Little 500 Student Photography

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Little 500 Student Photography

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Alpha Chi Omega rider Ellie Marsella celebrates with followers after her workforce’s victory. Marsella, a senior, gained her ultimate Little 500. Photo by Mason Munn

The Media School

Kappa Alpha Theta rider Greta Weeks leads her team through a tunnel of supporters as they leave their sorority house en route to the stadium. Sororities traditionally hold send-offs, with members lining the route to cheer riders on as they depart for the race. Photo by Grace Urbanski

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Alpha Chi Omega’s Ellie Marsella leads her workforce out of their sorority home by means of a tunnel of supporters as they trip to the stadium for the Women’s Little 500. The subject of 33 groups consists of sorority groups like Alpha Chi Omega and impartial groups. Photo by Lauren McKinney

The Media School

Kappa Alpha Theta riders sit on the infield before the start of the 38th Women’s Little 500 at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Pictured from left are: Greta Weeks, Greta Heyl, Bailey Cappella and Claire Tips. Photo by Josephine Wagner

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Riders, together with Kappa Alpha Theta’s Greta Weeks in yellow, line up on the observe after a lightning delay. Photo by Dapho Sproles

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Pi Beta Phi riders Isabella Matutes, left, Avery Brown and Eve Forburger stretch before the 38th Women’s Little 500 at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Friday, April 24, 2026. Photo by Josephine Wagner

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Kappa Alpha Theta followers cheer as the race prepares to renew from a lightning delay. Photo by Maddi Sponsel

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Riders race into turn one during the opening laps of the 38th Women’s Little 500. Photo by Mason Munn

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Alpha Fasta Bika rider Makiah Pickett, proper, hugs CSF’s Kaylyn Cheesman on the beginning grid earlier than the Women’s Little 500. Photo by Brady Owen

The Media School

Kappa Alpha Theta rider Greta Heyl and student coach Kathleen Lemme react to the final lap of the women’s race. Theta, the two-time defending champions of the race, finished third. Photo by Sophie Doyne

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Little 500 Hall of Fame rider Clayton Feldman, a three-time champion with Cutters, watches the girls’s race with sons Rory, entrance, and Archie. Photo by Grace Urbanski

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The track at Bill Armstrong Stadium is reflected in the sunglasses of a spectator before the start of the 38th Women’s Little 500. Photo by Josephine Wagner

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Sigma Kappa rider Julia Berman rides previous her sorority’s cheering part throughout the thirty eighth Women’s Little 500. Photo by Anna Fernandez

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Kappa Alpha Theta’s Greta Heyl rides into turn one. Photo by Maddi Sponsel

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Sigma Delta Tau rider Alyssa Brachetti jumps on the bicycle throughout an trade in the thirty eighth Women’s Little 500. Photo by Brady Owen

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Alpha Chi Omega rider Ellie Marsella calls out to lapped riders to move aside in the closing laps of the Women’s Little 500. Photo by Levi Jones

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Alpha Delta Pi coach Jeff Naas embraces rider Tessa Brennan in the pits. Photo by Brady Owen

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Alpha Chi Omega’s Libby Lewis races into turn four. Photo by Brady Owen

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Alpha Chi Omega rider Libby Lewis celebrates after sprinting to victory. It marks the workforce’s first victory after a string of top-three finishes in recent times. Photo by Mason Munn

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Alpha Chi Omega rider Libby Lewis celebrates after sprinting to victory in the Women’s Little 500. Photo by Levi Jones

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Sigma Kappa riders maintain up a bicycle of their pit space after ending fifth. Photo by Anna Fernandez

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Alpha Chi Omega riders celebrate on stage after winning the 38th Women’s Little 500. Photo by Anna Fernandez

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Alpha Chi Omega rider Libby Lewis appears at her reflection in the first place trophy after the workforce gained the Women’s Little 500. The first place victory marked Alpha Chi Omega’s first in workforce historical past. Photo by Grace Urbanski

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Two rookies try an trade throughout Little 500 Rookie Week. Photo by Grace Urbanski

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Judah Nickoll of 3PH cheers on his teammate throughout Little 500 Qualifications. Photo by Grace Urbanski

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A rider driving throughout Little 500 Rookie Week at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Photo by Mason Munn

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Riders follow two-bike exchanges throughout Little 500 Rookie Week. Photo by Grace Urbanski

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The course emphasizes the significance of not simply capturing a second however telling a narrative by means of the digicam lens. In addition to overlaying race days, students photographed the biking groups for a number of weeks main as much as the large occasion, together with workforce practices, qualification races and team-building moments.

Levi Jones, a senior finding out journalism, stated studying how you can emphasize storytelling over easy motion pictures has helped him develop.

“If the whole team that I’m covering is going out and getting lunch to bond, I can cover that and go with them,” Jones stated. “Those little moments kind of culminate and grow into how the team is shaped.”

Levi Jones, a senior studying journalism, said learning how to emphasize storytelling over simple action shots has helped him grow as a photographer. Photo by Chris Meyer, Indiana University

Jones, who hopes to work as a photographer beyond commencement, stated Brosher instructed the class to not be afraid to get near the motion. He took that recommendation to coronary heart and now will get as shut as potential to seize the topic’s feelings.

Opportunity and group

Students stated they get pleasure from the pleasure and drama that’s all the time a part of the races. For lots of them, it was not their first time taking pictures the Little 500.

“It’s electric,” stated Brady Owen, a sophomore sports activities media main who joined the Hoosier Network his freshman yr. “Last year, I was on the outside of the track, so I was in the mix of the fans, and I was right next to all the teams in their pits. It’s just incredible.”

In addition to the Little 500, Owen has had alternatives to {photograph} the Big 10 Championship soccer recreation at Lucas Oil Stadium and basketball video games on the street and at dwelling.

Urbanski and Jones each work for the IU Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, which helped them comply with the IU soccer workforce throughout their historic wins in Oregon, at the 2025 Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and National Championship.

Grace Urbanski shows a few shots to her fellow classmates in The Media School’s Sports Media Laboratory course. Photo by Chris Meyer, Indiana University

Urbanski even traveled to Houston with IU soccer head coach, Curt Cignetti, as he accepted the Coach of the Year Award. She stated each expertise has been rewarding and worthwhile, however she has a gentle spot in her coronary heart for the Little 500. It’s the occasion that she appears ahead to yearly – not only for the pleasure, however for the group.

“I think that the community aspect is what keeps me coming back and just being able to make friendships with people that you never thought you would meet through something like this has been super neat,” Urbanski stated.

Students at The Media School typically work together beyond the classroom as they cowl happenings round the Bloomington campus. Working in scholar media and taking programs like Sports Media Laboratory helps them create connections with their friends and mentors which have a long-lasting influence.

“It’s very unique because at The Media School you get to know everybody so well,” Owen stated. “I think that’s very important, especially in the media field, to know people and to network. It’s an unbreakable bond between everybody – from if you’re a photographer, to broadcast, to beat reporting – everybody’s just so close.”

Check out extra of the students’ images featured on the Escape Collective’s website.