Andrew tronick

GO PRO

I can no longer call myself an amateur photographer. I still do, but since I signed a contract in April 2022 with the Monterey Herald to shoot the Big Sur International Marathon and they paid me, technically, I guess I’m now a professional. Or at least I was a couple of months ago for a day.

My dad has always been an avid amateur photographer and after moving back to California in the early 90s, he got a little more serious about it. I don’t remember who had the idea, or how it started exactly, but sending photo calendars out to family, friends and co-workers, over the holidays, became an annual tradition. And it was serious business. My mom, dad, sister and I reviewed all the candidates, narrowed them down to a short list and picked a photo for each month, plus one for the front cover.

In late 2011 and early 2012 my dad developed severe arthritis and couldn’t carry or operate his camera gear. Of course, we were all concerned for his health, but my sister had real priorities. If our dad was out of commission, she would not have a calendar to send to her piano student’s families. She called me, demanding that I get dad’s gear, learn how to use it, and start taking photos. I wasn’t interested, but she persisted, and I relented. 

I spent a weekend up in Santa Cruz with my parents’ for a few lessons on the back deck, and came home with his gear. I was still leery of the whole plan, but fortunately, living on the Monterey Bay, I didn’t really need one. 

My wife and I (at the time fiancé and also an avid amateur photographer) were spending a lot of time on the water, over the Monterey Canyon, which was and still is teeming with sea life. Our first trip out after I picked up my dad’s camera gear, I captured a once in a lifetime shot of a humpback whale breaching and I was hooked! We kept the annual photo calendar tradition going, my sister was happy, and I had a new hobby.

In 2018 I put up a website, my wife and I did a joint show (including my dad’s work) at an arts and crafts fair, and we actually sold some pieces, my wife outselling my dad and I combined! I also donated some work to the Big Sur International Marathon Foundation, with whom I’d volunteered as a mobile medical team coordinator for 10 plus years. 

In 2019, the volunteer photography coordinator for the marathon retired. She had coordinated the photographers every year since the inaugural race in 1986. I missed the meeting where I agreed to take over her operations, but apparently, that happened. I had one race as the volunteer photography coordinator, then the marathon had a two-year Covid hiatus.

I got the old team together for the 2022 Big Sur International Marathon, added a few new faces and was more than ready to photograph the marathon for a second time as a volunteer. About a week before the race though, the marathon’s marketing director called me and asked if I’d been interested in also shooting the race as a Herald correspondent. The paper’s managing editor had called and asked her if she could recommend someone. We emailed, texted and talked; I filled out some paperwork, signed a contract and a week later had my first front page! #opentoassignments

Links to Monterey Herald Articles

Runners’ high: Big Sur International Marathon returns making many happy runners – Monterey Herald

Big Sur Marathon: Tropf defends his men’s title, Flower wins women’s race – Monterey Herald
 

Big Sur Marathon

Wildlife & Nature

See more of Andrew Tronick’s work at phototronick.com

Contact photos@tronick.com about print inquiries.