Emma Howells, The Players’ Tribune Portfolio

The Belmont Stakes for The New York Times

Features and Event Coverage

The Belmont Stakes was an opportunity to capture not only high-stakes events but also the atmosphere of race day and tell a more complete story of the experience.

Justify won the third leg of the Triple Crown, becoming the 13th horse in the history of the sport to win all three.

Dr. Michael Jensen for Terp Magazine

Pitching, Research, Portraiture

With this shoot, I wanted to evoke gravity of Jensen’s research into domestic radicalization and terrorism. I chose to use dramatic lighting and a barren room to echo the unsettling nature of his subject material.

I developed this pitch with the Artistic Director and executed the final portrait, which ran in the Winter ‘21 issue of the magazine.

Terp Magazine

Image Research, Photo Editing

The University of Maryland’s quarterly magazine publication, circulation 120,000.

Much of my research spans the University archives but it also encompasses communicating with outside collections and licensing from wire services to secure external assets to publish.

The Hue of High Street

Concept, Lighting, Portraiture

Every year while working on the school paper, I covered Fest Season, the period of spring semester when students throw massive, alcohol-soaked block parties.

My final year at school, I wanted to capture the traditional chaos in a new way. I chose to focus on jerseys, typically an item of clothing meant to identify an individual, but in this instance the uniform of the crowd.

Don’t Wait for Green

Photography, Writing and Reporting

“We take off on yellow,” David Kinney describes the Mineral Wells ATV Club practice of hitting the gas before the yellow lights on the “Christmas Tree” countdown turn green.

“You have to spin to get momentum, or you’re going to get beat.” 

Kinney would know. He has been a member of the club for 30 years and has been drag racing even longer. Kinney explains an alternate strategy: make the bikes as light as possible.  This means a certain benefit for many of the competitors registered today: Girls are typically lighter, and Kinney admits, usually have faster reflexes.

It’s midnight and 16-year-old Megan Jones is lining up for the final race of the day at the Washington County Fair. She’s facing her usual rival at the club, Brian Schott, who just turned 60. 

The 44-year age difference does not hinder Megan’s inclination towards good-natured trash talk. “We’re best friends but when we pull up to the line? I can’t stand him,” she said.

Age-defying match-ups are common in most dirt drag racing classes, aside from the few classes judged on age or gender like “Power Wheels,” the 5-and-under battery-powered toy ATV racing division. 

Like earlier tonight, when Marianna O’Brien raced her daughter Roseanna and won. 

But by this hour, most families have left for the night. Steadily, more and more kids have been sent home from the racetrack, heeding their parents’ warnings of impending bedtimes and school in the morning.  

Megan has different priorities.

“Whenever I walk into the office [at school], the secretaries just ask, ‘Racing again?’ and they let me sign myself out. Everyone else needs a note from their parents.”

By the time both competitors approach the starting line, the batteries on the announcers’ walkie-talkies have died and the remaining fans are attempting to yell updates to the booth. 

Megan’s dad Greg, marked by the hat bearing the words “Megan’s dad,” leans over with one more piece of advice as she rolls to a stop. He paces behind her as a volunteer confirms both racers are in position and triggers the countdown.

“We’re proud of her every day no matter what. We say, ‘if you come back in one piece, we’re happy.’” 

The light blinks yellow and the motors start to kick and within a moment, both bikes accelerate behind a plume of smoke and 4 seconds later, the race is over. 

Greg whips around to face the remaining spectators and throws both fists into the air. 

Schott’s bike had lurched a moment before the green light. Megan had taken off a beat later and won, on a technicality. 

Megan circles her bike around and takes off her helmet. A cheer erupts because finally, at midnight, it is time to go home.

God’s Plan for Pomeroy

Reporting, Producing, Filming, Audio & Video Editing

A small church on the border of Ohio and West Virginia prays for prosperity despite the town’s steadily declining population.

Additional Portfolios

My assignment photography and portraiture portfolio are available on my website, as well as my most recent work on Instagram.