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THROUGH THE EYES OF A ‘BYRD’: Well-known local photographer Daniel Byrd shares how his hobby originated
SIKESTON — Daniel Byrd, a well-known photographer in the Sikeston community, has spent the last few years serving the community through the lens of his camera, capturing their most special moments.
For the past few years, Byrd has become a familiar face at Sikeston Public Schools events, volunteering to photograph sports at Sikeston High School and other community events.
Recently, Byrd, who is 69, shared with the Standard Democrat his story of how he got started in the craft.
“I’ve always been intrigued by photography,” Byrd said. “I have had some little point-shoot cameras, just really kind of family stuff years ago.”
Prior to 2014, Byrd said he had purchased a digital single-lens reflex, or DSLR, camera but knew little about it.
“At first, I didn’t know how to use it,” Byrd said. “So I thought, ‘I need to find a photography class.’ Then I found a class through the Sikeston Career and Technology Center and it was taught by Kyle Carter and it just went from there.”
According to Byrd, after a few photography classes, Sikeston High School’s sports season began and he started taking photos at events for practice.
Today Byrd can be seen at a Sikeston High School sporting event almost every week. He not only photographs all of the Sikeston High School sports, but he has photographed formal pictures, corporate headshots, family portraits, senior pictures and community events.
Byrd said his photography has evolved over the 10 years and has become much more than a hobby. He now has a website where parents with children who participate in sports can pay to download or order specific prints.
Byrd added that he posts photo albums via Facebook from all of the sports and events he covers.
According to Byrd, his favorite images to capture are of sports.
“I love sports photography because that is just as candid as it comes,” Byrd said. “Trying to catch a baseball on the barrel of the bat or the ball coming off a pitcher’s fingers or a basketball player hanging on to the rim or that soccer kick with facial expressions is amazing to capture.”
Byrd discussed some of his favorite moments from capturing sports photography at Sikeston High School.
“P.J. Farmer, a Sikeston basketball player, this year got his 1,000th point,” Byrd said, “And it just happened that a dunk where he was hanging on the rim and he happened to just face over toward me at the perfect time — and it came out great.
Byrd continued: “And at the time, I wasn’t even aware that it was his 1,000th point.”
Byrd said he also volunteers to take pictures every week at his church, First United Methodist in Sikeston.
“I edit them and post them, and then I give our pastor the pictures every week in a Google drive folder so she can choose whatever she wants to do with that,” he said.
Byrd said one aspect of photography that others may not be aware of is how much time he devotes to ensuring that his photos turn out great.
“Taking that picture is just the beginning,” said Byrd whose full-time job is selling cars. “There’s also storage capacity, the time you put into looking through hundreds or even a thousand pictures.
Byrd continued: “You know a basketball game starts at 6 p.m. I’ll get there a little bit early and all, take pictures the whole game and then after junior varsity and varsity, the games are over at about 9 p.m. Then it may take me three hours to go through and edit everything.”
According to Byrd, he never expected his photography to evolve into what it is today, and he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community and the school.
“I am most grateful for the relationships that have developed as a result of the gift of photography and the trust the community has placed in me to capture special moments for them to cherish for years to come.
Byrd continued: “It’s been a blessing to be able to give back to the community, and I think that most people appreciate it.”