SAN DIEGO — Covering a live sporting event as a photographer can be both exciting and dangerous.
In this Zevely Zone, I met a photographer who isn't letting a rare eye disease stop him from living his dream. "This is my favorite photo of the San Diego Enforcers winning their national title," said 32-year-old David Frerker.
He wanted to play Major League Baseball but after suffering an injury in high school, David was forced to focus on a new career. "Sports is my life, it's my passion," said David.
From taking pictures of Tony Hawk to Bethany Hamilton, in the past ten years, David has shot a million pictures as a sports photographer.
"This is Gotham celebrating their championship victory," said David. "This is San Diego Sockers Kraig Chiles with a perfect header. I've shot basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, football, swimming, diving."
David's favorite athlete of all time was Tony Gwynn.
"He is my idol, ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be like him," said David.
That's why David went to San Diego State just like Tony.
"This is San Diego State women's soccer celebrating their Mountain West regular season championship," said David who excels at his craft despite suffering from a rare eye disease called Keratoconus.
"It's where the cornea is in the shape of a pyramid instead of being flat," said David.
How hard is it to be a photographer with an eye disease?
"It is very difficult," said David.
The disease creates a blind spot for David on the field of play.
"I did get hit shooting Padres two weeks ago, I got a line drive to the head," said David. "I had a concussion for about two weeks."
"I've broken lenses, I've broken cameras, I've broken a monopod, I broken myself," said David.
All to snap that winning shot of Alex Morgan.
"This one went viral on Twitter and had over 20,000 views of it within 12 hours of it being posted," said David. "There's nothing better."
It's not always, the game-winning score. "Ha, ha it's about three gallons worth," said David.
Sometimes the magical moments are captured after the game.
"This is Lincoln Riley getting eggnog dumped on him following USC's win over Louisville in the Holiday Bowl last year," said David.
To a sports photographer victory is the perfect picture. I asked David how his head was feeling. "It's feeling a lot better," said David.
His head may be fuzzy but David's delivery is always crystal clear.
"Anything for the shot," said the photographer.
David Frerker is the definition of taking one for the team.
More than seven hundred of David's pictures have been published in fourteen countries around the world. For more information about his career, click here.