Just two weeks after landing his first cover of Sports Illustrated, Fresno State photographer Cary Edmondson has done it again. Edmondson’s photo of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is one of four regional covers for the Sept. 2 Sports Illustrated NFL Preview issue.
“Lightning strikes twice. I didn’t know if I’d ever get another Sports Illustrated cover shot again,” Edmondson said. “I had the same reaction my mom did. She sent me a text message saying, ‘What is going on? I’m crying over here, now I’m laughing. I can’t believe this.’”
Edmondson, a 2003 graduate of Fresno State and former photo editor of The Collegian student newspaper, now works primarily for Fresno State’s University Communications department photographing campus life. But on weekends — when he’s not shooting Fresno State news or events — he often travels to the Bay Area to photograph professional sporting events for USA Today Sports.
Edmondson’s latest cover image was captured during the 49ers’ 27-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Dec. 30 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Fresno State fans are familiar with Kaepernick, their former conference rival. In 2007, Kaepernick, a Turlock native, made his college debut at Nevada in a 49-41 loss to the Bulldogs.
Though having one of his photos make the cover of the iconic sports magazine was the No. 1 item on Edmondson’s professional bucket list, he said getting a Fresno State photo on the cover would be even more special.
“If Fresno State football has as big a year as we’re all hoping for, maybe Derek Carr will be on a cover this season, just like his big brother was in 2001,” Edmondson said. “I’ll definitely be taking plenty of photos of him.”
In 2001, when Fresno State was 6-0 and ranked No. 8 in the nation, then-Fresno State quarterback David Carr appeared on the cover of the magazine with the headline, “Fresno? Yep. Unheralded Fresno State is knocking off college football’s big boys.”
Fresno State opens its 2013 season 7:30 p.m. Thursday Aug. 29, hosting Rutgers. Edmondson will be on the sidelines covering the game.
For more information, contact Edmondson at 559.278.4656.
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