Mason Haselden

“Enjoying the Carolina Cup”

CAMDEN, S.C. – As the last rays of sunrise faded, the infield of the 87th Carolina Cup began to fill. By 9 a.m., attendees swarmed the field, setting up for the day. The Springdale venue anticipated over 40,000 guests from across South Carolina and beyond, showcasing a diverse array of tailgating styles, from elaborate setups with ribbons and patterns to simple canopies behind trucks. The bright spring colors and extravagant fashion typical of the event were on full display, with suits and sundresses adding to the festive atmosphere.

Among the tailgates, the Hayes Family, marking their 30th year at the Cup, hosted an opulent setup with a windowed canopy, custom hardwood flooring, and silver platters. In contrast, a smaller family with just three members enjoyed a more modest arrangement in their truck bed. The crowd’s energy surged as the day progressed, with college students breaking into dance and excitement building for the fifth and sixth races. As the day concluded, I watched the crowd disperse, reflecting on the diversity and vibrancy of the event, which exceeded my expectations and provided a memorable experience during my time at USC.

Nearing the latter half of the rac, the college crowd was getting bigger and breaking intodance. While I probably interrupted a few dance circles, I was able to capture the pure energyfrom the crowd. The audience grows more and more excited as it gets closer to the fifth andsixth races, as they gather closely to the rails. The reactions of each audience member arepriceless, and I was more than grateful to be a part of the excitement. I end the day with a long,brisk walk to our tent, watching the sea of people leave. I almost envy those who got tocelebrate and tailgate, as it seemed to be such a great time. Nevertheless, I was able to havethe same experience. The diversity of the crowd challenged my predisposed ideas of who Ithought would attend the Carolina Cup. I was honored to have this kind of experience during mytime at USC

Mason Haseldon

I’m currently majoring in Visual Communications at the university, where I’ve had a very productive and positive experience since diving into photography during my freshman year. I mainly use my Canon 60D with a 50mm f/1.8 lens but also borrow other digital and film cameras, frequently working with Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere to enhance my skills. You can view my photos and keepsakes on my VSCO gallery: https://vsco.co/masonhaselden/gallery.

View Mason’s work on his semester story.