Action in the Dark

As a professional sports photographer one of the challenges I face is stopping action in low light situations. The physical difficulties (shutter speed, aperture, ISO) are topics for a different post. I wanted to take a few minutes to share a little secret about black and white images. Contrast is the amount of difference between the light areas of a photograph and the dark areas. In black and white images this tonal difference can be exploited easily. Without the distraction of colors, our brains can only work with what our eyes supply, or… contrast. When our eyes detect a sharp difference between adjoining sections of a picture, the edges look sharp, crisp and clean. Look around the face of the fighter in the background and down the muscles in his arm. The sweat looks exact, precise, and defined. The opposite occurs when gradual shades of gray are prominent, like on the shoulder of the fighter on the ground. Molding this very distinct attribute of contrast in a picture can lead the observer around the photograph, their eyes lingering in different places. It’s all about me showing you something I thought you should see, and using the camera to bring it to you.

By the way, the picture was taken at Harrah’s Casino during the XFE 36 Mixed Martial Arts event that took place last Friday night. My pictures from the fight are on their website.

February 21, 2014: Josh Key (white  gloves) sits atop Elder Ramos (black gloves)during the XFE 36 MMA event at Harrah's Philadelphia Casino in Philadelphia, PA.

February 21, 2014: Josh Key (white  gloves) lands a punch to the nose of Elder Ramos (black gloves)during the XFE 36 MMA event at Harrah's Philadelphia Casino in Philadelphia, PA.

Bobby Gunn vs. Glen Johnson

Lately I’ve had the opportunity to photograph some boxing events. Last evening I was covering the Bobby Gunn vs. Glen Johnson match put on by Xtreme Fighting Events at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA. After watching these two professionals hammer on each other for eight rounds, Glen Johnson was declared the winner. As the official was announcing the results, Bobby Gunn (green plaid trunks) requested the use of the microphone and announced that he was retiring from boxing. He said that he wanted his last fight to be against a true champion, and for his son to watch him fight. It showed that even though two men, who just spent the better part of 45 minutes beating on each other, were human, and had emotions just like the rest of us. What father wouldn’t want his son to be proud? What man wouldn’t want their last stand to be against a true champion? Who wouldn’t give every last breath for their family?

Best wishes in your retirement Bobby Gunn.

These are a couple of my favorite pictures of him from last night.

XFE Cage War Photography

I was asked to photograph the XFE Cage War #26 at Harrah’s Casino in Chester, PA that took place last Saturday evening. I had been apprehensive about the assignment for a few weeks. I don’t watch events where people beat each other up on television. I don’t particularly like the sight of blood or pain, and I have no idea why anyone would want to harm another human being.

I learned a lot Saturday night.

I learned that there’s much more to cage fighting than violence and giant amounts of testosterone. I saw young men overcome fear, practice a discipline, hone skills, develop their art form, be good sportsmen, and call upon inner strength. For people who used to think like I did before I saw it, MMA or Mixed Martial Arts fighting is profoundly deeper than what it is glorified as on television. Just like NASCAR is more than driving in circles, like playing the piano is more than pushing the correct keys, like writing a novel is more than putting words on a piece of paper, cage fighting is much more than two people beating the crap out of each other.

I had to watch closely what was happening at all times. I was there to capture it and share it with the world that wasn’t there. I was stationed on the floor about 3 feet below the elevated cage. I leaned across an eighteen inch wide catwalk that encircled the entire ring. My lenses were often pressed against the cage and I shot through the holes when I could. Athletes crashed and pounded into the iron inches from my face as I clicked away. I could feel the heat from their bodies, hear their gasps and grunts, smell their fear and see their determination.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I hope mine bring you a closer, more intimate look at these pugilistic warriors. I never turned away while I photographed the fights because I could see the emotions that flooded out of these competitors with every move.

Long live the fighters!

My pictures from the event are on the Independence Sports Magazine website: XFE Cage War #26