wrestling photos

expendable · Jan 26, 2007

The kid's job was to win the match. Yours was to report.

Which one failed to do his job?

Clever username · Jan 27, 2007

crimsonace said:

One thing about wrestling that makes it different than just about every other sport ...

Usually, the "offensive" wrestler has his face down toward the mat, away from the light (which is coming from above) and the camera lens, trying to squeeze the other guy onto his back. Fill-flash can work, but you've got to be a rather experienced photog to make it work (and even then, it's not easy in wrestling).

Meanwhile, the guy getting pinned usually a) has a great expression, because he's trying to get out of a hold, and b) has a face that's looking *directly* at the light. He's more likely to be looking at your camera than away from it. Therefore, it's more likely that your best art is going to be of guys getting stuck.

And, with wrestling, most mats are dark-colored (and therefore absorb light), therefore you get no reflection from the floor that might illuminate the "offensive" wrestler's face -- like you would in basketball or hockey (the rink is the ultimate white card).

If you get the chance to shoot from above (e.g., a balcony), you can get some great stuff. Unfortunately, it's probably all going to be of guys getting pinned. The best wrestling photo I ever shot was from an overhead balcony, of a guy getting pinned, grimacing, looking straight up into my camera. Our photog (a former HS wrestler) told me "great shot, but that kid is going to get it on Monday."

I used to shoot a regional tournament where one of the mats was Carolina blue and actually did reflect light (shooting at that mat was two stops brighter than the other mat). I'd shoot there, because I could usually get decent shots of both wrestlers, but it used to give this really freaky blue tint to all of my shots.
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You took pictures of who with what in where?

Crazy photogs.

HandsomeHarley · Jan 27, 2007

chazp said:

Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! said:

fishwrapper said:

I ran this photo 5 columns last week. Any thoughts?

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Why does Eugene Levy have his hands down that kids pants?
Are they making another American Pie?
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That photo is as queer as a three-dollar bill.
I hope your cutline was..."Coach DirtyOldMan checks out his wrestler's package.."
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"Coach helps Georgia Smith adjust his willie before his match ..."

KYSportsWriter · Jan 27, 2007

Gotta take the good with the bad and vice versa.

Trouser_Buddah · Jan 27, 2007

I worked for a sports editor that was annoying as hell about artwork. He didn't take photos, and I did...

Whoever made the biggest play of a game or was mentioned more prominently in a story, I had to search for a pic of that kid rather than use the best art. Incredibly frustrating as great pictures sat in a folder while average photos of 'his boy' ran on the front.

If a kid scores 30 points in a dominating effort, of course. But if his steal in the third quarter starts a 12-2 run that lead to a victory...come on.

crimsonace · Jan 28, 2007

Clever username said:

You took pictures of who with what in where?

Crazy photogs.
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Actually, I'm an ex-SE who used to shoot my own stuff.

Put more simply, the best wrestling art is going to be of the guy who's losing, because he's actually looking up. The guy who's winning is almost always face-down.

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wrestling photos

expendable Well-Known Member

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HandsomeHarley Well-Known Member

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wrestling photos

expendable Well-Known Member

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