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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2008-03-09
Alexander wins Photo of the Day at Sports Shooter Academy V
Workshop participants photograph softball, volleyball, boxing, portaits and more during second day of shooting.
By Crystal Chatham
Photo by Adam Alexander
THIS PICTURE WON PHOTO OF THE DAY: Columbian native Samuel Miller prepares himself for a sparring match during his daily workout at La Habra Boxing Club. Miller who has been boxing for 12 years moved to the U.S to advance his boxing career.
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Situational awareness, patience and preparation paid off for SportsShooter.com member and Ball State University senior Adam Alexander on Friday, March 7 as his poignant portrait of a Columbian boxer was named Photo of the Day at Sports Shooter Academy V which is currently under way in Southern California.
The Muncie, Indiana based photojournalism major followed the daily workout of Columbian native Samuel Miller during a location shoot at La Habra Boxing Club in La Habra, Calif. "I'd worked with him throughout the day," Alexander said of the shoot. "When he was getting ready to spar his face had an odd intensity to it. I was right there and just saw it."
Alexander worked quickly with a 17-35/2.8 wide angle lens and made only two frames of the moment. "I didn't talk to the boxer about it at all. I don't think he even realized I was shooting."
Though the image was captured in color, Alexander chose to transmit the frame as a monochromatic still. "The gloves on the left and right were blue and red, his headgear was yellow, and the Ali poster was in black and white," he explained. "At first I liked the colors but then I dropped it into black and white and I think it made a stronger image."
Academy faculty member and San Diego Union-Tribune staff photographer Sean Haffey agreed. "The gym lends itself to black and white because it's gritty."
Haffey conducted the student's evening faculty edit and image review. "He had a lot of good stuff," Haffey said reflecting on Alexander's take. "He had eight or nine strong images to choose from and he only needed to transmit four."
Alexander's image received critical praise during The Academy's morning slideshow and faculty critique. Academy founder and USA TODAY staff photographer Robert Hanashiro cited the photo's ambiance as a highlight.
"Adam's photograph has that classic look. It could have been in Philadelphia or Detroit or Louisville, Kentucky in 1940 or 1960...but it was shot today in a converted church in Orange County, Calif." Hanashiro said of the image.
Photo by Susanica Tam / Sports Shooter
Faculty member and freelance photographer Matt Brown gives advice to participant Sawitree Crowe while covering an NCAA men's baseball game at Cal State Fullerton during Sports Shooter Academy V being held in Orange County, CA.
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"Boxing gyms, especially small community ones like La Habra, are filled with character, tradition and these little details that you just don't find in most sports these days."
As a Photo of the Day winner, the portrait is in contention for the Academy's award for Best Single Image. A variety of awards will be handed out Sunday during the Academy's final slideshow and wrap-up brunch. Sports Shooter Academy V kicked off Wednesday with more than 50 student and professional photographers participating in five day hands-on shooting workshop.
In addition to boxing, Friday's shooting schedule featured the Long Beach Invitational collegiate softball tournament with game action between eight schools including Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Northwestern, and Big West Conference schools. Men's and women's collegiate tennis matches were on the schedule as well as men's collegiate volleyball at two locations with California State Long Beach at home against Stanford and UC Irvine hosting UCLA. In two classroom sessions, participants learned small-scale high impact lighting techniques using speedlights under the direction of Los Angeles Times staff photographer Myung Chun. Simultaneously at the Orange County Register studio, Academy photographers participated in a studio sports portrait session with returning faculty member and Register staff photographer Mike Goulding.
Other faculty members include Los Angeles Times staff photographers Wally Skalij, Southern California based freelancer Donald Miralle and Academy co-founder Matt Brown. The workshop is supported by Samy's Camera, Canon USA, and Think Tank Photo.
Related Links:
Sports Shooter Academy
Sports Shooter Academy V kicks off in Southern California
Shooting commences at Sports Shooter Academy V
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