Wrestling shots 2 yrs old

[OrcaBob]

I photographed high school wrestling extensively two years ago. I skipped a year last year, but I'll be doing more this year. Until then, here are a few shots from two years ago.

Attachments:

[OrcaBob]

And another...

Attachments:

[juanita]

Those are some great action photos!!! Ouch...

[OrcaBob]

Thanks, Juanita!

This next one's my all-time favorite wrestling shot. (Very low-res and noisy copy. I'll try to locate a cleaner version and repost it.)

One note about flash in sports photography: If I'd taken this shot with flash instead of working with more problematic ambient light, all you'd see would be the two wrestlers. The background would be black. IMO, the background adds so much to the mood and dynamism of the shot. You are there...

Attachments:

[OrcaBob]

Sept 15, 2009 6:29:55 GMT -5 juanita said:

Those are some great action photos!!! Ouch...

"Ouch" is right. In wrestling, we were taught how to take an arm right out of the shoulder socket just so we wouldn't accidentally do it in a match. Actually, we were taught a number of ways to break bones or tear soft tissue (tendons, ligaments, etc) just so we'd know what moves and holds to avoid.

Of course, there were times in matches when we'd sometimes intentionally get CLOSE to using one of those holds, just to send a message to the opponent, mostly when they'd be using a dirty tactic and you'd give them a warning to stop it. In essence, "I could've ripped your arm out but didn't. But if you wanna play dirty, I can play dirty, too."

In that first image, though, the pain hold is being used in a legitimate -- though violent -- way. A non-injurious pain hold can be used to induce an opponent into moving the way you want him to. In this case, onto his back.

[Steve (FloppyDog)]

I've heard many sports photographers express the importance of knowing the sport for effective photography. These photos show Bob’s intimate knowledge of this sport.

[OrcaBob]

Being in the press pool for many tournaments two seasons ago, it was easy to tell which photographers knew the sport and which ones didn't. The ones who didn't were reacting and chasing -- and missing a lot of -- the really esoteric action. I was one of only two photographers on the local circuit who were former wrestlers. The non-wrestlers shot the obvious action; the ex-wrestlers shot everything.

When I entered the press pool, many of the photographers were openly disdainful. It was a great feeling to give some of those guys some coaching on what to expect from certain wrestlers in certain situations. And when those wrestlers popped those moves as predicted, respect and credibility quickly followed.

The other key aspect of shooting sports successfully is respect, both of the participants and the fellow photographers. When the refs realized that I was a former wrestler and respected the sport (knowing where I could shoot from, never wearing street shoes onto the mat, etc), the refs and coaches gave me access they didn't allow the regular press and other photographers. Getting to shoot from on the mat (not just the very edge of it) meant better shots, but it could also create a hazard for the athletes if the photographer didn't know the sport.

And respecting other photographers' "lines of fire" was huge. Even just trying to be aware of another photographer's shot meant a lot. And conversely, when shooting past another photographer, it was greatly appreciated when you'd tell them, "Shooting over your shoulder" or "Shooting through your legs" and then saying "Thank you! Got it!" when all is clear. Nobody likes to be a nuisance to other photographers (unless they deserve it!).

Over the course of that first wrestling season, I found that I had personal connections with a few of the refs in the area. One of the connections went back 35 years and stretched halfway across California. And once I was good with one of the refs, I was good with all of them.

It also didn't hurt to take shots of the refs in action. Some of these guys had been reffing for 30-40 years and didn't have a single picture of them in action. I gave out a few CDs and a few 8x10s and 4x6s. It was a small price to pay for an inside edge on the sport.

At every event I made a point of introducing myself to the coaches and the refs. I also asked each individual if they had any rules or requests of how and where I'd shoot. I've heard the dictum that it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, but that does NOT hold true for wrestling.

Wrestling's pretty cultish and "tribal" in nature -- teams are fairly insular, rules of hygiene and safety are strictly enforced, and respect and courtesy are huge -- but a humble approach to photographing the sport will go a long way. Respect is a powerful tool for any sports photographer, IMO.