"They" say, that life begins at the end of your comfort zone..and "they" may be right.
This week I went to photograph a boxing club, just for fun.I had never been to a boxing ring, and figured this would be far enough outside my comfort zone to prove interesting, and I was prepared. Prepared to be the only female in the place, prepared for stink and sweat, low light, crude language & not being able to use a flash..
If I thought band photography was challenging, this was about to take it up a notch. Low light, constant jarring motion, unexpected shouts, trying to not be a distraction and really no where to move (I was standing on a chair to see over the ropes do to my short family gene pool) & the large window dictated that I only shoot from one side of the ring.
If I could get a fast enough shutter speed, I couldn't get enough depth of field, even cranking my iso.. so I decided to just have fun with it..Once I realized I wasn't going to get "what I wanted" I just played.. with noise, angles, compositions etc. hoping I could get some shots to at least play with in Nik Software...something gritty, grainy and contrasty - something different and fun.
Well... its gonna take a few more tries but I am going back!
There is an adrenaline rush there, an intensity, a concentration, a respect for each other, and challenges to be conquered photographically.
And of course I want to get "the shot"... the one I take standing on the side of the ring where it looks like I am about to be knocked out..
Anyone familiar with my "shleprock stories" will understand that when I do get that shot, there will probably be "a story behind it" if not an ER bill to go with it....
I would like to thank Lloyd Jones of the Newport News Boxing club for granting me full access, and for all the wonderful guys training who were so nice.. & willing to put on a show.
This week I went to photograph a boxing club, just for fun.I had never been to a boxing ring, and figured this would be far enough outside my comfort zone to prove interesting, and I was prepared. Prepared to be the only female in the place, prepared for stink and sweat, low light, crude language & not being able to use a flash..
If I thought band photography was challenging, this was about to take it up a notch. Low light, constant jarring motion, unexpected shouts, trying to not be a distraction and really no where to move (I was standing on a chair to see over the ropes do to my short family gene pool) & the large window dictated that I only shoot from one side of the ring.
If I could get a fast enough shutter speed, I couldn't get enough depth of field, even cranking my iso.. so I decided to just have fun with it..Once I realized I wasn't going to get "what I wanted" I just played.. with noise, angles, compositions etc. hoping I could get some shots to at least play with in Nik Software...something gritty, grainy and contrasty - something different and fun.
Well... its gonna take a few more tries but I am going back!
There is an adrenaline rush there, an intensity, a concentration, a respect for each other, and challenges to be conquered photographically.
And of course I want to get "the shot"... the one I take standing on the side of the ring where it looks like I am about to be knocked out..
Anyone familiar with my "shleprock stories" will understand that when I do get that shot, there will probably be "a story behind it" if not an ER bill to go with it....
I would like to thank Lloyd Jones of the Newport News Boxing club for granting me full access, and for all the wonderful guys training who were so nice.. & willing to put on a show.
