Courtesy of SnapLocally.com
If two guys box but nothing is ever written or pictures taken, did
it really happen? In Minnesota there is no worry of that taking place.
We are lucky to have some incredibly talented photo masters. I am very
thankful that SnapLocally.com, 13twentythree.com, Walters
Photography and Jesse Kelley MinnesotaBoxing.com for the photos
they have allowed me to use with our stories. I had originally asked to
do some interviews with Mark Walters and Rich Peterson
(13twentythree.com) about 5 or 6 months ago, but then boxing news got
crazy and time slipped by. Since then I have had the good fortune to be
able to also use photos from Jesse Kelley and
Jason (SnapLocally.com). We sent out some questions to all four of
these shooting pros and plan on sharing with you as they come back.
Below are a few pictures from SnapLocally.com and some more information
about Jason and his photography.
Kenny Kost and Matt Vanda/ SnapLocally.com
M…. When did you realize you had the gift of capturing moments?
Jason….When names I had originally known from tv were wanting to give me money?
I’d say when the fan mail started rolling in. Well,
technically it starts as fan mail, then turns to “can you give me
some advice?”, which I guess you could say is a pretty good
compliment, too.
M…. Is sports photography your primary focus?
Jason….Yeah, I’d say it’s about 80% of what I do in photography, and where I’ve made most of my money.
M….What is the work you are most proud of in your photography?
Jason….If I pared it down to one
particular shot, it would no doubt be the Brad Imes gogoplata shot
(Brad being best known from season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter, making
the finals against Rashad Evans). In my estimation it put me on the
proverbial map, and also marks the first time I was published and paid
by a magazine, MMA Worldwide. It was the “Best of 2007″
issue, and sandwiched between all these Pride and UFC shots was this
shot I had taken at the Target Center at a one-time-only promotion.
Brad won “Submission of the Year” (against Zak Jensen, who
happens to be on season 10 of TUF), and my shot was turning up all over
the internet on all the major MMA sites, including several
international ones.
M…. Were you snapping shots before digital came along?
Jason….Before digital photography was the
de facto photographic medium, I would often use a video camera and
capture video stills, basically digitizing a non-digital format. And
around the same time, I’d scan photos from film cameras. As far
as shooting film, not really- I did very little, and never owned any
serious equipment until I went digital.
M…. Do you think anything is lost in the digital era of photography?
Jason….The principles of photography are
the same; digital is just a different format. If a photographer that
started with film were to make the transition, it was a relatively
easy, albeit an expensive one.
My problem isn’t what’s been lost, it’s what
photography has gained- a bunch of shitty “photographers”.
Anyone can go to Walmart, pick up some camera equipment, and proclaim
themselves to be a photographer. The digital format has definitely
brought the lower end of photography up, but no amount of expensive
equipment will turn a marginal hobbyist into a good photographer.
M…. What has been the greatest boxing event you have shot?
Jason….In terms of the event itself, that
has to be Bonsante vs. Vanda. Man, I was really green at that point,
and hadn’t shot more than maybe five events (all previous events
being MMA) at the time, and only had my first
“professional” camera for maybe a month. My shots really
weren’t very good by any standard, but the event itself was
great, and certainly the biggest event I’ve had the pleasure of
shooting.
M….What fighters do you seem to get the best pictures of?
Jason….If I’m looking at the big
picture, I’d also have include a pair of brothers who are
MuayThai fighters, Adam and Dave Morin. These guys are pretty brutal
fighters- shins like baseball bats; knees like sledge hammers.
In MMA, I’d probably give the nod to Jeremy “The
Landlord” Lang. He’s got a strong wrestling base, and likes
to take guys down with big slams. Plus, I just like the way he bleeds.
In boxing, Matt Vanda, no question. He likes to fight. He can take
a punch, he dishes them out. He’s a performer. From a
photographic point of view, when I think of my best work in boxing with
consistency, it’s the guys that aren’t afraid to trade, and
he fits that bill, and delivers in every fight of his I’ve been
to.
M…. If you had to pick your best combat photography, MMA or Boxing, what would it be, and who was in it?
Courtesy of SnapLocally.com
Jason….It’s an apples and oranges proposition. I can get great shots out of both, but for different reasons.
Boxing is 100% stand-up action (unless of course it’s a KO),
and as such, the action is somewhat more predictable. Other elements,
such as open ropes to shoot through, and water/sweat/blood being
sprayed when the punches land make for more visually stunning shots.
MMA can be pretty unpredictable, and you never know where the fight
is going- it might stay up on the feet; it might go to the ground; it
could end up on the far side of the cage, it might end up directly in
front of you, or if in a ring, it could end up outside altogether.
Fights can end just as fast as they started, particularly on the
regional level.
Generally speaking, boxing gives me cleaner, more dazzling action on the feet, and a higher punches landing ratio. MMA
on the other hand gives me more of an opportunity to prove my worth as
a photographer, precisely because of the level of difficulty it takes
to get a good shot, never mind dozens of them.
M…. How did you get involved in shooting combat sports?
Jason….I met a fighter- a friend of a
friend- and asked if they were looking for a photographer. After I
covered my first event, I decided I was a “fight
photographer”, and proceeded to convince others that I was as
well. It worked; I’ve shot over 50 events now in the last 3 years.
M….Would you be snapping shots professionally if not for boxing and MMA?
Jason….I doubt that I’d have the
level of commitment to photography that I have without Combat Sports. I
learned most of what I know about photography by the side of a cage. I
was certainly ok as a hobbyist, but I wouldn’t have taken that
next step of investing in equipment if I didn’t see the potential
for a return. That said, I’ve made money outside of Combat Sports
with photography, but it was my involvement with the fight sports that
allowed me to take my work to the next level in the first place.
M…. Do you have a studio? Do you shoot graduation pictures, weddings, children?
Jason….I have a home office with studio space, though I rarely use my studio equipment. I’m much happier out on assignment.
Once in a while I shoot kids and families, but also music, events,
and I’ve even worked for a “gentlemans club” on a
number of occasions. I’m open for whatever work comes my way,
though Combat Sports is my true calling.
M…. How can people get in touch with you?
Jason….I encourage people to check out my site:
www.SnapLocally.com and if they like what they see, my contact information is available to them on the site.
