Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

SnapLocally

I took these last night:

humanrr

Number 4 looks like an eyepoke should have been called.

Where were these taken? The lighting looks pretty minimal.

SnapLocally

These were taken in the ballroom of a Hyatt Regency hotel, and the lighting was indeed absolutely minimal.

Here's what I take when I'm given tv lighting:

Boxing: http://snaplocally.com/121809

MMA: http://snaplocally.com/42410

humanrr

Really nice pics. Out of curiosity, which did you shoot first, pro events with good lighting, or amateur events with poor lighting?

I often wonder about the roads other cagefight photographers take and how it affects their development. My first 5 or 6 gigs were all pro and/or televised with excellent lighting. When I shot my first amateur event in a warehouse I almost had a heart-attack when I saw the "lighting". It was like poultry heating lamps or something...

SnapLocally wrote: »

These were taken in the ballroom of a Hyatt Regency hotel, and the lighting was indeed absolutely minimal.

Here's what I take when I'm given tv lighting:

Boxing: http://snaplocally.com/121809

MMA: http://snaplocally.com/42410

GadgetRick

I know I've been shooting (mainly) amateur fights. The Ring of Combat XXX was my first pro fight with great lighting. It's certainly easier to get cage access at amateur fights.

SnapLocally

I started off with "pro" events in poor lighting almost 4 years ago. I was using a Sony 717 for my first 2 events and went to a Canon XTi and a used Tamron for another year. I had very little photography experience prior to my first event- that's largely where I learned how to shoot.

I often wonder about the roads other cagefight photographers take and how it affects their development. My first 5 or 6 gigs were all pro and/or televised with excellent lighting. When I shot my first amateur event in a warehouse I almost had a heart-attack when I saw the "lighting".

I think most photographers that started off in tv lighting have that same difficulty adjusting to the small venues. There's just no easy way to transition from arena lighting tailored for the cameras to ambient lighting fit for a broom closet; starting small and working up is far easier.

Foques

wow! another set of awesome captures!
I really hope to get a chance to shoot some fights some day.. sigh