Sport Posted On 22nd December 2022 To Magazine & Stories

"Wait, are you shooting film?"

That's the usual question I get at an event I shoot.

I started shooting sports at the same time that I even started taking photos at all. My plan was to be a documentary filmmaker, travel the world with a backpack and sleep on random couches and see how far $20 could get me. I was in an MMA gym filming and during breaks, I would randomly take a photo here and there, for no other reason than boredom. I wasn't ever going to be a photographer, who cares?

Jake Paul - Canon 1n rs and hp5

I'm never going to be a photographer

A few days later I would get an email. "I know you were filming but you didn't happen to get photos of (insert fighter name) did you?" Well actually, I did. And from there I would send over all the photos and tell them to do whatever they want with them because I didn't care. I'm never going to be a photographer. Magazine could use some photos I took? Here you go. Don't even worry about paying me. This is a random occurrence and like I said, I'm never going to be a photographer.

UFC 279 Diaz - Pentax 645n and hp5 pushed 2 stops

UFC 272 - Pentax 645n and hp5 pushed 2 stops

Mox Omega - Canon 1nrs and Delta 3200

Film to keep the love of photography going

This continued on for months until eventually I was spending half my time filming and half my time taking photos. Then it became 75% taking photos. Then it became, "Sorry, I don't do video anymore." For the events I shoot now, digital is king. There's really no place for film. I can't tell the social media team, "Hey, I got a cool shot but I'll send it to you a few days from now after I develop and scan." That's not an option.  But I don't shoot film for the social media team or for PR emails. I shoot it for myself. I tell everyone that I shoot digital to pay the bills and film to keep the love of photography going.

Rhea Ripley - Canon 1n rs and hp5

Pro wrestling

While I shoot a variety of sports, I find the best place to be able to shoot as much film as I want is with pro wrestling. The performers are artists themselves and appreciate what we as photographers are trying to create. They also understand that it helps them as well, since it gives them photos they can use to post on their social media. GSP may only give me a minute to snag a portrait, but CM Punk doesn't mind sitting there as I set up the 4x5.

GSP - Pentax 645n and hp5

CM Punk - Intrepid 4x5 and Delta 100

The Gear

Gear wise, it all depends on the venue and how much space there will be backstage. If I have the room, then for portraits I'll bring the Mamiya rb67, set up on a tripod. If not, Pentax 645n with a speedlite. Also, my Yashica t4 or Contax t3 (if it ever gets out of the repair shop) as an easy way to snag some candid moments. Ringside, the Canon 1n rs. (Although the plan for the next tennis tournament is to bring out the 4x5 with Delta 100 to shoot while they serve. Maybe we can have another blog when that happens, documenting me failing miserably. But that's part of the fun, right?).

Taylor Fritz - Canon 1n rs and hp5

My Film Options

I used to always bring Delta 3200 to be safe, since I never knew how the lighting was going to be at each venue. However, I have found myself really enjoying the way hp5 looks pushed to 1600, so I load my bag up with that. It's nice to have the option to change my mind from 1600 to 400 even if the film is already loaded in the Pentax film backs.

Mox Biff - Pentax 645n and Delta 3200

A knockout photo

There's going to be moments I miss because I don't have the eye AF or 30fps. But I don't care. Seeing my camera bag full of exposed film at the end of the night is such a wonderful feeling. The torture of having to wait until I get home to be able to process and scan, knowing that it's going to be filled with misses and extremely grainy photos. Heck I'm smiling as I type this. It's a bit of a selfish act I guess. Most of the time I am being paid to take photos for other people. Making them happy. Capturing their moments. But shooting film? That's for me.

A knockout photo? Yeah, that's cool I guess. But did you see this one that I had to manual focus and push two stops and it's super grainy and a bit out of focus? That was the best shot of the night.

BKFC - Canon 1n rs and Delta 3200