Nice one . . . . ESPN The Magazine

Photos © Dan Winters

Lots of new magazines on the news stands and I am finally getting through the pile. I have been meaning for sometime to post more about interesting commissioning I have come across that really appeals to me since my initial post here.

One story that grabbed my eye was from 'Whats the Jackanory ?' inspirator and perennial 'A Photo Editor' favorite Dan Winters who scaled some dizzy heights for the current issue of ESPN the Magazine with a feature on controversial extreme rock climber Dean Potter. Potter is something of a bad boy whos reputation proceeds him as one the most talented athletes in adventure sports. Not one to be content with climbing he also BASE-jumps and gets extra kicks out of Highlining a more radical version of tightrope walking; developed by climbers the lines are suspended high above the ground with no safety netting, no poles are used for balance and Potter one of the elite only uses a harness during shoots or when outsiders who may break his concentration are present.

Looks like Dan brought the full signature lighting package topside of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park to capture the action. I wonder whether he had Sherpa help or the budget for a helicopter to get the gear ferried up.

Nice one ESPN the Magazine and Dan Winters.

In the course of full disclosure I am a contributing photographer to ESPN The Magazine, more on that in a future post.

As featured in . . . . ESPN the Magazine

It has been a busy couple of months and I am now beginning to see some of the work come to fruition as printed matter. First up is ESPN the Magazine where I am fortunate enough to be heavily featured. I have been working on a 'package' for them about people who have cool jobs in sports but who don't actually play the games themselves.

The feature was split between myself and two other fine photographers Peter Yang and Misha Gravenor. I was aware that other photographers were shooting simultaneously but I did not know their names. Hard to know if it would have been a good or bad thing. I like to think I bring my A-Game no matter what but competition is always good and I am rather pleased with myself scoring the 'Opener' and 'Closer'.

The above (opener) was actually the first shoot I did. Its definitely not as subtle as the Larry Sultan pic I featured from the previous issue here, but the concept of the package was to feature the subject with one of the athlete(s) they service while creating a fun and interesting yet relevant image. So to get the ball rolling I photographed Chris Doyle the senior product development specialist at Burton Snowboards with Winter Olympic gold medal snowboarder herself Hannah Teter. It was shot on location in his workshop at the Burton HQ in Burlington, Vermont. Chris was game for anything as was Hannah. I tried a couple of different set ups before this one the last one. The editor, Maisie Todd, had requested that Hannah be photographed on Chris's desk only problem Chris didn't really have a desk, just a work bench but we made do and improvised. I think it worked well as you need a strong image to open the feature and whet the appetite.

Next up was the above spread with Yang top and Gravenor bottom.

Then me again, but where is the image ? Well you are going to have to get yourself an issue to see this one. The picture was bought out by the subject and I am not permitted use it in any form, on the web, in my portfolio, resell etc. But I can tell you about it. It features Sari Mellman a nutrition guru/counselor who has an unusual approach to healthy eating and has more then 150 star athletes as clients, including Grant Hill, Oscar de la Hoya and she is accompanied in the pic by Superbowl winning defensive end Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts. This was why the magical talents of food stylist Ed Gabriels were required see earlier post here. It was certainly an interesting day, we arrived in the night before and were at Dwights house at noon as scheduled. The concept on this one to shoot Sari and Dwight with all the food he would typically eat in a week. The list goes a little something like this.

14 lbs. Buffalo meat
14 lbs. Black Cod
1 bottle of Honey bear organic honey
6 Bundles of Bananas
4 Bunches of Green Grapes
1 lb. of Pecans
1 Bottle of Grapeseed oil
10 Bottles of Organic White Grape Fruit Juice (Lakewood)
7 Whole Watermelons
6 cans Black Beans
Rice
Bread
1 Bottle of Sari Mellman's A Little Magic-Hypoallergenic Vitamins (17 caps.
per day)
1 Bottle of Sari Mellman's DMG

We were given two hours set up time in Dwights kitchen in Carmel, Indiana followed by two hours to shoot. Plenty of time, right ! As with most shoots there is always something. In the end Dwight did not arrive till 5pm. A bit of a hassle seeing as we had gotten all the meat and fish ready for their 2pm close up, it can be tricky dealing with food it has a short shoot life. He was coming from Syracuse where he had been having some pre pre season workouts. His flight was delayed and I have to honestly say he really didn't seem in the mood by the time he got to us. But when Sari finally showed up, she was even later and we reset the set Dwights spirits changed for the better. Maybe it was my congratulating him on the new $ 72,000,000.00 contract he had just signed the week before with the Colts that really saw him seeing good and not the raw meat and fish stinking up his kitchen. I knew I wouldn't have him for long so we managed to wrap it up in 30 minutes. Got to take what you can get.

Peter Yang above x 2.

The final featured shot and perhaps the trickiest one for me involved Nascar artist Sam Bass and Petty Enterprises Nextel Cup driver Bobby Labonte. Sam designs the cars art work, on computer but he is also an artist and he paints officially sanctioned water colors of the drivers and their cars. Sam had been asked to bring some of the tools of his trade with him but unfortunately the message didn't get through and apart from arriving a little late, he came empty handed so this one shot was a real scramble. He had just driven from Charlotte to outside Greensboro so all his kit was a couple of hours back down the high way, bummer ! Although having plenty of set up time before the subjects arrived there really weren't many options, the car was the main prop but suitable spots were limited. We were relying on Sam to bring in da funk and the noise (sorry Robert I know that's your line but I laughed hard when I read it on your post here, very appropriate) but had to make do with whatever we could find last minute. Bobby was the utmost professional but he was really doing Sam a favor so the clock was never really on our side, but we got at least one usable image that didn't totally suck. Relive that weeks travel adventures here.

The above was shot as part of the previous 'package' but ended up running directly after as its own entity as a day in the life piece. This feature involved following Michael Thompson, Director of Corporate Communications for the New Orleans Hornets basketball team around on NBA draft day. Its a fun piece, I really like the opener, its semi real, he has got his wife on one phone and is waiting to do a radio interview on the other with all his notes and news in front I knew it kind of worked at the time not knowing what would be in store for the rest of the day. This shot was taken at 7.00am in his office, it was the first roll of film of what would end up being a 13 hour day. We had just arrived in to New Orleans a couple of hours before from Boston due to plane delay, delay, delays, read the recap of the week here.

All in all I am very satisfied with the results, a lot of work for each picture, but each one rewarding in its own way and every one a new life experience personally and professionally. Oh and I thought I would leave all the advertising in just as it appears in the magazine next to the pictures, its a real battle on the eyes sometimes. Come on Big Red give me a crack at Montoya and some of those fine advertising dollars.

Moving On

Photo © AH

After 18 years with ESPN Dan Patrick is moving on. It was announced by Dan on his radio show Monday that he would be leaving the network to pursue new endeavours. I like my sport and definitely enjoyed Dan and side kick Keith Olberman when they manned Sportscenter in the early days. I had just arrived Stateside and their daily banter was illuminating while all the time getting myself a schooling in American sport. Growing up in Ireland there was limited exposure to basketball, baseball, American football, Nascar and hockey. I have a healthy interest in most and combined with the sports I grew up with, football, rugby, cycling, golf, Formula 1, it has definitely come in handy from time to time working for ESPN The Magazine and being able to ramble on somewhat with my subject about their sport, or sport in general.

Recently I have been enjoying sports radio on my travels. Its always amazing how the hosts can run with what may seem like a small story and turn it in to an epic that continues on and on and on. In each city it is different but yet the same. Broadcasters ranting about the same things, only its about their area teams, whipping themselves and their callers in to a tizzy.

I was once commissioned by ESPN The Magazine to shoot a portrait of Dan up @ their HQ in Bristol Connecticut. The Magazine is based in NYC so it was my first time visiting the compound. It was somewhat recognisable from all the adds for Sportscenter that get shot in and around campus. I got up in plenty of time and was supposed to have an hour to scout and set up for the session and then an hour to shoot. They wanted something quirky and it had to be shot on a simple background as they were going to drop some type in. Of course things never go quite as planned. My contact was running a little late and when we commenced the scout we discovered that Dan was all ready to roll as he had a radio spot coming up in the next 20 minutes and his day was chock a block after that. No go in his office, hes a tall guy and his space was cluttered and cramped so we had to set up quick amongst the cubicles. As with most of these type of sessions you are hoping you are going to get a little something from the subject. No props or environment to play with. Dan was congenial and professional but his mind was elsewhere. I remember the 1st roll or two being pretty static but he finally gave me a little something, nothing earth shattering but a few gestures that made the difference. I think it was only 4 or 5 frames but it was enough. Sometimes you got to realise that you have been given something and to take it as that is all you are going to get.

Here's to you Dan Patrick !