Game over

Good photojournalism that mimics a previous era?.....definitely. POW?....I don't get it.

One of the best boxing photos I've seen in years, a standout amid the pale lot usually seen in magazines. Reminiscent of the classic boxing images.

To me the ref's restraining hand on the victor's shoulder is the best part of the picture. It adds desperation to the shot, barely restrained aggression. Contrasted at the right hand side is the sanguine reaction of the crowd to the plight of the decked loser, slightly reminiscent of what Roman crowds must have been like in gladiatorial arenas. They don't look like they have much sympathy left in them.

 

Also interesting is the apparent lack of flash used to make the picture. The use of available light is what makes this picture *unlike* old time sports reportage, but more like "decisive moment" reportage.

 

I see no problem at all with taking the color out of the image. What's the beef? Show me some law that says you have to keep color originals as color originals. The slightly condescending comments above about rendering this monochrome don't seem to have a point, other than to harp for harping's sake.

 

The thing is, we don't see too many pictures here that use the candidly captured human form in as their main subject. I think a lot of photonettari think photography consists of green clouds, PS effects, pretty faces and overly glossy presentation. Something stark like this pic is regarded by as somewhat "obvious" and sorta low-rent, but it shouldn't be.

 

It's a picture that works well both at thumbnail and larger size, what I sometimes think of as a "fractal" quality: each scale, from tiny to enlarged, is detail rich and has something to offer. Very few pictures do this.

 

As such I reckon it's an excellent shot. Take more of them, Tomm.

Tomm, I have been accused of being condescending for questioning the conversion to black and white...Do you have the original frame in colour?.....Could you possibly insert it here for comparison?... I am an elderly amateur photographer who remembers the days when colour film was very expensive, and even simple Kodak and Ilford was hard to get after WWII....Colour still fascinates me, and I honestly feel that it is taken for granted too easily these days.....By the way, did the guy with the concussion get back on his feet?

I was SO hoping this would make POW. This is a killer shot that you've

nailed! I also can't

imagine how you could make the shot any better, or why you would want

to. IMO, it's

perfect as is.

 

While I understand the viewpoint of Robert, I feel that Tony has made very

salient points

here. Sure, nothing wrong with color, but the sepia tone here adds to the

tough-as-nails,

"school of hard knocks" kind of feeling that is an intrinsic message of the

photo. You would not get that in with color.

 

I love this photo! -- Maria

This is just one hell of a shot. I've never seen a boxing shot like this one before. It gives the complete picture.

I think that one way of saying what is so good about this shot is how it distills

the moment into its essential elements, without losing any of the details. I think

the black and white treatment enhances the distillation. Well done.

Tomm,

This is in my opinion the best shot ever sent up for POW. It has the whole 'Stag night at Sharky's' feel too it.

 

The 'no-flash' rule for photographers at the ringside means you've got to be a little more on it. And you managed it well here. You've managed to really capture what boxing is all about. heh - boxers train like animals day in day out - lungs are as equally important as fists. Any of them that are serious don't smoke - and then they go head-to-head at venues that are so thick with smoke from all the punters that you can barely see the other side of the ring.

Boxing is still the 'sweetest science'. And your shot does it justice.

I agree. This shot is perfect in terms of emotion. It captures the right moment.

 

But let me introduce an issue. The composition. The picture is rotated about 5 degrees to the right, obviously to show feet and head. However, I wonder if this helps the composition. This is an issue that becomes extremely relevant when shooting wide angle.

 

Manuel.

Great shot Tomm! Great use of the wide angle.

Great!!!!

 

I would have taken that picture...

 

Congratulations of having done it before I do... ;-)

i honestly haven't even clicked on the POW in a couple months. but this one...good god. jaw droppingly good. i have to agree with the restraining arm of the ref being the clincher on this already perfect shot.

First I must say I'm surprised by the great response to this shot. But greatful of course! I hardly ever post sports pictures up on web sites since they in general don't get much attention. At this event I felt I had the extra luxury to experiment with different approaches as I had no newspaper waiting for the image. After two rounds of 200mm and 85mm lenses I felt nothing special so I thought perhaps 16-35 and hit the ropes could do it. Since this image is from a closed launch event of Wolkswagen Caddy in Norway (where professional boxing in general is not allowed) I allowed myself to go closer than I would normally dare at a boxing event (I guess partly hanging inside the ropes during a match would get most photographers into trouble). The smoke is from a smoke machine (since indoor smoking is also banned most places in Norway these days). The knock-out came (as always) by surprise and I was of course very lucky with my position at that time shooting at full speed with my EOS 1D (16mm lens) I just followed the boxer on he's way down. I guess good sports photography is to constantly shoot and not really try to react in response to what happens (then you usually miss the action).

 

I first posted this image on another site in color. But I think sports pictures often are ruined by disharmony in colors. In this case shooting under difficult light conditions you also have to consider the problem of high ISO and image color quality. Colors are not that punchy (that is, before I evaluated my first captured 1D Mark II image at ISO 800 this weekend, amazing stuff!!!).

 

Having played around with the image I feel bw/sepia is the right choice for this one. It just triggers emotion, thoughs and links to all the other stuff mentioned in your comments (1920s, movies etc.).

 

And again. Thanks for all your words to this image.

 

Keep shooting,

Tomm

Tomm I saw this image a while back and thought 'M,mmm' how come photo's like this never make POW, I am so pleased to see you on this spot you deserve it it really is a fantastic shot.

I like the way that the Ref is hovering just on the border and the standing fighter is looming over the fallen making sure there is no way for a miraculous revival (must have seen 1 'Rocky' film to many')and is taking no chances.

and then the crowd are there like a hungry pack, baying for blood now that they have had a sniff of it, really a great capture.

 

 

Regards

 

 

ps - B+W rules

Tomm,

Thanks for the info on the shot and the environment. Too funny about the smoke - my how times have changed. Here is Asia smoking is generally still allowed everywhere. The fights are no exception, in fact in Hong Kong, China, Korea and Thailand it's the norm. Only more prevalent is the betting that goes on at a frenzied pace. The fights in Japan (K-1 and Shooto formats) are amazingly orderly and well mannered - at least out of the ring.

 

Surprisingly the officials and the refs here don't mind if you get close or and elbow in the ring during the match. I have several times cleaned blood spots off my lense and elbows when shooting ringside at several Muay Thai bouts. Sometimes it can't be avoided.

 

I too agree with the colors issue in many sports shot as they are hardly ever subtle and usually are garrish. You solved the issue quite effectively.

It's a good picture, and the distortion is a minimal factor compared to the action captured. The elf who wrote the description has a possible career in promoting the Superbowl or professional wrestling.

Tomm:

 

a great photograph...and thanks for the technical details - I'm rather unskilled at this stuff and find that hearing and trying what others have done helps improve my skills.

 

I think your choice to post in Black and white was correct. As you said, the colors detract from the impact of the image. The B&W shot keeps the viewer focused on the important stuff: "The Story"...

 

Keep up the good work...

Hoya!

 

WOW!

 

The day I come up with this kind of powerful shots, I will call myself a photographer ;-)

 

I think the B&W version is the best, probably due to the "seedy, sweaty, smokey atmosphere" usually associated with boxing.

 

A.

This is the best picture of the week I've seen on photo.net.

Utrolig bra bilde Tomm! DU har virkelig fanget det riktigen sekundet her! Gleder meg til å se mer fra deg!!

 

Gratulerer!

I appreciated Tomm's additional commentary on the circumstances of the picture. This has the feel of the great boxing images of the 1940s and 1950s, shot with 4x5 film. For someone who grew up with black and white photography, it is gratifying to see that it still has the power to convey reality in ways that color images cannot. On a more minor level (I don't put myself in Tomm's league), I have noted that a black and white version of my own images, in certain circumstances, will often get a higher rating and elicit more commentary than the same image in color. One other point: This image, when I first say it, seemed to be too good to be true, almost staged. How, I wondered, did the photographer get himself into position on the apron to record the image from this angle? Then I noted the bystander, also very near the ring. In both cases, perhaps too close for the insurance carriers, I suspect!

Absolutely phenomenal composition. I love the dynamics that the limbs and ropes create.

My eyes are all over the place. Stick with the sepia. The color just distracts.

Congratulations. Put this in the front of your porfolio. KO!

absolutely amazing, i love how the ropes improve the picture instead of being detrimental as usually happens in photos like this. Superb

. . . and this is what is called sports (and game)?

Thank you for posting the colour version, Tomm......I like them BOTH!!...We photographers are so spoiled in the 21st century..We don't stand for hours in hot, stuffy darkrooms any more and we can switch from B/W to colour and back again instantly with the push of a button....Can you believe that people used to LISTEN TO BOXING on the radio in the 1940's!...I can remember going to fairground boxing rings in England where the travelling punch-drunk would take on the locals, who were usually beer-drunk.