Irish Boxing in NYC

[muls]

"Erin Go Brawl" - A sold out St Patrick's Day eve crowd at Madison Square Garden watched Derry, Ireland's "Irish" John Duddy remain unbeaten with a 9th round technical decision win over "The Contender's" Anthony Bonsante. That bout is featured here along with unbeaten Andy Lee who won with a vicious one-punch right hook KO of Carl Daniels. As it was last year, a great crowd and some very good fight action...Comments and critiques welcome, not my best stuff, but all in all not too bad...

http://www.sportsshooter.com/muls

Thanks for looking.

Ed

[NeverFollow]

great shots, the first shot looks like you stuck the camera in the ring

[Petepix]

A nice job of capturing the action while incorporating the St. Patrick's Day atmosphere. Duddy seems to be posed for you in that corner shot.

[muls]

Thanks guys, I may have stuck the camera in the ring just a bit...hehe...

[edpoin]

Just a question "muls" if you were to watch another photographer put there camera inside the ropes to get a picture, how would you feel about it?

Seen you put your camera inside the ropes in one fight about 2 foot or so..
I was really surprised you got away with that.. I am only bringing this up for what the boxing rule say about what can be in the ring during a pro match, also the possible harm it could cause to a boxer if you did pull the camera back fast enough..

It would be a problem if all photographers stuck there cameras inside the rope during a fight to get a shot? Guess its the question on how far as photographers do we push it to get a photograph.


Any how some good photos, was hoping Anthony Bonsante would last to the end..

Take care
Eddy

[muls]

Eddy,

Good question.

You'll find most photographers will do it in certain situations, however, you need to be smart about it. Honestly, the camera was not stuck far into the ring, it was actually placed directly under the rope, on the ring apron. I was not looking through the finder, makes for a great angle when it works, rarely does it though because you can't determine where you are focusing really. I've seen guys well behind the ropes get kicked, I've seen lens hoods kicked off into the ring, etc...

If you notice the photo in question, Duddy is throwing the left hook, Bonsante is sliding to the right, very safe...if Bonsante is turning right, the shot isnt attempted. It's all about being smart while shooting.

You will never see me stick my camera 2 feet in the ring unless the fighters are directly down the ropes from me and I'm leaning around other photographers, which means I'm about 12 feet from the fighters.

Interestingly enough, photographers at Madison Square Garden get kicked all the time (it sucks, and hurts) because you cannot stand at ringside, you have to lay on the ring apron which is 3 feet long and you cant move very much to get out of the way. The fighters never even realize they have kicked you they are so focused, the big thing you need to keep control of is your strap. I've seen them hook fighters feet, and for the first time in 5 years almost did it myself picking up a second body to the ring a couple of weeks ago at the time I was kneeling on the ground getting the body, just a brain freeze on where my strap was...

So to directly answer the question, I think we push it as far as we safely and smartly can without ever becoming part of the story...

Here's a link to a similar photo, in this case the camera hood was on the first rope shooting directly up, no violation, similar shot, it can be done safely...

http://www.sportsshooter.com/contest/clip/winning_image.html?id=641

Ed

[superdiver]

Just amazing stuff man! How do you get so many shots with them facing you? Thats just amazing....

Also, what lens do you use to get such a wide angle?

[jim9449]

Super stuff Ed. Duddy is looking good.

[muls]

Thanks, like any other sport, know what your are shooting. John Duddy has a very good left hook, so Bonsante for the most part should (in theory) move to his left away from the hook, so you get a sense of his movement and when he will square up to you. Later in the fight he did become a bit more stationary, and move to his right a bit, particularly when he was cornered which led to his undoing.

In the case of the amateur boxing you shot, there is simply no way of studying them, so it's shoot as you go, but definitely know the sport you are shooting.

The wide shots are a 24-70 on a 1D Mark II, at 24mm...I like the wide shot when the ceiling has something interesting. (lights at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, painted ceiling at Hammerstein ballroom, blue or purple ceiling lights at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.) Pay attention to backgrounds and how they can add or subtract from the photo...

[edpoin]

Thank you for your reply Muls, That’s the problems I see with sticking your lens in the ring being smart about it. I could understand when the bell rings and there is no action in the ring,
That would be a good time for camera inside ropes… Other then that a camera inside the ropes has no reason to be there… And is not a safe practice

If I find that tape of when you had camera way in the ring, and boxers where right next to you will send you that still photo..
I understand being kicked ringside and boxers staying focused on there fight.. That’s where I see the problem with camera inside the ropes, boxers are focused on there fight anything that is not normally supposed to be in ring will throw them out of focus… Example I am boxing focused on my opponent corner of my eye catches camera in ring, now I just got throw 20% out of focus… enough to do damage to my focus. A boxer knows there are cameras ringside, its when the camera goes inside the ring that will throw focus off.. I have been around enough boxers and the biggest thing said at pressers and news by boxers is being focused in the ring… So really don't see a good time for camera inside of ropes..

You answered my question with this remark…
“So to directly answer the question, I think we push it as far as we safely and smartly can without ever becoming part of the story...”


Thank you for taking the time to answer my question, just giving you my input on what I tought of a camera being inside the ropes.. I am sure I will see you at the theater at Madison for a match one day…

Eddy

[jcpoulin]

Ed, Do you ever work with remotes...ie above or in corners and activate when action comes that way? I would assume spit, sweat and blood are common occurances! Do you/how do you protect your camera/lens's.

[superdiver]

a 24-70 f? You have incredible detail, it must be a pretty fast lens!

[Photodawg1]

Very spot on Ed...what lens for the first shot? 16-35? Are you going to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June?
Linda

[rgaya]

great shots... the first fight looked very bloody... number ten would have been perfect if that damn videographer wasnt there

[muls]

jcpoulin,

I have done remotes before, they only work for certain shots, but I am running one directly above the ring for the DeLaHoya-Mayweather fight in May...I would like to do one in a corner, but I'm not sure a commission would allow it, and I'm not sure it wouldnt interfere with the fighters and or TV, and TV rules the world in sports...Blood and sweat land on our equipment all the time, make sure you have cleaning cloths, wipe 'em down and they are ready to go again...

Superdiver,

Canon 24-70L f2.8

Photodawg1,

Canon 24-70L f2.8 on the first one...and interestingly and ironically enough, I've never been to the Boxing Hall of Fame, seems that there is always a big fight the weekend of the inductions...This year it's June 7th-10th, and I'm booked to do the Miguel Cotto-Zab Judah fight at Madison Square Garden...

Ed

[Photodawg1]

Photodawg1,

Canon 24-70L f2.8 on the first one...and interestingly and ironically enough, I've never been to the Boxing Hall of Fame, seems that there is always a big fight the weekend of the inductions...This year it's June 7th-10th, and I'm booked to do the Miguel Cotto-Zab Judah fight at Madison Square Garden...

Ed

Interesting... It looked like such a wide angle. I think I am going to go to Canasota for a couple of days. I can't wait to see your shots from the pretty/golden boy fight! Tried to sell my soul to shoot that one...but no takers! LOL!

[muls]

The angle appears wider because the camera is placed on the ring apron directly under the bottom rope and shot upwards at an extreme angle...very cool when it works, and makes the fighters and venue appear larger than they are...I fooled around with it with a fisheye lens as well, but the fighters need to be in the center of the ring, otherwise it's all ropes...

Ed

[superdiver]

Must be at least decent light to get the 24-70 2.8 to work! I had trouble at 1.8 and ISO 3200!

[muls]

Must be at least decent light to get the 24-70 2.8 to work! I had trouble at 1.8 and ISO 3200!

No comparision between an amateur show and a televised event...I've covered both sides of the spectrum, you did very well...

[dkangel]

Wonderful pics. I am impressed. You definately know how to make full use of your 24-70.