sports

Did you see Vega taking pictures of the CXF MMA show? by Mark Fulinara

Haven't posted in a minute.  Sorry.  I've been busy being the last of the international playboys.  That's a lie.  I've been busy eating donuts, drinking beer, and traveling to non-exotic locales for work.

BUT I did very recently get to shoot the latest CXF MMA show where I got to perch above the cage for the very first time.  Scary stuff.  I forget that since I grew up not skateboarding or generally doing anything remotely rebellious, I never acquired that so very important skill of climbing fences.  It doesn't come up often, but like a person who never learned to dance, the embarrassment shows only on special occasions.  Luckily, I very slowly climbed my way up to my crow's nest and was able to nervously snap away.

This time around, I purposely tried to underexpose everything, trying to get a mood of some sort.  Not sure how successful I was at that, but comparing my pictures to ones taken by other photographers that were there that night mine are definitely... darker?

The night of fights were great though.  I'm always conflicted while shooting fights, the photographer side of my brain trying to be in the zone in anticipation of the movements, the fight fan in me just wanting to rip off my shirt to reveal "JUST BLEED" written on my chest in green ink.  I guess there was also the nervous kid in me, just trying not to fall off the cage like a dumbass.

Chase Gibson hits a jumping spinning roundhouse to finish the fight.

Chase Gibson hits a jumping spinning roundhouse to finish the fight.

GLORY 27 Chicago. by Mark Fulinara

Simon Marcus enters the ring before claiming the GLORY Middleweight crown at GLORY 27 Chicago.

DA BEARS.  DA.  BEARS.  DABEARS.  Just had to get that out of the way, sparing you the long, drawn out setup.

Just got back from Chicago and boy are my arms tired.  Damn.  Sorry.  I told myself I'd spare you the jokes.  I had a grand ole time, watching the illustrious James Law and Stephanie Drews do their thing as pro combat sports photographers for the absolute best kickboxing organization in the world, GLORY.

This time around, I shot more of the behind the scenes action in and around the fighter entrance ramp.  It was great watching the fighters transform from slightly nervous people while warming up backstage into shiny rooster showmen as they walked into the arena under the bright lights.

The fights were amazing, the fight teams were delightful, and the entire GLORY staff really makes you feel at home... even if it is a traveling circus of sorts.

I've learned a lot, observing photographers with so much talent and experience.  From the actual shooting of pictures to the interactions with the fighters and clients.  Crazy how I've somehow managed to graduate from taking super boring photos of fire hydrants and garbage to occasionally getting full access to shoot my favorite kickboxing organization.  I feel like I've snuck into a party, raided the open bar, and somehow got invited back for the next one.  Though worry not, fans of boring photography, I will still continue to take photos of clouds, trash cans, and other boring items of urban mythology.