Photography Research Information
1. Personal Background
Neil Leifer was born on December 28, 1942 in New York City. He started photography as a teen by taking a class at a settlement house and got his first job at Sports Illustrated at 18. In 1978, Neil Leifer became a staffer for Time Magazine and in 1988 he became a contributing photographer for LIFE Magazine. He left Time Inc. in 1990. Neil Leifer received the Lucie Award for Achievement in Sports in 2006 and won the Britton Hadden Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
2. Style
His photos show a lot of intensity. While he tried to capture the intensity, he also always gave background some importance. He says that at events he would always have a lot of different cameras on hand and made sure that they were in perfect condition. He always heavily plan his pictures by going to the venue the day before hand and figure out where he would be. He has said that he heavily prefers to shoot sequence instead of "one-shot" incase something unexpected happens.
3. Philosophy
Leifer believes that sports journalism is part luck. The other part is not missing your shot. He tried to tell a story and be very descriptive with his photos. He tried to capture an entire event with just one image. Lastly, Leifer tried to make very personal photos that captured individuality. His images were occasionally social however.
4. Influences
I took photos of sport because, while he did take a few images of people and places, Neil Leifer was a sports photographer. Like him, I tried to take photos of very intense moments. Sadly, since I wasn't sitting courtside, I was only able to get more social images. I also tried to play a fair emphasis on background like the crowd. Lastly, I tried to tell a story with an image.
Neil Leifer was born on December 28, 1942 in New York City. He started photography as a teen by taking a class at a settlement house and got his first job at Sports Illustrated at 18. In 1978, Neil Leifer became a staffer for Time Magazine and in 1988 he became a contributing photographer for LIFE Magazine. He left Time Inc. in 1990. Neil Leifer received the Lucie Award for Achievement in Sports in 2006 and won the Britton Hadden Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
2. Style
His photos show a lot of intensity. While he tried to capture the intensity, he also always gave background some importance. He says that at events he would always have a lot of different cameras on hand and made sure that they were in perfect condition. He always heavily plan his pictures by going to the venue the day before hand and figure out where he would be. He has said that he heavily prefers to shoot sequence instead of "one-shot" incase something unexpected happens.
3. Philosophy
Leifer believes that sports journalism is part luck. The other part is not missing your shot. He tried to tell a story and be very descriptive with his photos. He tried to capture an entire event with just one image. Lastly, Leifer tried to make very personal photos that captured individuality. His images were occasionally social however.
4. Influences
I took photos of sport because, while he did take a few images of people and places, Neil Leifer was a sports photographer. Like him, I tried to take photos of very intense moments. Sadly, since I wasn't sitting courtside, I was only able to get more social images. I also tried to play a fair emphasis on background like the crowd. Lastly, I tried to tell a story with an image.
5. Sources
Works Cited
“Biography.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/biography/.
“Boston Celtics Bill Russell Scoring vs NY Knicks.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/portfolio/boston-celtics-bill-russell-scoring-vs-ny-knicks/.
“Jack Nicklaus.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/portfolio/jack-nicklaus/.
“Neil Leifer.” International Boxing Hall of Fame, www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/observer/leifer.html.
“Neil Leifer On Being Good, Being Lucky And Nailing The Most Famous Photos In Sports.” ThePostGame, 23 Dec. 2011, www.thepostgame.com/interviews/201112/neil-leifer-sports-photographer-interview-sports-illustrated-ali-liston-giants-col.
“Overhead Shot of the 1965 Kentucky Derby.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/portfolio/overhead-shot-of-the-1965-kentucky-derby/.
Staff, NPR. “A 'Relentless' Sports Photographer Explains How He Got His Shots.” NPR, NPR, 6 May 2016, www.npr.org/2016/05/06/476893044/a-relentless-sports-photographer-explains-how-he-got-his-shots.
Works Cited
“Biography.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/biography/.
“Boston Celtics Bill Russell Scoring vs NY Knicks.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/portfolio/boston-celtics-bill-russell-scoring-vs-ny-knicks/.
“Jack Nicklaus.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/portfolio/jack-nicklaus/.
“Neil Leifer.” International Boxing Hall of Fame, www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/observer/leifer.html.
“Neil Leifer On Being Good, Being Lucky And Nailing The Most Famous Photos In Sports.” ThePostGame, 23 Dec. 2011, www.thepostgame.com/interviews/201112/neil-leifer-sports-photographer-interview-sports-illustrated-ali-liston-giants-col.
“Overhead Shot of the 1965 Kentucky Derby.” Neil Leifer, neilleifer.com/portfolio/overhead-shot-of-the-1965-kentucky-derby/.
Staff, NPR. “A 'Relentless' Sports Photographer Explains How He Got His Shots.” NPR, NPR, 6 May 2016, www.npr.org/2016/05/06/476893044/a-relentless-sports-photographer-explains-how-he-got-his-shots.
6. Compare and Contrast
In Halftime and Jack Nicklaus, the photo gets a lot of the crowd and course/court. They make athletes feel small compared to what's around them. The Jack Nicklaus photo is different because it captures individuality. Free Throw Shot is like the Kentucky Derby Photo because they both have strong lines. In my photo however, the lines lead to the court and to the players. In Leifer's photo, the lines lead to the horizon. In Under the Rim and Boston Celtics' Bill Russell Scoring vs NY Knicks it is an action-packed moment. One difference between them would be that the Bill Russell photo is framed with a curve.
In Halftime and Jack Nicklaus, the photo gets a lot of the crowd and course/court. They make athletes feel small compared to what's around them. The Jack Nicklaus photo is different because it captures individuality. Free Throw Shot is like the Kentucky Derby Photo because they both have strong lines. In my photo however, the lines lead to the court and to the players. In Leifer's photo, the lines lead to the horizon. In Under the Rim and Boston Celtics' Bill Russell Scoring vs NY Knicks it is an action-packed moment. One difference between them would be that the Bill Russell photo is framed with a curve.
7. Personal Artist Statement
These photos are from Crisler Arena, where Michigan plays basketball. The photos were from their 2017-2018 opening game against North Florida where they won by 20 points. My friend and I sat way up high in the stands but came down as far as we could to take these photos. I kept wishing that I brought my best camera because it has wonderful zoom. With that camera, I could've gotten much better images that captured individuals. After this class, maybe what I should wish for is a photographer's courtside pass.
These photos are from Crisler Arena, where Michigan plays basketball. The photos were from their 2017-2018 opening game against North Florida where they won by 20 points. My friend and I sat way up high in the stands but came down as far as we could to take these photos. I kept wishing that I brought my best camera because it has wonderful zoom. With that camera, I could've gotten much better images that captured individuals. After this class, maybe what I should wish for is a photographer's courtside pass.