Who are the top amateur billiard photographers?

akaTrigger said:
While some people prefer emotion photos, I have found many players on the regional tours (men and women both) love these so-called "stock photo"-type of photos of themselves. Yes, emotion photos are good also and capture the drama (especially of the pros), but new players and amateur players do not mind some "pool shooting photos" of themselves, also. :)
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No, I agree with you there as well. Stock photos and pose shots serve a purpose and they're not exactly easy to do, either. My point, I guess, is that we as viewers rely on other mediums to tell the story moreso now than ever before. I'm just saying, in most pool imagry I see, the subject is often the person in the photo. Rarely is it anything else and rarely is that subject doing more than shooting a shot they themselves may not remember.
 
Local regular tournament players aren't really interested in photos of themselves. But, when they do see one it does bring out a little Chest Pounding Pride. I like to take pics of the regulars when they least expect it and then get a quality print and frame it and give it to them. No one has ever turned it down and most want to pay me for it. I haven't done it awhile, but I do have some quality pics I've taken recently that I will start to pass out again.

Here is a sample.... no emotional shots... just focused shooting
 

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Jude Rosenstock said:
I think there are a lot of amateurs who are technically excellent but not necessarily artists. GREAT photography (IMO) goes well beyond the technical know-how and requires years of artistic study. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy the amateur work. In fact, I REALLY REALLY do. It's an awesome time we live in where we can have so much access to images and its a massive improvement from the polaroid era. However, because we have such easy access to video, we as viewers have placed fewer demands on photography.

I also think pool is drowning in stock photography, so much so, photographers actually look for ideal stock photos instead of photos that would tell a story. The current photo of Jeanette Lee on azbilliards.com is precisely what I'm talking about. I don't know who she's playing or if it's even related to the written story. I don't even know if it's an important shot. 20 years ago, most photographers would look for a more telling picture.
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Easy to say very hard to do. The reason most photos you see are "stock" is because the lighting is so terrible at most events there is not much else possible. Outside of shooting an ESPN taping or an unusually bright room getting a decent picture of a person standing a foot away from the table is very difficult. Setting up a dedicated photo shoot while possible is impractical for any other reason than self gratification. No one is going to pay for it.

The other reason you wont see too many truly professional pool shots is because true professionals get paid real money for their work. Something that does not happen in the pool world. There are still some pretty good shots out there though if you know where to look.
 
I don't mind any slam on my opinion. After I posted, I said to myself "Uh oh, Who's gonna bust my @ss now".

Here's what it boils down to, my friend. It has already been posited, and rightly so, that GOOD photography is an art. Let me reiterate,,,GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY. Now, we all have our opinions on what is good, what is bad, and in regards to my point and stated quite nicely by Jude,,,WHAT IS "STOCK".

The point I made, probably poorly, was in regards to stock shots in pool. I believe this was the bent of the OP. I doubt strongly that he was looking for the next Annie Leibowitz of pool photography. The digital age has allowed us to be our own self-professed musicians, artist, and photographers. ESPECIALLY photography, as the medium lends itself quite nicely to competent hobbying. Fancy megapixels with fancy adobe photoshops with fancy printers and fancy hi-gloss paper. Look around and you'll see tons of people on the street toting 14megapixel Nikons. Well, c'mon now, you and I know those people don't think they're just snapshot takers, right? Everyone gets out their fancy new macro lens and takes a 2" close-up of a flower in their garden, and they think they Edward Steichen. You know what I mean.

Essentially the thought of PAYING SOMEONE money to do what you can do was to me a waste of cash. And if one doesn't have the taste or expertise to know good from bad, then again, why pay the money. And I can only assume the OP was not discerning enough to know, else why would he post in the first place. Just save the money, I say.


nathandumoulin said:
Photography is a skilled trade, one that requires knowledge, practice, and talent. I fully understand all the functions of the camera, and considerations that need to be made before taking a picture....and yet I still have enough respect to know that I am not a professional photographer. It's sort of like pool. Just because you know tangent lines, english, and pattern play, doesn't mean you can compete with the pros.

Like any skilled trade, a good photographer deserves respect. So many people think they can just pick up a camera and shoot amazing photos, just as many people look at my movies and think they could have produced them themselves. This is clearly not the case, for numerous reasons:

1) An amateur is untrained, and is oblivious to what makes for a quality photograph. They lack the knowledge to spot the mistakes in their own pictures, while anyone with a trained eye could easily pick them apart.

2) A good photographer has something that the rest of us lack: opportunity. They're already at the pro events. They have access to key figures and situations that I am personally unable to photograph.

3) Equipment. A good camera setup is at least $4k. Most amateurs lack proper equipment. Good equipment doesn't make for a great picture, but it certainly helps.

Now I don't mean to slam your post or anything. I realize that your intent was purely positive and I thank you for that, however I really think more credit needs to be given to anyone who specializes in anything. Photography is just one example.

On a second note, thank you everyone for your contributions to this thread. You've supplied me with plenty of good photographers whom I'll certainly look into over the remainder of the week. :thumbup:
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JCIN said:
Easy to say very hard to do. The reason most photos you see are "stock" is because the lighting is so terrible at most events there is not much else possible. Outside of shooting an ESPN taping or an unusually bright room getting a decent picture of a person standing a foot away from the table is very difficult. Setting up a dedicated photo shoot while possible is impractical for any other reason than self gratification. No one is going to pay for it.

The other reason you wont see too many truly professional pool shots is because true professionals get paid real money for their work. Something that does not happen in the pool world. There are still some pretty good shots out there though if you know where to look.
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JCIN, my mother is a professional photographer and got her MFA when I was in grade school. It didn't translate into any ability for me but I guess I have SOME familiarity with great photography. I mean, I don't know much but I've been around it my whole life, that's all I'm trying to say.

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I really do like the amateur photography. It's fun, there's a lot of it and when it's of me EVEN BETTER (lol) and amateur photography has gotten A LOT better in recent years. I just mean, there's room for great photography in pool. You don't see a whole lot of it.
 
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Bruce "pushinfaders" Clayton

nathandumoulin said:
There's another thread asking about high-res pool photos, for the purpose of printing. No one seemed to have much luck finding any good pics (thus far at least). I was wondering, who are the top amateur billiard photographers? By this, I mean people who snap pictures at events as a hobby, rather than to make money from it.I'm asking because I'd consider contacting them to buy a few photos. Maybe help support their hobby while scoring myself a nice desktop wallpaper or something, or even a printed poster.
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Visit his online Photo Gallery at http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=pushinfaders
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demonrho said:
My sentiments exactly. I watch all these "photographers" at pool events with their expensive equipement going for the same old stock shots. They seem blind to all the real drama going on around them in pool - the anticipations, reactions, and interactions - that would connect with us emotionally.
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That's why Justin Collete (JCIN) is one of my fav pool photographers. It seems every shot he takes has a story.
 
pretty much agree with JCIN et al...

JCIN pretty much hit the nail on the head. As for myself, I'm just starting out. Have the proper gear, but still learning how to best utilize it. Every opportunity that I've had to use the camera, I learn something new. I have a feeling that it's going to be that way pretty much all the time, no matter how much I know. In regards to the type of photographs that I try to capture, I do both..."stock" and reactionary. Also like doing candids...sometimes you get the best pictures there. But that's not news...

Here are a couple from the Fast Eddies Event in San Angelo back in late February. None of the photos have been touched up in Photoshop. Canon 50D, 70-200 f/2.8L IS lens with a mono-pod.

King Drake chalks his cue while he decides how to approach his next shot
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Our very own Cristina De la Garza surveys her rack in the finals.
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Charlie "Hillbilly" Bryant talks with Jason (from San Angelo)
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SVB waits his turn to shoot against David "G" Gutierrez
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Jui Lung Chen reacts to the result of his shot
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Stock photo of David "G" Gutierrez
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nathandumoulin said:
There's another thread asking about high-res pool photos, for the purpose of printing. No one seemed to have much luck finding any good pics (thus far at least).

I was wondering, who are the top amateur billiard photographers? By this, I mean people who snap pictures at events as a hobby, rather than to make money from it.

I'm asking because I'd consider contacting them to buy a few photos. Maybe help support their hobby while scoring myself a nice desktop wallpaper or something, or even a printed poster.
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Here is my favorite picture from JCIN.

I added some Toy Story "flair" to Danny's shoe.

Does our own Markus qualify as amateur? I like his work too.

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Rich R. rocks

I know someone else said it but I want to make sure to call it out. Rich R is one of the best I've ever seen. He shoots the US Open every year and many of his shots are just amazing. He's also shot our state 9 ball championships several times and he has the ability to read players get just the right shot at the moment. Many of his pics tell the player's internal story.

If you PM him, he'll be glad to send you links to his library and sell you some amazing shots.

Brian in VA
 
The master chalk is my favorite of your work too. Your pics are so good, I just assumed you were above amateur status. I really like your pics Markus.

I went out of my way to make sure I said hi and thanks at this past Derby City Classic. It was fun to go back to the hotel and look at your blog and see pictures you took at the Derby.


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Thank you so much....no I am just an amateur...but I love the sport and I love to take photos of it.
And I also watch a lot of pics from all other mentioned photographers to learn and to get new Ideas.


The main reason for me, to take this pictures, is to support our sport and to make it more popular.
I just try to infect normal people with our "Pool Virus".....

I do not earn money with it. I pay all my travel costs by myself, also my Equipment was not that cheap....and sometimes for special events (like the European Championship) I rent a second camera.
(Watch my 5d mkII HD teaser if you haven't seen it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB5psJsxEJI watch it in HD and in full screen)

My only sponsor is a friend who is hosting my pictures for nearly free: http://bimmer-edv.at thank you Christian for that !!!!
For sure it would be nice to get some money for that, but I get a lot of "thank you" and respect from the people and this is much more worth for me then money.
And there are these moments like in Pressure Billiards Cafe in Chicago. Where Dave was coming to me, during I was shooting photos and was asking me if I am fruehlein....me little alien in a foreign city be noticed be a guy that have never seen me....these moments makes me very happy.

Also taking pictures on tournaments brought a wonderful woman to my life, my new love....all these showed me, I am doing the right things.

I have some new ideas and got some hints from a pro photographer (non Pool), but that means I have to buy new lenses ..... hopefully I can rent one for my first tries. When I can work this out, I hopefully can post some new kind of pictures, you never have seen before.

Markus
 
I want to thank Steve and Brian for including me in this list. I appreciate the kind words.

Here are a few shots from this year's SBE.

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