Chuck Solomon has been photographing sports and action for nearly 40 years. A former staff photographer, as well as a current contributor at Sports Illustrated (SI), his photographs have appeared on the cover of that iconic magazine more than forty times. Equally proficient at shooting action, portraits and picture stories, he is also the photographer and author of a series of children’s books including “Our Soccer League, “Playing Hockey,” and ‘Major League Batboy.’ He has received numerous awards for his photographs including placement in the prestigious Pictures Of The Year competition and one of his iconic images was honored by Sports Illustrated as one of the 100 greatest sports photographs of all time. His photographs have graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Time, New York Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, SI for Kids, NJ Monthly, Maclean’s, and Bunte.
Solomon is a firm believer in the power and lasting impact of the still image and has spent a good deal of his career striving to make pictures that stand the test of time. “I’ve always tried to shoot tight and bring the viewer closer to the action then they can normally get to,” says Solomon. “Also, I have tried to step back at times to allow the viewer of the photo to experience a sense of place.”
Here are some thoughtful first-person observations on his long career, his mission, his passion for sports, and his working methods that he made in the course of our intensive hour-long interview:
“I use Canon cameras and lenses—specifically Canon 1DX bodies and Canon fixed focal length lenses and zoom lenses. The Canon 400mm f 2.8 is my normal lens for sports action but I also try to have another body with a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 around my neck for unexpected action that’s close in. In addition, I use the Canon 200-400mm f/4 zoom lens, which is very versatile especially in the confines of crowded photo positions where you don’t have the mobility to change cameras and lenses without bumping into the shooter next to you. Another go to lens is the Canon 16-35mm f 2.8 zoom. I shoot Canon because of the speed and accuracy of the autofocus system, and the durability and reliability of the gear even under the challenging conditions I often encounter. Their professional support is also topnotch.”
“During my last year of college I bought a 35mm SLR, a Miranda Sensomat. I went to Europe for the summer and took lots of pictures. Some of my friends also had 35mm cameras. I think it was the influence of the movie Blow Up. A good way to meet girls… Really dating myself here-:). When I got out of college I was a teacher in the NYC school system and I was working in a program that taught young teens photography and video. At that time I was shooting hockey games at night and baseball and football games on the weekends, but I felt at some point I had to make the jump to shoot fulltime if I was going to do it right.
“I had no formal education in photography, but early on I assisted Jerry Liebman who had a studio in NYC. Jerry did some catalog work where I would up hot gluing rings and other jewelry so they lined up properly for his catalog work. Not a lot of fun. But Jerry was also the team photographer for the NY Rangers, NY Jets and then the Cosmos. I did a lot of his darkroom work, developing countless rolls of B&W film and printing hundreds of pictures. But I also got to shoot a lot of games… which was the best part.”
“Basically, I would say that I try to shoot clean, tight action with attention to detail. I watch my backgrounds very carefully and eliminate distracting elements. You’ve go to make a clear graphic statement. Over the decades I’ve learned to be much more patient than I was early on, especially when shooting baseball where you have to be extremely patient, waiting for something exciting to happen. I also learned that if I miss something, as everyone inevitably does, to just forget about it rather than dwell on it. If you do get hung up on missing a shot the chances are good you’ll miss the next picture.”
“When I look back on everything I’ve done certainly the Sports illustrated covers I’ve shot and also the recognition of having one of my images included in SI’s top 100 sports images of all time, the collision at home plate detailed below are two things that are especially gratifying. And while you don’t do what you do to garner awards it’s a good feeling to be honored by your peers and I’m proud that my images were considered worthy to be selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and to have received awards from the University of Missouri School of Journalism – Pictures of the Year, North American Soccer League Society of Publication Designers, and Kirkus Reviews.”
The Stories Behind 4 Great Chuck Solomon Sports Pictures
Kirk Gibson says hello
I was on assignment for Sports Illustrated when I shot this picture in the old Tiger Stadium, where you were allowed to shoot from right on the field. When I started out, pros were allowed to shoot on the field in Baltimore, Cleveland and Detroit, but Tiger Stadium was by far the best, with its cavernous stands, which went completely dark so images popped out at home plate against dark backgrounds. Shooting from the field also enabled you to could shoot from unique angles. I was shooting Gibson before the game around the batting cage and he yelled at me to shoot only during the game. He didn’t like photographers very much. I saw him a few weeks after I made this picture and asked him if he saw it, as it ran as a two-page spread in Sports Illustrated. He smiled and said it was “pretty good.” This image was selected by Sports Illustrated I as one of the 100 greatest sports photographs.
The other Ripken
This was shot during a spring training game in Port Charlotte, Florida. Spring training lets you shoot day after day in great light. The problem is that key players only play a few innings and are usually not going to risk injury diving after balls, hitting walls or sliding head first into bases. Billy Ripken played with abandon. He had to, being much less talented than his more famous brother and in danger of not making opening day rosters. I knew I had something good when I shot this. But I wasn’t sure if I held focus. I held focus on one frame and the next one was out. Luckily the sharp one was the most important frame.
Where it all began for Yogi
I made this picture on the last day at the old Yankee stadium. I knew the image I wanted and waited behind home plate waiting for Yogi to be introduced to complete the positions with all the other Yankee legends. The problem was that Thurman Munson’s widow, in a brightly colored leisure suit was announced right after him and was quickly catching up to the slow moving Berra. Fortunately she stopped for a few seconds and I was able to make a few frames of standing Yogi alone at the plate for one last time, where he had held court for so many years.
Harvey gets excited
Baseball is a game of action and reaction. Often the reaction is harder to anticipate and capture since it happens so quickly, unexpectedly and sometimes where you don’t expect it. I’ve learned to quickly aim my camera back to the pitcher’s mound after a key third out, whether it’s a key strikeout or inning ending double play. Harvey usually doesn’t give you much. But here he certainly did, after recording a key third out in last year’s World Series.
Best advice I received 40 years ago
“If you’re going to worry about people shooting part time, shooting to get into games for free, to give prints away to athletes, or to see their pictures in print and earning little or no money… you better do something else… But if you work hard, value your work, have a little talent, treat it as a business and get a few breaks… Just maybe you can make a living doing something you love; shooting sports.” This advice, from a veteran sports photographer, is as relevant now as it was 40 years ago.
“Photography has been my life’s work and has afforded me the opportunity of leading an interesting life doing something I love. Photography has allowed me to have my hobby become my profession; and if I ever do retire my profession will once again become my hobby.”
Where can people go if they want to see more of your work or learn more about you?
www.chucksolomonphotography.com
