Jury 2010

Jennifer Aborn

PHOTO EDITOR, ESPN MAGAZINE (USA)

If you want a wry take on sports and popular culture, ESPN Magazine is there to keep you entertained. Jennifer Aborn has the demanding task of finding great shots for a fortnightly magazine with a circulation of over 2 million readers for fans of any sport from American football, ice-hockey to college basketball.

She became interested in photography after her mother took her to a Robert Frank exhibition, the Swiss photographer famed for his sceptical outsider's view of American society and experimental images. She then graduated from Purchase College in New York in 1999 with a major in photography.

Jenifer got her first photo editor role in 2003 at SLAM magazine and then STRIKER. The experience of working on basketball and soccer photography was the perfect apprenticeship for her current position. "I love photographing any action sport from skateboarding to surfing but I also love shooting soccer."

What are her career highlights to date? "Just being able to work on action sports and other professional sports for ESPN Magazine. My first cover shoot was special for me as well as haven shoots I directed being nominated for photography awards."

After three years in her current role, what is a typical day like? "If I am on location, I produce the photo shoot and direct the photographer. If I am in the office my job requires researching specific stock or action images, setting up photo shoots and meeting with photographers and editors."

For someone with experience with action sports as well as more traditional sport photography, what makes a great photo? "It's the composition and the lighting. For action photos, I think it's a photo that best captures the moment that shows the trick or run, with the most emotion possible, while still making sure it reads clearly to the viewer. I also love seeing the environments and photos that tell a story."

Why is she getting involved with the competition? "I love Red Bull photography, and I think Red Bull Illume is a great idea."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag