I started my photography career early in my teens at my high school in the U.S.A. where I was the photo editor on the student annual and photographer for the student newspaper. I had a head start with photography as a boy as my father was a sports and travel photographer. After moving to Europe on a study abroad program I landed a job with Reuters news agency as a freelance photographer in Madrid, Spain in 1989. During those years I covered all sorts of sports and news such as the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, Formula One and Motorcycling Grand Prix, etc. In 1992 I was offered a staff job with Reuters in London where I worked as Photographer/Editor, covering news and sports assignments such as the 1995 Tour de France cycling race, Summer and Winter Olympics, World Swimming, Cycling and the 1994 World Cup in USA. In 1996 I became the Chief Photographer for Reuters in Italy, where I was in charge of coverage and covered news and sports including the Vatican, Pope John Paul II’s foreign travels to Africa, Latin America, Middle East, and sports including Alpine Skiing World Cup, Nordic Skiing World Cup, Formula One, Motorcycling GP, Italian Football League, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games etc. In 2001 I returned to Spain where I was based as Chief Photographer Iberia for Reuters and lead the team of photographers covering news and sports. Again, assignments ranging from Rio Olympic Games, Rio World Cup, Spanish soccer league, Formula One, Vuelta de España cycling race, Sierra Nevada World Freestyle and Snowboard Championships, Korea Winter Paralympics to name a few.
I would sum up the characteristics of a great adventure and action sports image in a few words as such. An image which immediately conveys the drama, beauty, and spirit of a competition. An image which doesn’t need explaining because the viewer immediately recognises what is happening. An image which has looks so great you would want to hang it printed large on a wall to continue seeing it. An image which sticks.
As far as tips and tricks, I would say something similar to what my Wider Image profile in Reuters says, something along the lines of the following:
In Photography, that magical moment never repeats itself, and to capture it requires planning, concentration and lots of devotion and dedication. Know the sport, study beforehand, talk to the photographers that cover that type of sport often and always look for new ways to cover an event. Especially, cover each event as if it had never been covered, stay fresh and never be complacent. Camera gear is not as important as attitude and the way you use your head, breathe and THINK.