Art can be so much more meaningful when you know a little bit more about the person behind it – the eye behind the lens. That’s why I periodically profile sports/action photographers and their work. Read on to learn about photographer David Brown and get a good look at the world through his eyes:
David Brown comes from a long line of photography buffs. He learned his love of portrait and action photography from his father, and his father before him. But David discovered his love of shooting Brazilian jiu jitsu by accident. “I brought my camera to a jiu jitsu tournament so my team would have more than just cellphone photos. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed covering the event, and came home with some great images,” he explained.
David finds more satisfaction in photographing individual sports, like BJJ and skateboarding, than he does in covering team sports. “Both are very individualistic and allow for expression and creativity that I don’t get from team sports,” said David. “With jiujitsu specifically, the decisive moment would be the submission, where someone is forced to tap out of the fight. The look of pain and defeat is more powerful than any touchdown or home run I’ve seen.”
David’s favorite part of photography, however, is the actual sharing of the image. Whether it be hanging a print on a wall or showing the just-photographed athlete an image on his digital camera, the emotions attached to the photo are the most fulfilling part. “When I know I’ve captured something great, I love being able to show the person on my camera and see their reaction on the spot. It serves as motivation for both of us.”
Photos courtesy of David Brown:
