Camp Gladiator Games 2021

This summer I had the chance to go on assignment for Camp Gladiator to cover the CG games over two consecutive Saturdays in July. Because of the intense Texas heat, the games started before sunrise each day and stretched through mid morning. I was eager to photograph these athletes because I had never covered this type of event before and I knew that it would present a few different challenges for me. The primary challenge was the heat. It was hot - very hot - even at 5:00 am. I did not envy any of the people who were competing in that thick summer air. I was also very conscious to not get in the way of any athletes while simultaneously being sure to not miss a moment. And I knew that I didn’t want to fall in love with any preconceived frames in my mind - I wanted to let them come to me and unfold naturally for me to document. So my patience was absolutely tested.

Looking back through the images now, I think I did manage to capture the essence of the event as well as the will of the athletes. I’m looking forward to shooting more sporting events like this and trying to improve my ability to capture live, unrehearsed moments that can’t be redone. There is something exciting about that kind of photography that I’d like to continue to explore. Below is a selection of some of my favorite images from this year’s Camp Gladiator Games.

Thanks for stopping by - JC