Without comparison, the greatest part of life as a photojournalist is the people you get to spend time with. The profession seldom yields financially rich photographers, but we are compensated beyond belief by the people who enrich our lives by allowing us to spend time with them. And I’m certainly not talking about celebrities. People in…
What is it about Santa Barbara that attracts elite athletes to train there? The always sunny weather? Beautiful beaches? College town atmosphere? No doubt a bit of all of those because I’ve certainly shot my fair share of athletes at or near UCSB (not to mention a couple of Nobel Prize winners too). So it…
Mongo, whose real name we all know is Alex Karras, loved his garden! Yes, the Detroit Lion’s pro bowl, tough-as-nails defensive lineman who caused havoc for opposing quarterbacks, was a man who in retirement loved to gently tend to his tulips, orchids and roses amid his beautiful garden in the Hollywood Hills. I was asked…
After shooting the wonderfully brilliant and innovative Sir Ken Robinson for Costco Connection magazine earlier in the summer, Ken reached out and asked if I’d be interested in shooting portraits for him to use at conferences and education symposiums that he speaks at around the world. Of course, I agreed. Sir Ken is a pleasure…
As most any photojournalist will tell you, it’s the subject matter that draws us to the profession. And I’m no different. By and large, the subject matter is what makes a job interesting or boring. Meeting new people, exploring new cultures or segments of society with our cameras and learning about new subjects is…
Boy, talk about having to draw on patience and understanding. This past summer I shot Indianapolis Colt wide receiver Austin Collie for a Sports Illustrated profile. In the few hours I spent with him, I found him to be a extremely nice guy. He was patient and accommodating during the off-season shoot. Little did he…
Barry Sanders. ©Todd Bigelow The last time the Detroit Lions generated any hype, this man was still breaking defensive back’s ankles with unbelievable moves. Watching him hit a hole and power through the secondary made me want the Lions to be on TV. I don’t know too many Lions’ fans, but I do know a…
From the May 2, 2011 issue of Sports Illustrated, a portrait I shot of Indianapolis Colt receiver Austin Collie who has suffered multiple concussions. Todd Bigelow Photography
When you meet a legend, you don’t expect him to answer the door. When you meet John Wooden, he’ll apologize for not having answered the door quicker. When you meet a legend, you don’t expect to be greeted like a truly important person. When you meet John Wooden, you discover he’s as interested in you…
Another request today for an image that an organization would like to use without paying. Although in the majority of cases I respond with a standard request for usage information so that I can create a quote, this time was a bit different. My concern over the evolution of photography has been well documented here….