Photographer behind series in Newsweek: Help find, ID athletes
Angela Jimenez, a W35 photojournalist, has a wonderful series of masters track shots on Newsweek’s online site. (See them here.) When she told me of the series, she asked how she might contact the athletes: “I do not know how to get in touch with some of the folks, and maybe they or their families will see it if you are able to post it? I thought maybe your blog is hooked into the community and they would get a chance to see it! … Any advice you have about how to share it with the subjects of the photos would be much appreciated.” Well, folks. Help her out! Ship the link to the athletes and their kinfolk. Here’s a quickie Q&A with Angela, who shot this start:
My e-mail interview with Angela:
Masterstrack.com: How long did it take to get these shots?
Angela Jimenez: I started working on this project in 2007. It started as an independent project, like many things do … just as out of curiosity. Then Sarah Foster, a wonderful art director at the Getty Images creative department, supported me continuing the work. I continued work on the subject in 2008 and 2009.
Where did you travel?
I have photographed meets in Kentucky, Italy, Maryland, Boston and Pennsylvania.
Did you use film or digital? Did you convert color to black-and-white?
I shot all this on a Hasselblad 503cx, which is a totally manual medium format film camera. I shot it all on Kodak tri-x and Plus-x black & white 120 mm film. There are 12 frames to a roll and it is a manual-wind camera. It is a much more deliberate, sparse way of photographing than I found I was using with my digital work. There is some 35 mm (rectangular) format work as well, and I shot that on the same type of film, with a Nikon FM2.
Tell me about yourself—age, education, family, where you live and your regular work.
I am a 35-year-old freelance documentary photographer/photojournalist based in Brooklyn, New York. I have been living and working here since 2001, but I grew up in Stamford, CT. I shoot for The New York Times and various clients and publications, and work on my own projects.
Did you compete in sports? Give details.
Yes! I was a Division I heptathlete for 4 years at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I love the sport, and knew about the masters circuit because of my experience in the sport. And I understand how to shoot the physicality because of that, too. I am retired from the sport for now—never say never—but I still love and appreciate it. Now, I practice yoga, ride my bike all over New York City and do study acrobatics with LAVA, a troupe based in Brooklyn.
6 Responses
I can name a few when I can find my WMA Riccione papers.
There is a wonderful timelessness about these photos, mainly because they are rendered in black and white. Several could just as easily have been taken 60 or 70 years ago.
I saw Angela at work in Italy, and have high regard for anyone who tries to shoot T&F with a big roll film camera. I have tried myself and failed several times. These shots are worthy additions to the Getty library.
Funny how people are hard to recognize from the back. This photo is of the 2008 60 final in Boston for M85 and M90. From left to right: Ralph Maxwell, Bob Matteson, John Means, Rev. Champion Goldy, and Tom Patsalis. Only one who kept me doubting myself was Ralph Maxwell (just doesn’t look much like him).
Picture 11, final 100m W75 Riccione:
from left to right:
Asta Larsson SWE silver
Sumi Onodera-Leona USA
Christine McLennan GBR
Ernestina Ramirez Garcia MEX
Veronica Welgemoed RSA
Isabel Hofmeyr RSA bronze
Ann Cooper AUS gold 16.79
See WMA site results page.
photo #14 Johnnye Valien W85
Only the pole vaulters name #8 is not known yet.
5 old men that love to run,as we all do
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