(Ty Erickson at Santa Maria, unaltered) Nikon vs Canon is a choice. Mac vs PC is a choice. Nas vs Jay-Z is (theoretically) a choice. Photoshop blur vs getting it right in-camera is not a choice when you’re shooting for publication. There’s no argument, no debate, no agreeing to disagree. If you find yourself in say, San Antonio, and you don’t know how to setup/flag your strobes, control your distances/angles, or shoot with the right lenses, Photoshop blur is not an acceptable workaround. I cover this (and everything else important) extensively at my workshops. Unfortunately I don’t have any in San Antonio.

Getting your subject in focus and minimizing background clutter is the foundation of sports photography. Positioning, distance, controlling light, lens selection, and aperture are all factors in avoiding distracting backgrounds and making your subject pop off the screen. Breaking the rules of photojournalism by using Photoshop to blur out your backgrounds (shout out to San Antonio) is what you do when you are lazy or don’t know what you’re doing. I can’t cure your laziness, but at my workshops I can teach you how to get it right the right way. (link in bio)

. @wrightcody77 & @rustyswright St Paul 2015

. @jlharper92 / 077 Skull Valley of Four Star, Oakdale 2017

. @elivastbinder / 45/4 Long Branch of @flyingurodeo, Santa Maria 2018

I absolutely do not remember making this picture or even what I was trying to do, but it is @blackwell_93 @renorodeo 2018

Jake Peterson / 3065 of Flying U, Marysville 2018

“My advice to any future retirees: Don’t announce before your last NFR. There comes a burden like no other, knowing it’s your last. It does make it sweet, but the finality really sets in. And for me, it wasn’t about just making the National Finals. It was about winning. Period. Anything less wouldn’t have been a success. Early in my career, if I made a mistake, I thought how much smarter I’d be the next year. You know there will be time for redemption. But you don’t get a mulligan during your last one. When it’s your last NFR, you don’t look at mistakes the same. You don’t say, Well, I’m gonna fix that the next time I come out here. It had to be fixed immediately.” - Trevor Brazile Photo by @mattcohenphoto | Presented by @thecowboyjournal @platinumperformance | Featuring @trevor.brazile ••• Read the full story as Trevor shares about his final NFR in his own words at The Cowboy Journal >> tap the link in the bio. ••• #thecowboyjournal #rodeo #rodeocowboys #trevorbrazils #rodeolife #rodeoroad #roping #ropehorse #teamroping #calfroping #tiedownroping #nfr2018

The most dangerous time in your journey is the first time you think you have it all figured out. Do you keep pushing to acquire new skills? Or do you “play it safe” while others are taking risks and getting noticed for work that stands out? I don’t know much, but I do know how to help people become better sports photographers. I’ve got a couple spots left if you want to come learn with me this spring in Marysville, CA. Link in my bio

you have to know the rules so you can decide which ones to shred

Dustin Bowen on Chain Smoker of Flying U, Santa Maria 2015

June 05, 2015 in blog

Matt Cohen Photo on Instagram