Came out swinging, ended in a knock out

“This is intense,” Anthony Cannella (left) says, swinging his fist at Gladden's hand as they practice technique.

​Driving home from class last Thursday, I spotted a group of people in boxing gear gasping for breath as they jogged down NW 13th St. Not too far away,  a white tarp above an open garage door read "Gladden Boxing Club." Immediately, I knew someone there had a story. I already had some other ideas in mind for my first assignment, but this one just felt right. One phone call later I had my interview set up for the following day with the owner, Lee Gladden. 

For my first experience taking photos with a DSLR camera, I had chosen a fast moving sport as my subject. This was going to be a challenge. But after a quick overview of the boxing club's website and an even quicker lesson on aperture, ISO, and shutter speed, I came out swinging. 

The interview with Gladden went smoothly. I had my questions ready and knocked it out in less than 15 minutes. Thankfully I was able to get quotes from multiple boxers during their water breaks as well. The photos, however, were a totally different story. Lighting was a big issue, because I had to take into account the sunlight coming in from the front and back of the gym's open garage doors. Other parts of the gym were very dark, so I felt like I was constantly playing around with the camera's settings. I tried to catch and correct myself every time I shot something too dark or over exposed. I found it even more difficult to maintain focus and the correct amount of lighting while also trying to capture motion.

Overall, it was a different but fun experience, and I was excited to look through the photos when I got home. While my background in operating TV news cameras gave me some confidence, I definitely stepped outside my comfort zone. The DSLR wasn't so scary after all. There is ample room for improvement, of course, but I'm happy with how it turned out! 

Here's his story: Veteran, boxing coach treats everyone like a champion.