The technical speed on the ice was a massive hurdle for photography. Shooting Ilia Malinin—the "Quad God"—is a literal exercise in focus-tracking. When he’s hitting four consecutive flips and transitioning into a b-boy pose, you have a split second to nail the frame before he’s across the arena.
Additionally, the show’s aesthetic shifted wildly—from the dark, aggressive "K-Pop Demon Hunter" vibe of the Blade Angels to the lyrical elegance of the pairs skating. Balancing my exposure for the high-contrast arena spotlights while keeping the skin tones natural on moving targets kept me on my toes the entire night.
This was a fast, professional, and genuinely impressive look at the best skaters in the world. Being able to provide FGM with a visual record of these gold medalists in their element was a highlight of the season.
The imagery reflected the shift in the sport—skating is becoming younger, more athletic, and more integrated with current pop culture, and Chicago gave them a proper hero's welcome.
Next projects.
(2016-25©)
