Couple of weeks ago a boxing trainer talked to me about shooting portraits at a tournament he was hosting. 22 bouts total, so 44 fighter. I'd be there for the whole event but couldn't use the main ring for the portraits because fights were going on. I decided to build my own ring (2 sides) and take it with me to the gym. I had to set up just outside the gym, because no flashes were allowed inside for fear of distracting the fighters.
I built the ring out of PVC and my wife stitched the red, white and blue material to go over each pipe that represented the ropes.
I had the trainer bring a fighter over to my house so I could do some sample shots. Here is the results: Terrance the Boxer by Matt Randolph, on Flickr
I thought I'd be shooting just fighters, but my first customer was a family. Then soon after kids and spectators wanted their photos taken also. Heck, even the ref came by during a break. Here are some samples from the night:
p.1 #6 · Portable Studio: Fun Boxing/family Portaits
Nice job on making the boxing ring. I've used the PCV pipe to make a backdrop stand in the past and that worked well. I used 90 degree elbows to join the horizontal pipes to the verticals.
p.1 #11 · Portable Studio: Fun Boxing/family Portaits
I think the ring looks great. Some of the shots are really good and some the lighting and processing dont work for me. I would also suggest moving the "ropes" farther away from the black backdrop as I can see it in the picture pretty well. Also I would suggest getting a different material for the floor as it doesnt look like the inside of a boxing ring.
p.1 #15 · Portable Studio: Fun Boxing/family Portaits
It's just amazing what you did with PVC pipe to make that look realistic. Your shot of Terrance just seriously rocks! Some people may not like the processing treatment, but I thought it worked really well with your subject material. Great job!!!
p.1 #16 · Portable Studio: Fun Boxing/family Portaits
Sunny Sra wrote:
Holycrap awesome batman! dude! these rock! What lights were u using?
It was a 4 light setup:
1. Main light: Alienbee B800 w/42" silver PLM front and center on boom arm.
2 & 3. Alienbees B400 over each shoulder with 7" reflector.
4. Canon 430ex firing through 20" softbox on ground front and center.
p.1 #17 · Portable Studio: Fun Boxing/family Portaits
Agree with everyone else...awesome job on creating the ring for starters...very inventive and well done, and thanks for showing that...and the pictures came out incredibly well. What were you using for the background material, doesn't look like standard backdrop?
