Have you ever seen Magnum photos?  Their photos are unique, imaginative, stunning, thought-provoking, emotive and respectful. Magnum has a wonderful co-operative group of documentary photographers.  So how does this relate to sports photography?

I am about to tell you.  First sit back and relax and enter a world of photography all of its own.  Spend more than just a few minutes viewing these beautiful photos- spend at least one hour or more glancing at the work of various photographers.  You will be captivated by the uniqueness and style of their work. No two photos are alike.  As you scan through the photos-ask yourself a few questions.  What do you see.  What is your interpretation of the events. What are the human qualities.  What is happening. Who are the people.  Any social-political implications.

Magnum’s collection may inspire a whole new avenue for focusing more on the athlete-perhaps specializing in documentary sports photography. Think about a well known sports athlete.  Where did he…

Chase Jarvis, at 37, is a highly successful photographer for someone his age.

But photography wasn’t the first career path Chase pursued. His interest in photography began at school, where he was an athlete and is often photographed by his father and grandfather (and the local newspaper). Chase’s life, though he didn’t realize it at first, changed when his grandfather died and left him his camera equipment. He then began learning to work behind the camera (instead of being in front).

Chase was about to begin his Masters in Philosophy when he realized that pursuing a career in photography was what he actually wanted. He had been submitting photos to some magazines and he realized that he can make money from the photos he took. He has a knack for sports photography and his talent was apparent from the photos he took, and soon enough, in 1996, he got his first big break—he struck a deal with a big outdoor sports…