Game 4 of the Los Angeles Kings versus the New Jersey Devils. © Andrew D. Bernstein, NHLI via Getty Images

During his 30-year career as a sports photographer Andrew D. Bernstein has used technological innovation (he helped develop the Flash Wizard II system) and a connection with his subjects to capture athletes in a unique and personal way. His photographs have appeared in notable magazines like Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, TIME and Newsweek as well as in Phil Jackson’s book Journey to the Ring: Behind the Scenes with the 2010 NBA Champion Lakers. Bernstein is based in Los Angeles and is the team photographer for many of the city’s professional sports teams including the Lakers, the Clippers, the Kings and the Dodgers. He’s also had the opportunity to shoot the American basketball team at five Olympic Games.

As part of his duties as team photographer for the Los Angeles Kings, he was able to capture history during their 2011-2012 season when they won the Stanley Cup Championship for the first time. To celebrate the team’s victory and Bernstein’s photography, the Los Angeles Kings and the Staples Center opened a recent exhibition called “Los Angeles Kings Road to the Stanley Cup.” Now on view through June 2013, the exhibit is free for any ticket holders attending NHL or NBA games at the Staples Center, and includes over 50 images captured by Bernstein and his team including aerial shots from the games, exciting actions shots, photos taken moments after the Kings won the Stanley Cup Championship and posed images of the Stanley Cup at various landmarks throughout Los Angeles (a longtime tradition for Stanley Cup Championship winners). For more information about the exhibition, visit staplescenter.com/kings-photo-exhibit.

“The word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League.  Los Angeles Kings name and logo are registered trademarks of the NHL team.  All Rights Reserved.”

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All photos © Kevin Steele

Last August, advertising and editorial photographer Kevin Steele attended the Santa Barbara Triathlon, one of the longest running triathlons in the world. Steele says the grey weather and light drizzle were “great conditions” for photographing the one-mile swim, 34-mile bike ride and ten-mile run in black-and-white. ”I shoot people in motion and active lifestyle. Knowing that I wanted to get very close to the athletes while being very careful to not get in their way, I approached the Race Director and organizers well before to gain access and trust,” he explains of the process of photographing the event. “I was in and out of a wetsuit along with the swimmers, running barefoot with the runners and generally having a great time letting intuition be in the driver’s seat.” His goal? To focus on telling the story of the participants in about a dozen images.

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© Ahren Nunag

American Muay Thai kickboxer Romie Adanza, after he knocked out competitor Langsuanlak Sasiprapa in October 2011. This photo was shot by Ahren Nunag and won first place in the “On the Court” category in the amateur division of PDN‘s 2012 The SHOT sports photography contest. Today is the deadline for the 2013 contest. Visit www.pdnshot.com for more information.

“Jimmy Lannon, Manual, San Francisco, California,” 2011. © Allen Ying

Allen Ying is a Brooklyn, New York-based skateboard photographer as well as the founder and editor of 43 magazine. For him, skateboard photography is about more than just taking photos of skaters doing tricks. His goal is to show the “authenticity and artistry of skateboarding” in his images, while also reflecting the culture of the sport. On Friday, September 28, Kinfolk Studios in Brooklyn, New York, will open “Allen Ying: Select Photographs 2002-2012.” Some prints exhibited will also be available to purchase for $50.

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