Sam Tsang – with Elvis Stojko, Gladys Orozco and Broncolor

by broncolor Canada · Published April 6, 2016 · Updated September 7, 2017

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is working with world-class athletes. Many photographers get caught up in working with high-profile clients–yes, the glitz and glam can be distracting–but when you strip away the fame, you get to reveal another side of your subject. Through the power of social media, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Elvis Stojko (three-time figure skating World champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist and seven-time Canadian champion), along with his wife, Gladys Orozco (two-time Mexican champion). I wanted to use this opportunity to create images that showcase who they really are.

There is a Chinese proverb that my father shared with me when I was a youngling, roughly translating to ”3 minutes of glory on stage, 10 years of hard work off stage.” Most people focus on an athlete’s podium moments, often forgetting their years of sweat and tears. My goal was to capture iconic images that would leave a lasting impression of their skating careers.

Location Scouting

Through Elvis and Gladys, we were granted valuable ice time at Tom Graham Arena from the City of Richmond Hill. Two weeks before the actual shoot date, we scouted the location on three separate occasions, taking notes on logistics and lighting conditions. We also got to observe Elvis & Gladys’ private practice, which allowed us to analyze their movement, get to know them on a personal level, and brainstorm different ideas together.

Lighting Gear

Thanks to Amplis Foto Inc., lighting advisors Dave Lemieux and Will Prentice gave me suggestions on different lighting equipment options, allowing me to concentrate on image creation. For sports imagery, the lights need to be able to keep up with the action. The Nikon D4s can shoot up to 11 fps–the Scoro pack has no problem keeping up with the camera with good refresh rate, power and colour temperature.

Broncolor Siros – Don’t let these entry-level lights fool you, it can hang with the flagship Scoro pack.

Scoro S, Scoro E – Simply the best lighting system on the planet–I can adjust flash duration, change colour temperature, and program the pack to fire in sequence. There is no competition; this pack is truly a class of its own.

Unilite – Small and lightweight, it was my first choice in pairing it with any large modifiers mounted at great height.

Pulso G – A powerful head with fast refresh rate, the adjustable knob on the side allows users to fine tune light tube protrusion.

Para 133 – Provides a 3D wrap-around light for full-length shots. The adjustable rod can turn a hard light into a soft light, making this a very versatile modifier.

Octa 150 – A lightweight modifier that produces flattering soft light with great catch lights.

P70 Reflector + Grid – maximum light spread control when paired with a grid.

Lighting Setup

I wanted to create iconic pictures for Elvis and Gladys individually–not a typical profile shot, but light them in a way that showcases their strength and identity.
We placed one Broncolor Siros two feet behind a white bed sheet, draped and hung over a superboom. Bare bulb was fired at waist level, allowing the light to spread everywhere and wrap around their bodies from their backs to the front, outlining their sculpted arms, backs and legs. Since the image is mainly backlit, it created shadows that emphasized their muscle definition. The bed sheet acted as a giant light box; with the adjacent wall bouncing the light back to the subject, highlighting the sequin on their handmade costumes. We placed a second Siros with a P70 reflector + Grid for facial detail.

We proceeded with our shoot on ice. This time we wanted to light the couple yet give them more freedom to move about. We used a Broncolor Scoro S + Unilite + Octa 150, raised high on a superboom, angled slightly forward. The Octa acted as a soft stage light, illuminating our subject from above, while the surroundings remained dark to create the impression that they are on ice as performers. As Elvis and Gladys went through different moves, I paid attention to their interaction with each other. When they performed the “dip”, the look on Elvis’s face revealed how much he adores Gladys, who in turn was relaxed, focusing on her graceful movement with complete trust in her partner’s hands.

We continued to use the Scoro S + Unilite + Octa 150 combination for Gladys’s jump shot. Since her costume was colourful with fringes and rhinestones, we adjusted the Scoro’s flash to the shortest flash duration, allowing me to freeze the fringes of her costume and capture chunks of ice from her powerful jump. This showcases her strength and power as a figure skater. The key to this shot was providing her with a perimeter within which to jump and capturing her at the apex. Timing is crucial, along with capturing her joyous expression as a performer.

Elvis’s costume on the other hand was bright yellow, but his pants absorbed light like a black hole. If we continued to shoot him with the same setup, his pants simply would have disappeared into the darkness, so we added a second Scoro E + Pulso G head + Para 133 in the defocused position. This setup throws a punchy hard light; our goal was to provide enough rim light to separate his pants from the background. After a few tries, we fine-tuned the light to shine within his projected flight path. Instead of freezing action like we did for Gladys, I wanted the image to have a hint of motion blur to his feet, depicting a sense of speed. Being a world class performer, Elvis worked the camera and knew exactly where to look, delivering an effortless expression during mid-flight.