Getting Started with the Camera Thing
Alright, let’s talk about how I ended up pointing a camera at dudes punching each other in a cage. It wasn’t like I woke up one day and boom, UFC videographer. Nah, it started way smaller. I picked up a camera, just messing around really. Filmed some local stuff, you know, small-time MMA events where the lighting sucks and you’re practically tripping over cables.
Learned a lot that way, though. Mostly learned how not to do things. How to deal with crappy lighting, how to move without getting decked by a stray elbow from the crowd. Had to figure out what gear actually worked without breaking the bank. Didn’t have fancy budgets back then. Just used whatever I could afford or borrow.
Stepping Up to the Big Leagues
Eventually, got a shot at something bigger. Not UFC right away, but closer. More organized events. That meant learning the rules, the real rules. Where you can stand, where you absolutely cannot. Who you talk to for access. It’s a whole different game. Lots of emails, lots of waiting, lots of proving you’re not just some random dude with a camcorder.
Gear became important. Suddenly my old setup wasn’t cutting it. Needed better low-light performance, needed tougher gear because things get hectic ringside. Had to invest, you know? Scraped together funds for a solid body and a couple of decent lenses. Lugging that stuff around is a workout on its own, let me tell ya.
Fight Night: The Real Deal
Okay, so UFC fight night. It’s organized chaos. First, you gotta get there super early. Hours before anything happens. Find your spot, claim your little piece of real estate. Usually, it’s crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with other media folks. You set up your gear: camera, tripod maybe (if you’re lucky to have space), extra batteries, tons of memory cards. Check everything like ten times.
Then you wait. And wait.
When the fights start, it’s non-stop. You’re constantly moving, anticipating. Trying to follow the action, which is lightning fast. You’re not just filming the punches; you gotta capture the reactions, the corner men, the emotion. It’s intense. The noise is insane – the crowd, the impacts, the yelling. You feel the thud of kicks hitting the body.
- Constantly checking focus.
- Swapping batteries mid-round sometimes.
- Making sure you’re not blocking someone else’s shot (or getting blocked).
- Trying not to get splashed with sweat… or blood. Yeah, that happens.
You’re focused on getting the shot – the knockdown, the submission, the celebration. You gotta be ready because it happens in a split second. Miss it, and it’s gone. No replays for us down there.
Wrapping It Up
After the main event, everyone’s packing up, tired. But you still got work. Gotta make sure all your footage is safe. Back it up immediately. Sometimes there’s a quick turnaround needed for highlights or specific clips. So you might be transferring files right there, surrounded by the breakdown crew tearing down the cage.
It’s a grind, honestly. Long hours, lots of pressure, physically demanding. But capturing those moments, being right there when history happens in the octagon? Pretty damn cool. It’s raw, it’s real. Way different than watching it on TV. You see the grit, the exhaustion, the sheer willpower up close. It’s something else.
