In any given year things tend to move so fast that I seldom have an opportunity to pause and digest the minute nor the incredible moments as they happen. While I am always cognizant of what's going on, it's only in hindsight that I really have an opportunity to fully appreciate the road I've been traveling. In this final part of my personal look back at 2014 I share a behind the lens look into the FIBA Basketball World Cup, my adventures with Nike and the Elite Youth Basketball League as well as its elite camps including that of LeBron James, my role in an upcoming documentary film coming to a theater near you in 2015, and more.
2014 was an incredible year and has given me plenty to be thankful for. For starters, I am entering 2015 in good health, which I never take for granted. 2014 has also been an incredible ride that has felt like a dream with all of the opportunities I’ve been afforded. I’ve logged over 20,000 miles in 2014 that have taken me across the country and over the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve probably clicked my shutter at least twice for every mile I’ve traveled, creating my shots from some of the world’s greatest stages of all levels. Here is a visual recap of just some of the highlights 2014 blessed me with.
Camaradas saw a capacity crowd during the opening of the Respect The Shooter photography exhibition, which is on display through December 31st. Photo by Vincent (instagram: @vinzarate).
The turnout for the opening of my Respect The Shooter photography exhibition on Monday, December 1st at Camaradas was incredible. I was truly blown away by the support from the New York City basketball community, my friends, and family.
Whether on the court or from the periphery of the game, I have always been a shooter. Through my passion for both basketball and photography, I have traveled the world freezing action and capturing defining moments. On December 1, 2014 I will share some of the photographic shots I've created over the years. Please join me as I share a limited selection of my adventures.
IS 8 is synonymous to elite high school basketball in New York City and, despite it's humble tagline: bring your game not your name, dozens of legendary players have competed in the historic tournament. I had the pleasure of creating my shots from the sidelines of the championship game and a very special and unique event leading up to it. Continue reading to see some of my shots and a brief recap of the experience.
I love telling stories. I especially enjoy doing so through my imagery. Sometimes that imagery moves. Here's a short video I created for my friend Bobbito Garcia capturing his second annual Full Court 21™ tournament.
I recently had the opportunity to create my shots from the sidelines of the 2014 Books & Ball All-City Classic in the Bronx, NY. The talent level of these high school hoopers was impressive to say the least. No game announced by the great David "Cha Ching" Teele is short of energy or excitement and he certainly did not disappoint on this occasion. Continue reading to get a feel for the event through my lens. Hope you enjoy the images.
I had an absolute blast in Spain as I created my shots from the sidelines of the Basketball World Cup. Here are some of the images I was able to create as well as a summary of my trip. I learned a ton and I hope my words and images can share a piece of my journey with you.
Naofall Folahan reps NYC in the EBC Celebrity game and throws this one down much to the delight of rappers Fabolous, LL Cool J, Jadakiss, Big Sean and a host of other celebrities in attendance for the game in Brooklyn, NY.
The Entertainer's Basketball Classic, typically held on the hallowed grounds of Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, took over the Barclays Center for their celebrity game. Brian Kortovich, who once led EBC in scoring, invited me to roam the sidelines of the Barclays to capture some of the goings on at the event and I was thrilled to check it out. Continue reading for an inside look.
I've been spending lots of time behind my lens lately, working on some awesome projects. I've had the pleasure of creating my shots from the sidelines of the World's Most Famous Arena, at the Brooklyn Nets practice facility, and some lifestyle pieces at a chic hotel frequented by visiting NBA teams. Keep reading to find out where you can see some of my latest work with some of the most prestigious basketball outlets.
The crossover between sports and fashion seems to be ubiquitous, especially as more and more professional athletes are featured on the covers of magazines such as GQ and are sponsored by a wide range of clothing brands. I had a great time shooting for k1x brand, which fuses the influences of basketball and fashion into their clothing line for some clever designs and appealing styles.
There are few places I'd rather be than behind my camera on the sidelines of any major sporting event. Once the game/match gets going, so too does my adrenaline as I chase that elusive perfect shot. The subjectivity that allows me to define that at each opportunity is one of many reasons why I love being a photographer. Check out this slideshow of some of my favorite dunk images from the summer of '13.
The Rose Classic is New York City's premier girl's basketball league and I was privileged to create my shots from the sidelines of its culminating day: Senior Day. Continue reading to learn more about my experience on the sidelines of this class act tournament and to see more of my images.
At number 10, Karl Towns of the Dominican Republic national team throws one down over the defense of Puerto Rico's Ricardo Sanchez at the FIBA America's tournament in Caracas, Venezuela.
I have decided to go through some of my favorite dunk images from this past summer and share them through Instagram. Here are dunks 10-8. Stay tuned and follow me on Instagram to see them posted in real time as the rest unfold.
Check out my short piece on Bobbito Garcia's Full Court 21™ to get a glimpse of the new basketball tournament concept during its inception in New York City over the summer of 2013.
The 2013 FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela was an incredible experience. Not only did I have a great view of the action from the sidelines and other areas throughout the arena, but the games were terrific. From major upsets to Mexico's head coach getting ejected from the championship game to a plethora of highlights and the palpable emotional roller coaster throughout, I had a blast capturing the action and the drama.
From great games to great people, my experience in Venezuela has been nothing short of amazing. Continue reading to hear more about my journey out here and about one amazing game at the FIBA Americas Championship.
The FIBA Americas Championship has been an awesome experience to shoot and with four games per day, I've had plenty opportunities to create my shots from the sidelines.
The Nike Tournament of Champions was a spectacular event. They did a tremendous job with creating an environment that was safe, entertaining, and, naturally, that marketed their products. I was fortunate to have been invited to take my shots from the sidelines of this one and was able to create some interesting images.
