Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone - Olympics

Gold Medal - World Record - Hurdles

American Hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has been putting on quite a show at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. If you saw her performance last night in the 400m race, then you know why people are calling her the GOAT! There wasn’t another runner even close to her at the finish line when she took home another Gold Medal and set a new world record! Making America proud!!

I shot these photographs of Sydney a few years back while she was training on the track in Los Angeles and they are available for commercial licensing, editorial licensing, and wall as fine art prints / wall art. Contact me directly to inquire rob@robhammerphotography.com

Portrait of Sydney McLaughlin Levrone

Photograph of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone training

Sydney McLaughlin Levrone smiling

Portrait of Olympic Champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone training on a track

CrossFit - Boulder, CO

CrossFit Photographer - Boulder, CO

When it comes to CrossFit, every rep, every lift, and every drop of sweat tells a story of dedication and grit. For CrossFit athletes in Boulder, Colorado, the gym is more than just a training ground; it’s a stage where personal bests are shattered and camaraderie thrives. Capturing these moments through photography not only celebrates the athlete’s journey but also highlights the raw beauty of strength and determination.

Nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder offers a unique blend of natural beauty and a fitness-focused community. The city boasts several top-tier CrossFit gyms, or "boxes," that cater to everyone from beginners to seasoned athletes. Gyms like CrossFit Sanitas, Roots, and Left Hand CrossFit are hubs of activity, attracting individuals committed to pushing their physical and mental boundaries.

This dynamic environment makes Boulder an ideal location for CrossFit photography. Whether it’s a sunrise workout in an open-air setting or an intense WOD (Workout of the Day) inside a gym, the opportunities for capturing striking visuals are endless.

Click here to see more of my fitness photography

STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING-SAN DIEGO

Paddle Boarding Photography

Had some more fun in the water a few weeks ago with my Aquatech Water Housing and Broncolor Strobes.  Was originally hoping for some early morning light to shoot Carter Graves doing some stand up paddle boarding on Mission Bay. We didn't get the sun, but I'm thankful for that now. Think the clouds provide a more dramatic look and add a lot to these images. 

Carter Graves

 

Canelo Alvarez - Boxing Photography

Portraits of Canelo Alvarez - Boxing Champion

Over the course of my career, I've had some great opportunities to shoot with some world class athletes. All of them impressive in their own right, but not many who compare to Canelo Alvarez. When he goes at the heavy bag, he's going %110. It's like he only has one speed. And the sound his gloves make when they connect is amazing. We shot for quite a while, so it was really cool to feel and hear the rhythm of his routine. He's very vocal during the whole thing. Without a doubt, the most intense and intimidating  153 lb. person I've ever been around. Really cool guy, and a pleasure to shoot with. He couldn't have given more to the day if we asked him to. It was all out there. 

A couple of my favorites from the Everlast ad campaign. 


Death Valley-Running

I've been living in San Diego for a lot of years now, and have no excuse for never visiting Death Valley until just a few weeks ago. With all the cross-country driving I do, it seems ridiculous that it took this long to visit a place less than 5 hours away. Either way, I was more than excited when a client asked me to shoot some running images out there. And can't wait to go back for more. It's a very unique place. Obviously. Massive and desolate. You could argue that is almost seems like another planet, and not many people would argue. We came out of there with some awesome shots, but this has to be my favorite. This style of image is something I've been working on for a while now. Trying to show the scale of a place compared to the athlete and what they are doing. About 70 yards away from the runner in this shot, I still wanted to use strobes in order to really make him pop. So we ran a 20ft sync cord from my camera to the Broncolor transmitter, and set it up on top of a rock, which was in direct line of site to the strobe. Have to admit, when we first started testing, I thought the distance was going to be too far. That, and the very nature of Death Valley, seemed like it would mess with the radio frequencies between transmitter and receiver. Hoping to head back in a few weeks to push the envelope. Stay tuned. 

Nikon D800e and Polarized Nikon 70-200mm lens. Runner lit with Broncolor Move Pack and MobiLed Head. 

Click HERE to see more RUNNING images. 

 

Boulder, Colorado-Trail running

If you live in Boulder, Colorado, then chances are you spend some time outdoors. It's a town that's just as famous for being active, as it is for marijuana. Which seems kind of contradictory, but whatever. I've been a fan of Boulder (and the rest of Colorado) for a long time now. So on my last visit, I made it a point to shoot some trail running. Red Rocks Trail is a cool spot with a great backdrop for this type of thing. The shoot was a lot of fun despite having one Elinchrom strobe shit out on us about 3 minutes in. Luckily, I also had some brand new Broncolor gear that I was testing. Huge fan of it, by the way. Looking like the Elinchrom's will be taking a backseat. These first three images were lit with strobes. The last one is all natural light. All shot on the Nikon D810. 

 

PCT - California

Trail Running Photography

Pacific Crest Trail - California

Drive about an hour east of San Diego on the 8 and you'll find the Sunrise Highway. Explore up there for a bit, and you'll be happy you did. Lots of fun hiking with great views. Especially on this section of the Pacific Crest Trail.