Here it is another long while before I have been here and although I have not been working, I have been very busy helping various people do things. That's another blog though, this one is long due in coming.
I'm talking about someone I've known for a long while now, but never taken the time to mention which is quite long over due.
Rip Impact
The very first time I met him was at a wrestling card at the Studio in Hamilton. Along with a few other wrestlers, he was one of the first to come up and introduce himself to me. I was also quickly added over on Facebook even though I hadn't any photos of him wrestling up that I deemed anywhere near as worthy as the one to the left.
I enjoyed every match he wrestled including the one on that first card, and all his other matches that I've seen. Check the video above for some clips of his match. Let me tell you, the fast moving, quick wrestling, matches are the absolute biggest challenge to photograph or video. They go way too fast for most to keep up you really need a huge knowledge of wrestling holds and moves to anticipate what is coming next. For the record, I've never been told what's choreographed in any wrestling event I've attended, it's all experience on holds and moves and ringside savvy that's gotten me these photos and videos.
You'll have noticed in the photos tape across his arm with the words "Owen" written on them. The date taken was May 24th 2009, if anyone remembers Owen Hart they will get the connection. In fact it takes a lot of wrestling knowledge to know that Rip Impact wrestled a lot like the late Owen Hart complete with the "Sharpshooter" that Bret Hart used before Owen took it and used it nearer to the end of his life.
That's precisely what Rip Impact did in his match which was essentially a tribute to Owen in all aspects that I could see. It ended up that he lost the final match on that day, but that's wrestling for you. Yet another long blog I could get into about what not to do as a promoter as I've watched many try and fail, or try and succeed.
Staying on topic though, I not only wanted to mention Rip Impact for the wrestling skills, but also the dedication to the wrestling world that I find can be rare with wrestlers. Over the years that I've seen him around in the independent wrestling world I've observed all his help to each of the cards in various manners. Whether it's helping to take apart a ring, or ensure something was running right, Rip was always on hand there doing something.
It's that kind of dedication that I truly love to see in the wrestling world and this is long time in coming for Rip Impact because I could clearly see that from the start he was one of those wrestlers that deserved a lot of recognition in the wrestling world.
It should also be mentioned that somewhere throughout the matches I've taken photos of him at that he also found a way around towards my camera to get some good photos such as the one to the left. Maybe he knows just how difficult it is to shoot a fast moving wrestler in the ring and was giving me a photo opportunity like I was a paparazzi in Hollywood, but personally I know he's a nice guy and would simply stand there just so I could get the photo.
Not many wrestlers will acknowledge the camera when I'm busy around the ring taking photos and I don't know if they realize that sometimes angles just don't line up so nicely to get a great photo opportunity. In fact during one entrance I was recently filming of a lady wrestler, she turned and her hair swung across her face rendering the photo absolutely useless. A true wrestler that knows the photographers are right there taking photos would make that one moment count rather than turn around suddenly to look back at someone. Wait for the photo, then turn to look at whatever has caught your attention.
Several of Rip's entrances I've caught, but the last one he came in way too fast for me to catch him. The lighting was also dark; you can tell by the video at the top of this blog as this is the wrestling card I am referring to.
I am pleased with several of his photos from that card though. It all went down so fast I don't know if I was chasing him getting the photos or he simply stopped for the ones I got. (See photo to the left for an example) Regardless, it takes a lot of ring presence to get where people are and what they are doing. You're covering a huge area of space with a big immovable ring in the middle of it looking for the best vantage points to shoot photos from.
I believe that wrestling photographers are pretty much a wrestler's best friend in the wrestling world because we capture the permanent images that will remain in the world forever and it's something that generations of fans will treasure. It's a piece of wrestling history etched in time for youngsters to look at. When you get a good wrestler like Rip at ringside it makes you want to capture all that moment for everyone to keep looking at years from now.
Think back a moment to the wrestler you remembered the most that was just before your time. The one that you wished you could have seen that match. You'll have heard about how they were with fans and people at ringside and think 'he was great'.
The photographers and video camera people that trailed those guys around are the ones you're thanking for being able to see what it was like back then. If not for them, there would only be a memory.
Now we're here in the present where friends, family and fans of Rip Impact are looking at these images and video thinking about how great the match was and how good a wrestler he is. Years from now those memories are still alive and well because I was able to get those moments. How could I possibly not give the long due credit here to Rip Impact that he truly deserves.
A winner that match, a lot of applause. It's all there in the photos to keep treasured for eternity. In my world where lighting and flares are constantly problems, it makes these kinds of photos very worthwhile to take.
Truly appreciated, Rip Impact.
Thanks
Desiree
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