Sports stars shine under colorful lighting, and a still life tells someone’s life story in these Photography 2022 award winners.
Howard Schatz is an award-winning American photographer and Graphis Master residing in New York City. Originally trained as a retina specialist at John Hopkins University, Schatz first worked as an ophthalmologist but then decided to turn to a photography career after his wife gave him a camera in 1993. Despite his change in professions, Schatz’s background in studying human anatomy and biology plays into his practice, where he uses light and color in combination with his technical skills to create images that challenge the traditional representation of the human form.
In his Gold-winning entry “DeLisha Milton 010” (above, left), Schatz shoots the WNBA player posed against a green illuminated background, holding a basketball against her forehead and looking away from the camera. Taken from a low angle, Schatz captures Milton’s lean build from a striking perspective, utilizing bold lighting design to emphasize the ridges and shadows created by Milton’s muscles. Schatz continues his study of the human physique in his Platinum-winning entry “008: HB 1320 – Bryan Scott” (above, right) picturing the NBA player posed on a pedestal under the gleam of white lighting. As he bends over, Scott’s physical form and skin take on a statuesque appearance, highlighting his muscle and smooth skin while also emphasizing the rich blue undertones of his body to create an image that is both technically excellent and visually captivating.
