The Rockaways

My personal project this summer concentrates on The Rockaways in Queens, New York. At first reluctant, I am falling in love with the place. Yesterday was one of those very good days, when I ran into daredevil skateboarders Angel Andino (above) and Curtis Cooper (below) who practiced their skills at their local hangout, complete with skateboard ramps, grinding rails and quarter pipes. The light was right, and, unusual these days, it wasn't as hot as hell. Journalist Claudia Steinberg, who spends her summer weekends in her 'shag' in Rockaway, is writing ...









More Rockaway images click here

Boxing - Gleason's Gym

Adam Kownacky (above) and Gadiel Romero (below) are two of the boxers training for the Golden Gloves at Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn. The energy at the gym is pretty amazing and I will return once in a while, even though Gleason's is probably one of the most photographed places on earth, "you'll see some sort of reporters here from 5 in the morning to 10 at night, every day", says owner Bruce Silverglade ...

Boxing - Golden Gloves

I had the opportunity to shoot at the Golden Gloves Championship last night by invitation from the New York Foreign Press Center. It is always good to try something new, I had never shot boxing before ...





Two days earlier I visited Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, which has produced many Golden Gloves champions and will very likely continue to do so.

Tijuana Wrestling

Back in Tijuana for my La Frontera project and roaming the city with photo journalist David Maung for the night, I find myself backstage with these wrestlers ...



Stefan Falke Wrestling Mexico Tijuana Sport Photography

Traveling Rings

It is difficult to describe the acrobatic movements of this fun loving 'crew' at Santa Monica's beach in a still photo. I had ever seen anything like it and no wonder, this kind of equipment only exists twice, here and in Riverside Park, New York City. As far as I know, the city of Los Angeles built this one here and some very talented people turned it into an incredible sports machinery, where the 'acrobat' swings from one ring to the next while performing twists and turns that hurt your arms just by watching.






The sport is fairly new, but there are already two websites : www.swingaring.com and http://ringflyers.com
And please watch this very cool video by author rchapain !!
or simply search Traveling Rings on YouTube...





Traveling Rings Santa Monica Los Angeles Sports Stefan Falke

New York Marathon 2006

I decided yesterday not to shoot the New York Marathon, since I had done it often enough in the past years. But when I realized this morning that they ran right by my house, I could not resist.




























































High res images available at laif - Agentur fuer Photos und Reportagen www.laif.de

New York Marathon Sports Stefan Falke Photography

World Cup V

I watched the final game at the fan mile in Berlin. Zinedine Zidane leaves the game after receiving a red card for hitting an Italian player. Shock....
Well, as we all know by now, Italy won and Berlin was drowned in green-white-red ...













































...while one brave French woman managed to draw a lot of attention during Italy's car parade along Berlin's Ku'Damm...
















World Cup Football Flags Berlin Germany Fans Stefan Falke Photography

World Cup IV

A Portugese fan showed up with the perfect head gear to watch his team loose the game for 3rd place against Germany. German fans celebrated the victory as if it was the World Cup Title. Visitors from all over the planet were draped in black-red-gold for the occasion.













































World Cup Football Flags Berlin Germany Fans Stefan Falke Photography

World Cup III

It is pretty clear to many Germans that there can be only one World Cup winner...













































...and it is great to see so many Turks out in the streets of Berlin supporting the German team.













































I took all these pictures in Berlin during and after the game Germany-Sweden (2-0)























I arrived in Helsinki a few hours ago (to continue the work on "Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie"), watching Ghana loose against Brasil on tv, I think Ghana has put up a great fight !!
I will be back in Berlin July 8., so stay tuned for my 'World Cup IV' posting.


World Cup Football Flags Berlin Germany Fans Stefan Falke Photography