The ESPN Images team covered a variety of events in 2016, from the college football bowl games in the beginning of the year to the Men’s and Women’s Jimmy V Classic in December. The team includes coordinators, photographers and production associates (for photo and video). Each member of the team selected photos for their version of “Images of the Year (2016),” with details for their individual selections (in alphabetical order):
Katina Arnold – Vice President, Communications
“Serena Williams, to me, personifies what an athlete should be…strong, fierce, with an ability to come back after defeat. Reeling from a 2015 U.S. Open semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci, Serena avenged her Australian Open opponent to win her 22nd major during the 2016 Wimbledon Championship. I love this photo taken by longtime ESPN photographer Scott Clarke which shows the determination it takes to be a champion.”
Samantha Baron - Producer, Communications
“X Games Aspen is an event I look forward to every year. This photo captures the massive presence and scale of the feats these athletes perform on a regular basis. Just looking at the black night sky juxtaposed with stark white snow – you can almost feel the crisp, cold Aspen air surround you as you watch some of the best athletes in the world take center stage.”
Barbara Blake – Senior Director, ESPN Images
“Joe Faraoni and I worked with ESPN production to get portraits of the top high school football players. Joe and I had been in a dark room for two days when in walked Tua Taovailoa (left) and Najee Harris (right) and the room lit up with their personalities. Both athletes, at the time, were verbal commits to Alabama, so we asked them to take a few photos together, what ensued from there was pure fun and great photos.”
Christian Brandan - Senior Associate, Photo Production
“This photo presents the duality of the confetti falling from the sky, signaling a collective sigh of relief for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide as they hold on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. It also represents the visual tears of the Clemson University Tigers as they watch their hated rivals lift the Championship Trophy.”
Scott Clarke – Senior Event Photographer
“This photo was used in a Tom Rinaldi-narrated feature for ESPN’s Invictus Games coverage. I choose this image because it shows me what uncommon courage is in an unimaginable situation. The Army veteran in the wheelchair was saved by his fellow soldier, kneeling in front, after a terrible accident with an IED. There is so much more to be told, but that is for another time. Courage beyond courage. . .”
Phil Ellsworth – Senior Event Photographer
“The buzzer-beating basket by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins versus UNC for the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s College Basketball National Championship was one of the most exciting endings to a game. I framed the image to show the shot clock while focusing on the action and held my breath along with the record 74,340 fans in attendance. “
Joe Faraoni – Photographer
“In this His & Hers promo spoofing a scene from “Anchorman,” Jeremy Schaap is chopping off Jay Harris’ arm. Need I say any more? “
Bob Flanagan – Photo Coordinator
“This photo of recently retired Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully is not only one of my favorite images of 2016, but from recent memory. I wanted to make this photo shoot happen for a few years and it finally came together in the final months of his illustrious career. Even though we only had a few minutes with him, I don’t think we could have captured him any better.”
Kimberly Jarvis – Photo Coordinator
“At this year’s ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic, we captured SportsCenter anchor John Buccigross (@Buccigross aka Bucci Mane) after he scored a birdie. I absolutely enjoyed seeing how excited he, and his team, was at that particular moment. It was also a great photo to post on our Twitter feed (@ESPNImages). “
Allen Kee – Senior Event Photographer
“I chose this photograph of Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs hitting a home run on a summer night at Wrigley Field. I feel the sports story of 2016 is the Cubs finally winning a World Series. For me, Wrigley is an incredible environment for sports and one of my favorite photographic locations in the world. “
Jon McLeod – Associate Producer, Communications
“David Ortiz’s final home game at Fenway Park is my photo choice because it captures the culmination of a fantastic career. The image shows the Boston Red Sox slugger’s follow-through as he watches the ball sail silently into the night sky. This picture shows the beauty of baseball. ‘Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. – ‘Sandlot‘.”
Melissa Rawlins – Associate Photographer
“I chose this photo because this was the first shoot I did on my own. I love the fun moment between [L-R ESPN commentators] Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth and Tedy Bruschi. “
