Shooting Disco 8

Shooting Disco 9 - We Are Tarzan! graced the photographically aweful but atmospherically awesome Shinjuku Face on the 10th of April.

I love watching fights here but absolutely loath shooting here. It’s one of the worst venues in Japan that I have shot at. I need to push the ISO, lower my shutter speed too much, lose lots of shots to the lights as they are way too low and close to the ring and its very inconstant lighting wise across the ring.

Case in point: This might be a decent photo if it wasn't for the lighting robbing it of its sharpness and contrast.

I’ve got shooting at this venue down but it’s very demanding. Its about one stop darker when they are on the mat rather than on the feet and about one stop darker again in the corners. The only way to get good photos is to adjust your shutter speed on the fly depending on where the fighters are or to just try and shoot the average and correct the best you can in post. I generally do a mixture of both, but still the photos are never brilliant here.

Not really any brilliant fights on this card but there were a couple noteworthy fights.

Ryuichi Miki has really transformed his striking lately. Very patient and accurate with his hands and fairly powerful for his weight. Hard not to be fan of Junji Ikoma after seeing his determination in the face of that punishment.

Ropes :(

Junji Ikoma collapsed as the final bell rung.

2008 Shooto Rookie Champ and the esteemed Kiguchi Dojo prospect Ikuo Usuda is one of the brightest rising stars in Japan. Although Guy Delameau was a great test, he was too much for him. Guy has suffered from a couple flash knockdowns in his last few fights and although he has previously recovered Usuda was all over him and ground out the win and never let him recover.

Ikuo Usuda - watch him.

Guy Delameau sporting a nice cut as a result of an illegal but unpunsihed knee.

Lots more photos spoiled by horrible lighting at Sherdog.