We asked our Sony Artisans Of Imagery and Alpha Collective members to submit their most meaningful images of 2024. See Part 6 below featuring sports, concert and event photography from Jean Fruth, Neil Leifer, Eli Reed, Sal D’Alia, Jake Chamseddine, Jeremy Cohen, Erick "Hercules" Urgiles, Greg Noire and Serena Yang. That’s a wrap – we can’t wait to see what our Sony Artisans and Alpha Collective create in 2025!

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• Part 5

We're counting down to the end of the year with a selection of the most meaningful images taken by our Sony Artisans and Alpha Collective in 2024.

Jean Fruth

Photo by Jean Fruth. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/4000-sec., f/3.2, ISO 200

"I took this shot at the Doors Primary School, located in the slums of Kampala Uganda. The girls were learning a simple variation of the game of baseball that doesn’t require
equipment."

"This image was taken for my current film and book project, SEE HER BE HER. It is
incredibly meaningful to me because it represents that with our cameras, with our
images, we can tell stories that inspire change."

Neil Leifer

©Photo by Neil Leifer. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/1250-sec., f/4, ISO 1600

“I took this shot from the new grandstand (opened 2023) that looks down on turn 1 and turn 2 at Churchill Downs at the home of the Kentucky Derby. It’s a picture that could not have been taken at any of the previous 15 Kentucky derby’s because the grandstand from which I shot it did not exist back then. I like to think of it as the picture perfect postcard of what is one of the most recognizable racing venues in America.”

“My favorite image was taken this year at the 150th Kentucky Derby 2024. It shows the entire 20 horse field of America’s greatest horse race on the track between turn 1 and turn 2 at Churchill downs. It’s particularly meaningful to me because having photographed the 100th Running of the Kentucky Derby in 1974 I was thrilled to get the opportunity to go back and shoot the 150th Edition of the “Run for the Roses”. In 2025 Taschen will be publishing a collection of 60 + years of my horse racing photographs and I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end it than this photo.”

Eli Reed

Photo by Eli Reed. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/90-sec., f/2.4, ISO 250

“I took this photograph during Kando Trip 2024 at the stage presentation where there was interesting light. It’s always a fantastic time at Kando Trip and a great opportunity to take photographs.”

Sal D’Alia

Photo by Sal D’Alia. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master. 1/160-sec., f/2, ISO 1000

“I was invited to shoot the Lamborghini World Championship in Jerez, Spain where I created a web doc series about racing photography. At the same time I had the opportunity to use the brand new Sony Alpha 1 II and Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master. Here is a shot from one of the European cars competing in the championship.”

"It was a great moment where a new personal experience collides with new tech, adrenaline and excitement behind and in front of the camera. It was my first time shooting a race with such fast cars in an iconic track, at the same time it was my first using the new Alpha 1 II and the 28-70 f/2 zoom, so for two days it was a nonstop of excitement and energy where I tried many different techniques and ran for miles around the track and into the box/paddock areas.”

“This photo is just a representation of that experience. The speed of the car captured with a slow shutter at a close distance, something that requires a steady hand and solid core movement but mostly a good sense of the speed and movement of the car. I think at the core these types of shots represent racing photography."

Jake Chamseddine

Photo by Jake Chamseddine. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/100-sec., f/2.8, ISO 1000

“I was tipped off by the crew before the show that Pete Wentz does this ‘magic trick’ & ends up being in the middle of the crowd without anyone knowing. I waited for Pete to pop up at the front of the house and I really loved how the entire crowd was still looking at the stage with no idea that Pete is behind them in darkness. Made sure to expose for the stage that way Pete was silhouetted the foreground. I love how this one came out.”

“In 2021 I was in an accident while touring with the band Fall Out Boy. This accident left me unable to photograph live music for a very long time. Fast forward to March of 2024 and I had my first opportunity to photograph the same band that I was with when I got injured. A very full circle for me personally & for my photography.”

Jeremy Cohen

Photo by Jeremy Cohen. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/3200-sec., f/1.4, ISO 200

“During the Governor's Ball Music Festival in New York City, Chappell Roan performed. I noticed the fans in the crowd were having deep emotional connections to her live performance and I started capturing that. This is one of the images from that series, a fan shot on my Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master lens.”

“Live music can evoke intense emotions out of fans, which I find to be beautiful moments to capture. I find it admirable to let out whatever you're feeling in public, and live music crowds is a safe space for that.:

Erick "Hercules" Urgiles

Photo by Erick Urgiles. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/320-sec., f/6.3, ISO 400

“We had about 10 minutes with Cooper Flagg for this set. It was an extremely long day in which the campaign divided his time between long hours of videography and small timeframes of photography in between, so we had to be quick, impactful and on brand. I immediately went into one of my photography tricks that I know would work. The goal was to make the audience be part of the image, and throw the ball in the air between Cooper and the camera, creating an immediate connection between talent and audience through that fake "pass" as he looked at the camera. We counted 3,2,1, and *click* there it was!”

“This young kid is projected to be the top pick in 2025 NBA Draft, so I wanted kids who admire and look up to him to feel like they were ‘playing with him’ through this photo. Photographing athletes is one of the most challenging and yet rewarding forms of photography because you always want to highlight their energetic athleticism but also to make the story you're telling feel intimate.”

“As someone who is in charge of telling a branded story, I never want it to be about the product, but about connection with the audience on a deeper, philosophical level. I want young kids who see this to feel like they played with their favorite athlete, even if it's for a millisecond, and I think that millisecond of positive imagination was transferred through this photo, which is what makes this photo so rewarding to me.”

Greg Noire

Photo by Greg Noire. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/320-sec., f/6.3, ISO 400

“I captured this image of Doja Cat while in Brussels, Belgium during her European tour stop at Les Ardentes Festival. Photographing Doja Cat in the rain was one of those moments where I had to trust my gut. The rain could’ve ruined my gear, but the possibility of capturing something legendary was worth the risk. This shot reminds me why I do this. I'm here to freeze moments made from music and letting what I cannot control figure itself out. By the way, me and my camera were soaking wet and I had zero issues with my tech. So I'd say the risk was worth the reward.”

Serena Yang

Photo by Serena Yang. Sony RX100 VII. 1/250-sec., f/4.5, ISO 1250

“I didn't have a photo pass to Olivia Rodrigo's concert, so I brought my Sony RX100VII (a point and shoot) and took these photos from the crowd. This is probably my favorite concert I've ever shot in my career as a concert photographer and I didn't even have a photo pass! This experience affirmed to me that gear doesn't make a photographer, it's the years of experience and eye for creativity that does.”