The Empire State Winter Games, an annual multi-sport event in Lake Placid, New York, offers a unique platform not only for athletes but also for aspiring photographers to hone their craft. With more than 2,000 competitors for 20+ sports, the Games is the Northeast’s largest multi-sport amateur athletic winter sporting event. Through a collaboration between the Games, the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and Sony, students gain unparalleled experience capturing the essence of winter sports with professional-grade equipment.
An Immersive Experience For Aspiring Sports Photographers
The initiative, co-directed by Newhouse professors Jon Glass and Seth Gitner, provides students with a rare opportunity to document the Games using high-end Sony cameras. This partnership began when Gitner, who also plays disabled sled hockey, envisioned bringing students to the games to capture its dynamic energy. His experience in sports and photography, combined with his connection to Sony through previous collaborations, laid the foundation for this educational endeavor.
The Winter Games serve as an intensive workshop, where students immerse themselves in the art of photography. Over a weekend, they travel together to Lake Placid to capture everything from alpine skiing to sled hockey, learning to work in challenging environments and under tight deadlines. This hands-on experience is invaluable, as it transitions classroom knowledge into real-world skills. The photos and videos captured by students at the games are then picked up and used by the local and regional media to cover the games.
“The first time we took students up to the Games in 2022, they saw how much content we created and were more than welcoming to have us return,” explains Glass. “While they have over 2,000 athletes and 20 sports for this event, their marketing and organizing team isn’t that big. So, to have the resources of a dozen talented photographers to help capture the Games was a gift to them. They’re also very open to collaborating and now in our fourth year, we have expanded with video and social media teams that helped with public relations and other digital products.”
Sony’s Role In Shaping Future Photographers
Sony provides the students with cutting-edge cameras like the Sony Alpha 9 III, equipped with long lenses necessary for sports photography. These tools allow students to capture high-action shots with precision. “There’s just no way we could do this without Sony’s help,” says Gitner. “The fact that they can send us the cameras to give each student a kit for the weekend. The fact that we can trust these cameras to capture exactly what we need. The fact that students can learn so much from all of it. Sony has just always been very accepting of our ideas and so helpful to our students.”
Sadie Jones, one of the student photographers on the trip, used the Sony Alpha 9 III paired with the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master and Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II to capture images from the Opening Ceremony, figure skating, bobsled, hockey and much more.
“Getting the opportunity to use the top-of-the-line Sony cameras and lenses to capture all of the events during the Empire State Winter Games was amazing,” she says. “Having reliable gear that adapts well in various light and weather settings is crucial at an event like this, and with the gear Sony provided us we were able to capture it all. The high-speed shooting and different focus modes were what stood out to me while using the Sony Alpha 9 III and capturing such fast-moving action.”
Jack Henry, another student photographer who traveled to Lake Placid, says that being able to use the Sony Alpha cameras has changed the way he approaches sports photography. “The Sony A9 III's high speed burst setting allows me to get the perfect shot at 120 frames per second. I have been using Sony gear for almost two years now, and the Empire State Winter Games were a perfect place to showcase how the gear has boosted my ability to make images at a high level.”
Student photographer Sky Zhuang has been shooting with the Sony Alpha 7R III since 2019, but stepping up to the Sony Alpha 9 III during the Games was a total game-changer for him. “I really enjoyed the super-fast focus and the 120 fps feature. They gave me more possibilities to capture fast motion. I also enjoyed using the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master, it provided the right focal length for all the sports I photographed, and the wide zoom range provides more flexibility when your movement is limited.”
The Impact Of Professional Gear On Student Output
Access to professional gear significantly impacts student performance. “It just couldn’t be done without good gear,” adds Gitner. “The gear that the students get is professional, and the work they produce is professional. And it’s the students who are doing it all.”
“Covering the Games was an amazing experience,” adds Henry. “From the environment to the people I worked with, every part of the weekend was memorable. I loved getting to experience new types of sports I’d never seen before. I also loved learning from fellow students and creators. Being able to work in that environment excites me for a possible future in sports and has reignited my love for photography. I walked away from the event not only with portfolio-worthy images but with connections and skills I wouldn’t have made anywhere else.”
As the collaboration continues, plans are afoot to further integrate Sony's technology into future projects for the School and University. The ongoing support from Sony ensures that students at Newhouse remain at the forefront of media technology and education.
"One of the benefits of going to Newhouse School is that you have opportunities,” says Glass. “We strive to create experiences for students to get out of the classroom and having a partner like Sony helps to elevate the experience and elevate the work that students are producing.”
The Empire State Winter Games exemplify how strategic partnerships can transform educational experiences, marrying theoretical knowledge with practical application. With Sony's support, the next generation of photographers and media professionals are well equipped to capture the world’s dynamic stories, one frame at a time.
Learn more about the Empire Winter State Games here.
Learn more about Syracuse University’s Newhouse School here.
See Sadie Jones' student portfolio at sadiejonesphotography.com.
See Jack Henry's student portfolio at jackhenry.photography.
See Sky Zhuang's student portfolio at skyzhuang.org.
