Robert Riger Robert Riger By Carlee CoxBy Carlee Cox

Most of Robert Riger’s Pictures were of Most of Robert Riger’s Pictures were of professional football. This picture was taken professional football. This picture was taken sometime between 1958 and 1959. This picture sometime between 1958 and 1959. This picture follows the rule of thirds and the subject is follows the rule of thirds and the subject is clearly there. The subject is the football players clearly there. The subject is the football players playing their game. This picture also has a high playing their game. This picture also has a high horizon line because it focuses on the subject in horizon line because it focuses on the subject in the photo rather than the background. I like this the photo rather than the background. I like this picture, it really captures the movement of the picture, it really captures the movement of the players in a clear way. You can see where the players in a clear way. You can see where the ball is and you can see where it’s trying to go.ball is and you can see where it’s trying to go.

Robert Riger wasn’t just a photographer, he was an artist. Robert Riger wasn’t just a photographer, he was an artist. Riger started out with drawings of sports games or sports Riger started out with drawings of sports games or sports figures and after he served three years in the marine corps figures and after he served three years in the marine corps during WWII he got accepted into Pratt Art Institute and during WWII he got accepted into Pratt Art Institute and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1947. This drawing of the earned his bachelor’s degree in 1947. This drawing of the legendary baseball hero, Babe Ruth, is a famous Robert legendary baseball hero, Babe Ruth, is a famous Robert Riger piece. Most of Riger’s work was about football, the Riger piece. Most of Riger’s work was about football, the first sport illustration he did was for an Army-Notre Dame first sport illustration he did was for an Army-Notre Dame football game in 1945. Riger started taking photographs to football game in 1945. Riger started taking photographs to serve as research for his drawings, then between 1950-serve as research for his drawings, then between 1950-1994 he worked at sports illustrated were more then 1,200 1994 he worked at sports illustrated were more then 1,200 of his drawings were published.of his drawings were published.

Victory in the mudVictory in the mud This is a famous photo done by Robert Riger in 1960. Riger This is a famous photo done by Robert Riger in 1960. Riger

often said that you can’t take photos of sports unless you often said that you can’t take photos of sports unless you understand them completely and if you know the guys. He understand them completely and if you know the guys. He did know the sports and he did know the guys, maybe did know the sports and he did know the guys, maybe that’s why his sports pictures turned out so well. In this that’s why his sports pictures turned out so well. In this picture he captures the mood of the victory, this football picture he captures the mood of the victory, this football player looks relived after winning this big game. Riger did player looks relived after winning this big game. Riger did a good job on really focusing on the subject of his photos. a good job on really focusing on the subject of his photos. This photoThis photo kind of has selective focus because it’s main kind of has selective focus because it’s main focus is the football player and it’s a close up of his face. focus is the football player and it’s a close up of his face. The background of this picture adds to it because it’s The background of this picture adds to it because it’s blurred out making it clear what the focus is and they’re blurred out making it clear what the focus is and they’re no mergers distracting you from the main subject.no mergers distracting you from the main subject.

• In this photo Riger captured the intensity and anger you have during a boxing match. This photo uses selective focus because the main subject is clear and the back ground is just kind of there. The fans in the background do add to the photo though, they add to it because it shows you the setting and the excitement of the match. Almost all of Riger’s photos focus on one subject and blur out the background. I think this is because during a sporting event you don’t care about what’s happening behind the athlete, you just care about what they are doing.

This photo uses artificial lighting. Inside a This photo uses artificial lighting. Inside a basketball arena a photographer can’t basketball arena a photographer can’t control the lighting, it’s just whatever control the lighting, it’s just whatever they get they have to work with and they get they have to work with and Robert Riger does a good job with that. Robert Riger does a good job with that. Many of Riger’s photos are action shots Many of Riger’s photos are action shots showing what’s happening in the game. showing what’s happening in the game. He did a good job of focusing his camera He did a good job of focusing his camera to get that perfect picture.to get that perfect picture.

I like the angle Robert Riger used to take this I like the angle Robert Riger used to take this photo. Riger’s photos seem to tell a story, it tells photo. Riger’s photos seem to tell a story, it tells about the game or a play in the game. Using this about the game or a play in the game. Using this angle makes you see what happened at this point in angle makes you see what happened at this point in the game, the batter popped one up and the catcher the game, the batter popped one up and the catcher had plenty of time to get under the ball to make the had plenty of time to get under the ball to make the out. It might look like this photo has a lot of wasted out. It might look like this photo has a lot of wasted space beside the catcher, but I think it adds to the space beside the catcher, but I think it adds to the picture. It shows how much room there is between picture. It shows how much room there is between the catcher and the other players and it shows just the catcher and the other players and it shows just how fast he got under the ball. If this picture wasn’t how fast he got under the ball. If this picture wasn’t taken at this angle I don’t think it would be as good.taken at this angle I don’t think it would be as good.

About Robert RigerAbout Robert Riger Robert Riger was born June 4Robert Riger was born June 4thth, 1924 in New York City, NY, 1924 in New York City, NY He died May 19He died May 19thth, 1995 in Huntington Beach, CA. at 70 years old., 1995 in Huntington Beach, CA. at 70 years old. He went to the High School of Music and Art. He went to the High School of Music and Art. Also went to the United States Merchant Marine AcademyAlso went to the United States Merchant Marine Academy He served three years as a marine in WWIIHe served three years as a marine in WWII After WWII, he attended the Pratt Art Institute and earned his After WWII, he attended the Pratt Art Institute and earned his

bachelors degree.bachelors degree. Worked at sports illustrated from 1950-1994 where his photos Worked at sports illustrated from 1950-1994 where his photos

and drawings were published.and drawings were published. He was a sports photographer, he took pictures for sports He was a sports photographer, he took pictures for sports

illustratedillustrated A lot of his work is displayed in the ASAMA (American Sports Art A lot of his work is displayed in the ASAMA (American Sports Art

Museum and Archives)Museum and Archives) In 1994 he was named sports artist of the year.In 1994 he was named sports artist of the year. Robert Riger was also an award winning television directorRobert Riger was also an award winning television director

SourcesSources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Riger http://baberuthfan.tumblr.com/page/9http://baberuthfan.tumblr.com/page/9 http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/ed-big-mo-http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/ed-big-mo-

modzelewski-former-cleveland-browns-fullback-modzelewski-former-cleveland-browns-fullback-dies-86-030615dies-86-030615

http://www.asama.org/awards-of-sport/medallion-http://www.asama.org/awards-of-sport/medallion-series/sport-artist-of-the-year/robert-riger/series/sport-artist-of-the-year/robert-riger/

http://cargocollective.com/robertrigerhttp://cargocollective.com/robertriger http://www.si.com/nfl/photos/http://www.si.com/nfl/photos/

2010/09/08pinnacle-moments-in-nfl-history2010/09/08pinnacle-moments-in-nfl-history