pictures, videos and shenanigans

The greatest boxing rivalry of the last 6 years brought me the opportunity to photograph fight legends Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez for Top Rank’s official boxing poster for the pay per view event Dec 8th on HBO and HBO‘s 24/7 advertisement. When Top Rank Boxing tapped me to do this shoot I was honored knowing that Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 would probably be the final epic match to decide who is the better fighter.

Both showed up in great shape and gave me everything I asked for. From intense expression to flexing every muscle.

Juan Manuel Marquez, Mexican boxer photographed by Monte Isom for Top Rank

Marquez was on set first and it turned out I shot a photo with him that takes me back to the beginning of my career and my first direct mailed promo in 1998. Funny how your career comes full circle and sometimes you try to make a photo of yours better.

Juan Manuel looked amazing and gave me fantastic intensity. You could tell he had been prepping for this event long before the contract was signed.

Everlast belt boxer promo circa 1998 by Monte Isom

Juan Manuel Marquez, 100% D.F. boxer photographed by Monte Isom for Top Rank

When Manny walks into the room you know it…usually because of his smartphone camera toting entourage. As soon as he saw photos of Juan he was ready to jump in on set and start…and he brought it.

Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxer photographed by Monte Isom for Top Rank

Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxer photographed by Monte Isom for Top Rank

Manny Pacquiao is one of those talents that has fun out of the ring, loves the camera and even incorporates the crew. What started as a stand in shot turned into lots of laughs. You’ll see that in the this Behind the scenes video

Behind the Scenes photo shoot for Pacquiao Marquez IV poster with Monte Isom for Top Rank from monte isom on Vimeo.

Getting boxers of the magnitude of Pacquiao and Marquez in the same room is not an easy task. Often we photograph two fighters individually and then composite them together. Top Rank arranged both talent to be in the same building and ultimately in the same room to play off each other. Fortunately these guys have intensity to spare and Top Rank chose a single frame to design the Pay Per View fight poster from. This is a little victory for a photographer in an age dominated by retouching and post work.

Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez 4 fight poster, photographed by Monte Isom for Top Rank

HBO designed an advertisement for 24/7 that also came out great and is appeared in Times Square. BTW the photo of Adrien Broner on the left is also taken by me..

Pacquiao Marquez 4 for HBO 24/7 photo by Monte Isom ©HBO

Pacquiao Marquez 4 24/7 for HBO Times Square Billboard photo by Monte Isom

When the Top Rank Boxing official fight poster went up in Times Square it was my 8th billboard this year to appear in the world’s media center. This was a great culmination of a memorable year in my career.

Pacquiao Marquez 4 Times Square Billboard for Top Rank and HBO PPV photo by Monte Isom

HBO is one of my favorite long standing clients with over 20 shoots under our belts.  Our most recent boxing poster collaboration took me to both a rooftop in Manhattan and studio photographing the best looking pugilist in the game.   Most professional athletes are not models but in boxer Sergio Martinez’s case he may as well be.  This Argentinian fighter loves the camera and it loves him.  It was like Bieber mania with the women swooning while working on set. You can witness some of it in the behind the scenes video.

Shooting celebrity athletes means always balancing between nailing enough quality variations in a short time frame while not appearing rushed.  Sergio gave us one fantastic image after another right from the start hence we were never hurried. We even had enough time to get a facebook photo of he and I.

Sergio Martinez, Argentine Middleweight Boxer photographed for HBO

Sergio Martinez, Argentine Middleweight Boxer and Monte Isom faceoff for facebook photo

During the shoot HBO marketing manager Sandy Ortiz suggested we try to capture the New York skyline for the backdrop as the fight would take place at Madison Square Garden. We decided to shoot asap as we were up against a tight deadline.  HBO photo editor Justin D’Amico worked his magic and had me 689 feet above 42nd st on the roof of the Grace building the following evening. Fortunately the weather and NYC city lights conspired to give me exactly what I needed: clear crisp beautifully illuminated cityscapes.  Like Sergio I needed to give very little direction.

A beautifully clear night in New York City for HBO photo by Monte Isom

I am never more proud of my work than when I turn the corner of 42nd and Broadway and see my images on a HBO Times Square billboard.  Thanks to everyone who hustled that day to make it happen.

Was so excited to turn the corner and see the HBO Times Square billboard with Sergio Martinez vs Matthew Macklin