Everyone loves looking at pictures from meets and of their favorite gymnasts, so much so that we needed a part two of our roundtable on the subject to get through all our faves.
What are some of your favorite gymnastics shots? Do you have a favorite gymnastics photographer? Let us know in the comments or on social media!
What’s a picture you love for no real reason?
Elizabeth: I always want to use this image for everything. It’s literally just Kiersten Sokolowski getting a pep talk from Kayla McMullen before her beam routine, but I just love it.
Emily HF: This picture of Missy Reinstadtler’s mount. I spent basically the entire season wanting to shoot this mount after seeing a picture of it from a Utah photographer (I can’t remember who—sorry!) and being inspired by it. But it turned out to be everything I wanted it to be with that lens flare and the gorgeous Alaska Airlines Arena windows in the background.
Emily M: I have always loved this photo of Elizabeth’s of Andy Alexander from USAG event finals in 2018. It just speaks to me.
Katherine: Ali’s shot of Lauren Guerin is one of my favorite images we have on the site, and I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s her strikingly focused eyes, which just scream “I’m here to slay.”
Mary Emma: This shot of Emerson Hurst on beam. It’s my go to picture for when I need a general EAGL photo.
Talitha: I really like this shot of Kari Lee. It’s simple but she looks happy and I love it.
What’s your favorite reaction shot?
Elizabeth: I mentioned reactions are my favorite type of gymnastics shot, which makes this question so hard to answer. Is it Schyler Jones after her bar routine? MyKayla Skinner after a stuck vault? Natalie Wojcik after finally getting a 10 for her Yurchenko 1.5? Darian Burns on beam? (See what I did there?)
Emily M: MyKayla Skinner’s reactions are legendary for good reason. I love this one because you can see the Utes celebrating behind her, too. Close second is Michigan celebrating Natalie Wojcik’s 10.0 on vault at Elevate the Stage Toledo in 2019.
Katherine:Jade Degouveia in the immediate aftermath of a stick is a force of nature. This isn’t a reaction shot per se, but you just know from that face that she killed it and she knows it.
Mary Emma: This shot of Brenna Dowell celebrating after she stuck her final vault ever and helped Oklahoma to the 2019 NCAA title. I was there in person, and the moment itself was electric.
Talitha: I have two.This photo of Isis Lowery surrounded by her team represents everything NCAA gymnastics should be about. I also really like the power that this picture of Anastasia Webb exudes.
What’s your favorite picture that Emily has ever shot?
Elizabeth: It’s literally impossible to choose a single favorite picture that Emily’s shot for us because she’s captured SO many, but this one stands out to me. It’s not a typical gymnastics picture in any aspect really, yet it’s stunning and makes an ordinary jump look extraordinary. I know she’s tried again to capture it again and “failed,” making this one even more impressive.
Emily M: Oof this is tough. The one that immediately comes to mind off the top of my head is the same as Elizabeth’s, Gracie Kramer just flying. After digging through our photo albums, I’ll go with a tie for two Kyla Ross shots. (Is that cheating? I’m sorry I can’t choose just one!). The first is just pure emotion on her face after (I believe) a 10.0 on vault. The second is of her shaposh. Listen, we see a lot of these. No one (NO. ONE.) does a straight body shaposh like Ross, and Emily captured it at just that perfect moment.
Katherine: I’ve spoken about my love for Abby Armbrecht’s iconic 2019 floor routine before, and Emily captured her final career performance perfectly. This picture especially captures the beauty and drama of the routine, and I think it’s my favorite of hers.
Talitha: I love the way Emily manages to capture the quiet moments in the middle of the NCAA’s bombastic atmosphere. Among my favorites are this photo of Kaylin Mancari and this one of Kyla Ross.
Mary Emma: How can I possibly choose just one? I’m going to go with these two photos of Evanni Roberson scoring the first ever beam 10.0 in program history. I know how much this moment meant to the team as well as to Emily, and it was captured very well.
What’s your favorite picture Elizabeth has ever shot?
Emily HF: It’s got to be this reaction from Megan Skaggs after her bar routine. I’m a sucker for a good chalk plume shot and pairing it with a reaction shot is even better.
Emily M: STOP these are hard. My favorite whole meet Elizabeth shot was Florida at Oklahoma in 2019, so I recommend perusing that album. That said, my favorite single photo is from USAG team finals in 2018; the emotion of the moment is written all over Schyler Jones’ face.
Katherine: This entire series of Jessica Meakim’s floor routine is adorable, but I love this picture the best. Elizabeth captured some of the best facial expressions in college gymnastics.
Mary Emma: This hug between Maggie Nichols and KJ Kindler. It’s a simple photo, but it has a special place in my heart because I used it for the header photo for my Letter to the 2020 Seniors.
Talitha: Elizabeth will probably hate me for choosing this photo among all her gorgeous pictures, but I love her attention to fashion details. These shoes represent over-the-top NCAA gymnastics at its best!
What’s your favorite picture Tara has ever shot?
Elizabeth: I’ve always liked this picture of Gabriela Bouza when Boise State visited Denver.
Emily HF: This picture of Alexandria Ruiz, something about the self confident sassy expression just sells it for me.
Emily M: I love this image of Maddie Karr. It really captures her personality on floor.
Mary Emma: I love this picture of Shani Remme in what ended up being the final beam routine of her career.
Talitha: I really like this photo of Maddie Karr. She seems to defy the laws of gravity.
Caption this!
Elizabeth: Boop.
Emily HF: When you finally get to see your friends again after quarantine.
Emily M: COME BACK PUPPY!
Katherine: When someone comes within six feet of you sans mask.
Mary Emma: When the person in front of you takes the last donut.
Talitha: Wingardium leviosa!
Any honorable mentions you want to give for pictures you think should be recognized but didn’t fit into any other answers?
Katherine: Lexie Priessman’s and Kiana Winston’s smiles light up a room, and I love the way Emily captured them.
Mary Emma: This one of Bria Northrop, this photo of the Utes realizing they had just beat rival UCLA, this classic Samantha Snider beam pep talk, this hug between Toni-Ann Williams and Liz Crandall-Howell and this one of Lindenwood winning the 2019 USAG title.
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