College Wrestling Photography

College Wrestling Photography

Author: Steve Brazill May 5, 2022 Duration: 42:51

A few days ago Jeremy Lanthorn (@Snackem on Twitter) sent me a guest suggestion:

@stevebrazill check out @LeviVentura_ and this shot of @GableSteveson at the NCAA wrestling tournament. Would make a great BTS episode.

I get a lot of guest suggestions, and while I reach out to most of them, many never answer back. In this case, I replied to the tweet, Levi Ventura answered back almost instantly, and here we are with a new show.

I wasn’t familiar with Levi before this, but I hope more people will be after this show. Levi Ventura is a 22 year old college student majoring in graphic design. He has only been working as a freelance photographer & videographer since 2019, but since that time he has been creating content for Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs’ social media. Ranging from high school sports to the NCAA, this young creative has been creating such fantastic work in a very short period of time.

Along with a clear passion for sports photography and video, Levi has also been focusing on working with small businesses and brands to help provide quality content for their social media sites. Based on looking through his site, I’d expect big things from Levi to happen quickly.

His client list already includes names like Asics and USA Wrestling, and it’s his NCAA wresting work that really jumps out – yes, a jump joke for today’s image.

Join photographer Levi Ventura and me as we explore his composite image of Gable Steveson doing his famous backflip, after winning his final match at his last NCAA wrestling tournament, on this Behind the Shot.

Connect with Levi

Portfolio: levivphoto.com
Instagram: @leviventura.photo
Twitter: @LeviVentura_
YouTube: @LeviVentura
Vimeo: @LeviVentura

Levi’s Photographer Pick

Tony Rotundo: @tonyrotundo.waw on Instagram


Steve Brazill hosts Behind the Shot-Video, a series that goes far beyond gear lists and camera settings. Each conversation is a deep exploration of the creative and technical journey behind compelling images. You’ll hear working photographers unpack the entire process-from the initial spark of an idea and the challenges of the location to the critical decisions made in post-production. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of art and practical technology, offering tangible lessons for anyone looking to improve their visual storytelling. Rather than abstract theory, these discussions provide a real-world look at problem-solving under pressure and the artistic choices that define a signature style. Tune in for honest, detailed breakdowns that reveal how memorable shots are truly built, layer by layer. It’s an essential resource for visual artists seeking both inspiration and actionable knowledge, all grounded in the lived experience of accomplished creators.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Behind the Shot - Video
Podcast Episodes
StellaPro Reflex S Light Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:10
Back in June I did a review of the StellaPro Reflex line of lights titled “Is This My New Favorite Light?“. Well, today I’ve got an update. StellaPro has upgraded the hardware. The StellaPro Reflex lights are “Continuous…
Tintype Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:29
There are times when I see a photographer’s work that I have an emotional response, a feeling that I am seeing something special. That’s what happened the first time I browsed through Victoria Will’s website. Photo after…
Musical Wildlife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:08
Regular watchers / listeners of the show will know Dave Williams. He’s a great friend, and amazing photographer, and he has a skill I value… an eye for great guests. In fact, he has connected me to more potential guests…
What to Expect from a Photo Critique [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:35
It never surprises me how often Scott Kelby’s name comes up when I am talking about photography with someone. I remember, back when I started out in photography, how much I learned from watching his videos with “The Phot…
10 Questions with… Don Komarechka [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
10 Questions with… Don Komarechka I have had a lot of guests on this show, but few I know as well as Don Komarechka. Don is a great friend, which seems odd considering we have never met in person. We did our critique sho…
What Goes Into Creating Launch Photos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:06
My guest today most likely needs no introduction. As Vice President of Operations for KelbyOne, Erik Kuna has been around the photography world for a long time, and he’s been on the show before, for the episode titled Sh…
Is This My New Favorite Light? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:43
A few years ago I was walking around the WPPI Expo floor with a friend, when he suggested we stop by the StellaPro Lights booth. This friend does some work with StellaPro Lights, a division of Light & Motion, and he thou…
Photographing Deep Within the Arctic Circle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:50
My guest for this show is none other than my buddy Dave Williams, making his third appearance on the show. On the chance that you haven’t seen the other two shows I did with Dave, “Aurora and the Night Sky” and “The Trav…
Elevated Toy Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:16
So, funny story… I get people pitch themselves for my show very often. It’s usually some bizarre pitch, for a subject matter that has zero to do with what my show actually is about. Sometimes it’s the potential guest ema…
F1: Through the Lens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:53
I get guest suggestions sent to me regularly, and this show is the result of one of those. Dave Kallmann messaged me on Twitter to suggest a few motorsports photographers, and that instantly intrigued me. Dave is a sport…