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
Making Better Action Photos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:49
David Bergman is a legend in the world of concert photography, and he is someone I have looked up to for a long time. That may be the best summary of David I can come up with, that I am a fan, and honored to call him a f…
The Power of a Photograph [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:38
I have the feeling that Sam Abell has more stories than almost any photographer you know. Thirty-four years as a staff and contract photographer at National Geographic tends to have that effect. Sam is an Ohio based teac…
Focus On The Moment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:57
I have followed Zack Whitford on Instagram for as long as I can remember, in fact I think he was one of the first I followed after joining Instagram. You know how you have photographers whose work you like because it mak…
Finding Your Creative Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:35
Usually, I struggle when I write these. To start with, I’m not a writer, but more importantly I want each post to convey to you how much I admire the guest I am writing about. Today however, I gained inspiration from my…
Extreme Composites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:41
Trying to write a post about Ryszard Horowitz has proven to be tougher than I had imagined. Ryszard Horowitz is a legend, literally. His life, and his journey through the art of photography, is almost impossible to disti…
The Traveling Photographer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:25
If you’ve been watching the show for a while then you may have seen the “Aurora and the Night Sky” episode with Dave Williams. Dave is a travel photographer, based out of London, and one of the most adventurous people I…
Blurring the Lines of Creativity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:38
I first met Australian music photographer Michelle G Hunder when she was a guest on the Sunday Night Photographer Hangouts I used to do with Adam Elmakias. We had such great time on those shows. After hanging out with Mi…
Real-World Use of the Canon EOS R3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:04
The Canon EOS R3 looks to be a beast of a camera. Like so many others, I want this camera, and like 99% of those people I won’t be buying one. Why? Because the Canon EOS R3 is for people like Jeff Cable. Ok, also because…
Focus on History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:26
Periodically I get a guest on Behind the Shot that makes me nervous. This episode is one of those moments. Wish me luck… David Hume Kennerly is a legend. In fact, I would wager money that other ‘legends’ look to David Hu…
The Magic of Infrared [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
To introduce the guest on this show I’d like to start by giving a bit of background… The first time I met Troy Miller I was doing a presentation at a local photo group, Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videog…