My First Time Shooting Boxing – With Anime Bunny Girls and Body Pillows?!

Martin Wong ·

Key takeaways

  • First boxing match. Anime-themed (from 0:00).
  • Telephoto failed. Switched to wide (from 3:00).
  • Referee in frame. Constantly (from 3:00).
  • About 150 keepers. Chaotic event (from 5:00).
  • Lesson. Two bodies, two lenses (from 7:00).

This was one of the wildest and fun events I’ve ever photographed — a live anime boxing match hosted by ‪@AnimeIRL‬, run by @thestevenhe, @thechrisbarnett, @dmottt, and @nchammer23.

In this video, I break down how I shot it, the gear I used, the problems I faced (lighting flicker, floor shake, fast motion), and the exact settings that finally worked for me. Shot on the Nikon Z8, with lenses ranging from 135mm all the way down to 35mm f/1.2.

🎥 BTS footage captured on Insta360 GO 3S, Osmo Pocket 3, and Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Camera - Nikon Z 8: https://geni.us/NikonZ8Mirrorless

AI Glasses Ray-Ban Meta: https://geni.us/RayBanMetaGlasses

Action Camera - Insta360 GO 3S: https://geni.us/Insta360GO3Scamera

Vlog Camera - DJI Osmo Pocket 3: https://geni.us/DJIPocket3Camera

If you’ve ever thought about photographing a fight — or just want to see anime body pillows in the ring — this one’s for you.

FAQ

What lens works for a small boxing event?

My telephoto was basically useless; I had to switch to wide lenses.

What would you do differently?

Bring two camera bodies so I can swap instead of changing lenses.

Keep reading

Questions? Ask me in the comments on the video on YouTube.