Photography allows us to capture a moment in time that would otherwise become a fleeting memory. It is through photos that some of the most compelling stories in history have been told. The first installment of our After The Sand Has Settled series features the favorite photos from AVP staff photographer Robert Beck. Robert is a former staff photographer for Surfer Magazine and Sports Illustrated and has captured top sporting events including the Masters, the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the Olympics.
Robert Beck: AVP Photographer
I worked on these shadow images quite a bit this year. Sometimes the light is wrong for shooting players on a court as I normally would….action at the net or digs. At that point I’m looking for something where the light works…Shadow jumpers in San Francisco was one of those times. Player unknown.
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Reid Priddy is one of my favorite guys to shoot. He’s hard core business, pedal to the metal with a pinch of flair….in a way that reminds me of Karch Kiraly. A diving dig in San Francisco.
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Anything better than a packed house in Manhattan Beach?
2017 AVP Gold Series Manhattan Beach Open Presented by Acer
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
More from Manhattan Beach…The post remote provides a very unique perspective of this Crabb-a-thon. Taylor waaaaayyyy up there ready to pound the Wilson. Trevor doing his best to stop a kill. It’s fun to provide angles the fan will never get from the stands.
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Ed Ratledge….need I say more? The personality part of the game is just as picturesque as the physical play. Eddie showing the fire.
AVP Huntington Beach Open
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
John Hyden won a gold medal playing indoor volleyball…He’s not bad on the beach either. Here he keeps his eye on the ball while jousting at the net. Probably more than just that one piece of the eye….but just that one eye shows such focus.
2017 AVP Huntington Beach Open
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Johnny Hyden had reached the semi finals in Huntington 11 straight times…doing so with five different partners. He had reached the finals in 7 straight! After his loss he thinks of what might have been. Again, the human emotion provides such a powerful picture.
2017 AVP Huntington Beach Open
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Britt Hochevar (L) and Emily Day are your 2017 AVP Huntington Beach Open champs….Good reason for Emily to jump for joy. More pure stoke.
2017 AVP Huntington Beach Open
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Yeah…..ummmm. I don’t know. I just like this frame. To me it lines up in a weird way.
2017 AVP Hermosa Beach Open
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
7′ Ryan Doherty taps one past the block of Michael Brunsting. I like the shadow play. The logo interaction with the players. Just happened that way. Luck plays a large part in many of my images! 2017 AVP Seattle Open 6/23/17 Lake Sammamish, WA
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Taylor Crabb eats a little Wilson courtesy of Sean Rosenthal. Again….a little luck involved here. People don’t know how much the ball wraps around a face or hand on a block or hit. A lot of force involved there! 2017 AVP Hermosa Beach Open 07/22/2017
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
The hammer himself. Stafford Slick. Let it rip Slick-star!
2017 AVP Seattle Open 6/25/17
Lake Sammamish, WA
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Jake Gibb about to serve it up in his 56th AVP final. He is now 28-28 in those finals. All the cell phones. Rosie’s Raiders shouting from the corner. Kids amping…and Jake concentrating. A lot going on here. Oh. It’s really loud too.
2017 AVP Hermosa Beach Open 07/23/2017
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Geena Urango measures the wind during the finals. The sand on her a result of covering the court for 87 digs.
2017 AVP Hermosa Beach Open
07/23/2017
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Amanda Dowdy sweating in the late sun.
2017 AVP Austin Open
Saturday play
Austin, TX
5/20/17
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
This guy pumps the crowd up too…I think. Give it what you got. The AVP doesn’t hold back nor do it’s fans.
2017 AVP Austin Open
Sunday play
Austin, TX
5/21/17
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
This is what it must look like trying to get the ball past the 6’9″ Dalhauser. A multiple exposure of the big man.
2017 AVP Austin Open
Sunday play
Austin, TX
5/21/17
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Stafford Slick serves it up during the men’s final. Nothing finer than the NY City skyline as a background.
2017 AVP New York City Open
Saturday
6/10/17
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Taylor Crabb lays out for a dig during the men’s final. Taylor finished with 44 digs….and the championship check. This is the norm for Taylor. He’s all over the court keeping the play alive. This was one of the most popular images I have ever posted on my Instagram account. I guess peeps appreciate what T does out there.
2017 AVP New York City Open
Saturday
6/10/17
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
There are four refs on the court. Do they need the help of these guys? Phil, John and Jeremy say, “Yes, they do.”
2017 AVP Championships in Chicago
09/2/17
Chicago, IL
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Framed by the Day Crazies, Emily dives for a ball…Caitlin Ledoux thinks she’s not gonna get it. Her partner Maria Clara Salgado is not so sure. What do you think?
2017 AVP Championships in Chicago
09/2/17
Chicago, IL
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Get up there son….Big Phil Dalhauser serves it up.
2017 AVP Championships in Chicago
09/3/17
Chicago, IL
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Ahhhh…the young guns serve notice for next year. Rising stars Sara Hughes (L) and Kelly Claes win the Chicago Women’s Gold Series event. The light was screaming…on one side of the court. The winners bathed in gold…the losers in the shadows. The younger team letting it all go. The older team on its hands and knees. The light makes it all so dramatic.
2017 AVP Championships in Chicago
09/3/17
Chicago, IL
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
My cohort on the AVP Tour. King Mpu was pretty raw when we first started. He’s getting’ pretty darn good now.
2017 AVP Championships in Chicago
09/3/17
Chicago, IL
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP
Best celebration we’ve seen in a long time. The pure joy makes my job easy. Ty Loomis (top, bottom, top, bottom) and Maddison McKibbin get sandier after their big victory.
2017 AVP San Francisco Open
07/09/2017
Credit: Beck, Robert/AVP