As someone who has always been involved in sports at such a young age, I understand the pressure and mental struggles one feels as an athlete. For others, sports might be seen as “just a game”, but to athletes it’s a demonstration of all their hard work, time and sacrifice. Capturing feelings of happiness and victory or frustration and defeat, I showcases the ups and downs of athletic competition. By photographing everyone involved: all the players on the team, the coaches, the referees and even the crowd, I focus on capturing an experience that every athlete can relate to.
Through my images I document game days from the very beginnings of walk-ins and pre-game to the final celebrations . I don’t just focus on action shots instead I prefer to reveal intimate moments that tend to go unnoticed. Turning fleeting moments into timeless images that invite you to feel the game and live the game.
Stephanie Oropeza is a photographer who was born and raised in Queens, New York. She has received a BFA in Photography and Imaging from CUNY Queens College. Her work has been included in various important exhibitions including “MakeSTEAMQ Exhibition” at the Queens College Rotonda Library (Queens, NY), “Reveal the Light” at The LIC-A Art Space (Long Island City, NY), “Ceramics Art Show”, “LUX POPULI”, and “FLASH FORWARD” all at the Queens College Student Gallery (Queens NY). Oropeza has received two awards from The Joy of Giving Something Foundation. She is currently a Creative Intern for Queens College Athletics and hopes to intern and eventually work in the professional sports media industry.