Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Bendlin
Hi Jay, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I had the pleasure of attending the University at Albany in upstate New York, where I was able to compete collegiately on the cross-country and track & field teams. After my second season-ending injury, I decided to medically retire from competitive running but still wanted to be involved in athletics somehow. That’s when I bought my first camera and started traveling to track meets, working for the school’s media department.
While improving my photography skills, I was able to cover all of our sixteen sports and learn more and more about not just the art of photography, but also about efficiency. This helped me in my internship with Tracktown USA, the premier organizer for track & field events in the United States. I helped them over the Olympic Trials and would eventually use those connections to work the World Athletics 2022 World Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
I moved to Atlanta and started with AMB Sports and Entertainment in 2022 as a photography assistant, mainly working with Atlanta United. Working alongside our very talented team, I help cover major events held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, such as the Peach Bowl, Taylor Swift: Eras Tour, the CFP National Championship as well as Atlanta United / Atlanta Falcons games.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely was not easy moving to a new city. Outside of work, I knew no one in ATL. It was daunting, but luckily I had a great group of roommates and met my girlfriend on my fourth day in the city while walking on the Beltline! I quickly learned that there is so much to explore.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am very fortunate to work for AMB Sports and Entertainment and the Atlanta Falcons as Team Photographer. My roles and responsibilities vary depending on the time of year, but they mainly involve telling the story of the players, team, and organization through photography. During the fall season, we cover all home games and travel with the team for away games. There is nothing more satisfying than envisioning an image you want to create, then capturing it, freezing the moment forever.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
There are few environments around the country that are as awesome as an Atlanta United or Atlanta Falcons game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. If you haven’t been, you should definitely put it on your bucket list.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaybendlinphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaybendlinphoto/
- Twitter: https://x.com/jaybendlinphoto
- Other: https://atlantafalcons.com
