Hockey and Dew with Finn O’Hara

This is not Toronto-based photographer Finn O’ Hara. This is an Underwater Hockey player. Wait– you think Underwater Hockey doesn’t exist?! Let’s ask Finn about it:

Finn! tell me about this Underwater Hockey project! How’d it come
about? Are you showing it anywhere? How do they hold their breath so
long?


It kinda started with a conversation with friends about high school,
and the strange games that they made us play in gym class. I recalled
playing Underwater Hockey, where we spent more time humiliating and
punching one another underwater than trying to play the game. My
friends didn’t believe me, and claimed that there is no such thing as
Underwater Hockey. I set off to prove them wrong, and googled
“Underwater Hockey” to find some proof of its existence.

Much to my
surprise, it’s a huge international game, played in over 20 countries,
and very organized. I had just started research into shooting a series
on strange games, so I thought this would be a perfect subject to
cover. It even turned out that there were several clubs nearby, so I
called them up to see if I could photograph their games and
tournaments, and they readily agreed.

I’m not showing it anywhere at the moment, but I would like to find a
gallery or publisher that would be interested in exhibiting or
publishing the strange games series. As for holding their breath,
they’re extremely talented swimmers, and with the use of a snorkel and
fins, they can really cover a lot of pool. It’s a tough sport too,
hence the armored glove, head protection, and mouth guards. I’ve seen a
few nasty cuts and heated arguments while shooting.

Finn! Tell me about the Mountain Dew assignment– what was the concept for the shoot? Did you find it
personally fulfilling– did it mirror your own work in any way? What was
the final response?

The Mountain Dew work is portraits of the characters from a commercial
film shoot I worked on in the Spring. The Director of the shoot is a
friend, Chris Hutsul,
and they needed stills that were to be used in collaboration with the
video.

The characters were formed around a campaign that never actually
launched, unfortunately (I added the retro Mountain Dew logo to
identify the work on my site). It was a total drag that the campaign
got canned. As you can see, the wardrobes were hysterical, and the
casting was done mostly through craigslist,
which added a huge layer of authenticity. And yes, it was fulfilling,
for sure. It fit in with some of the creatives that I’m working on now.
Stay tuned!

About the author

Rachel Hulin

15 Comments

Candice Phrogus 8-19-2008

Ok, kind of random. But I actually did a slideshow presentation on Underwater Hockey awhule back…. ANYWAY, check it out for more underwater hockey images and background. Click the yellow bar on the upper right side.

Candice Phrogus 8-19-2008

click on my name below, or go here: http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/sports/007726.html

Home Gym Total 9-1-2008

Home Gym Total

The Total Trainer offers Total Fitness at discount pricing. Total

p90x 10-4-2008

p90x

Later this summer 24 Hour Fitness will open a 24 Hour Fitness Lance Armstrong Sport Club in Austin. The health club may open other Armstrong gyms in other cities down the road. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The full-

Home Gym Home Gym Results 10-11-2008

Home Gym Home Gym Results

Bodylastics is a complete home gym system designed to produce result

Golds Gym Home Gyms 12-6-2008

Golds Gym Home Gyms

Home Franchise Login Careers Sign-Up For Gold’s Newsletters Search. Home Franch

Designing A Home Gym 12-21-2008

Designing A Home Gym

Who knows, when your workout space is this inviting, you may actually use it. (Or Just T

Home Gym 20 12-24-2008

Home Gym 20

and exercise equipment at the Worlds 1 Fitness Brand- ProForm. P

Gym Home Page Total 12-29-2008

Gym Home Page Total

Colosseum Gym in Newark, West Orange of New Jersey. Purchase Terms: Em

Fitness Equipment 1-4-2009

Fitness Equipment

If used in a correct manner, they can help and individual achieve impressive results jus

P90x 1-19-2009

P90x

Extreme Body Workout P90X, Power 90, Hip Hop Abs, Get Absolutely Ripped in 90 Days! P90X, Power 90,

Fitness Equipment 2-2-2009

Fitness Equipment

Cross Over Machines Commercial Fitness Equipment Dumbbells Weights Door Gym. O

Fitness Equipment 2-26-2009

Fitness Equipment

As for Scripps Interactive: At the company s Interactive Media d

Home Gym Sale 7-26-2009

Home Gym Sale

Low prices and free shipping on a wide selection of Home Gyms. PRE-SALE Product ships 7 25 O

Total Body Workout For Football Dvd 4-17-2010

Total Body Workout For Football Dvd

Total Body Stretching Stability Ball DVD Video. Sports & Outdoors- Towing & Winching- The Int

Comments

Name (required)

Email (required)

URL

Cancel