Boris Gantselevich, a sports press photographer, was born in 1952 in the city of Krasnoyarsk. He’s been living in Israel since 1999. Boris has got a collage degree in geography and biology from Krasnoyarsk Teacher’s training college. His photos were published in Krasnoyarsk newspapers and magazines on a regular basis i.e. the newspapers «Krasnoyarsky Komsomolets», «Daily newspaper», « Krasnoyarsk Evening News », « Krasnoyarsk Worker », “Sportswear Magazine”.
Boris: “I am interested in speleology, rock-climbing, traveling and
sports. In the childhood like most kids I was keen on football. And I
certainly had a favorite coach. I was lucky to have very good friends
and teachers all through my life. At university I was fond of both –
professional photography, mountains and speleology. I am sure that
speleology is akin to sports though many people tried to prove otherwise
- that it is only a science. Speleology is as difficult in as
mountaineering. You have to go hundreds meters down under the ground. It
is accompanied by the certain technical and psychological difficulties.
After this I was also keen on rock-climbing and mountaineering, but I
was not quite fit for these kinds of sports neither in terms of health,
nor abilities. Since 1974 sledge sports has been getting more and more
popular in Krasnoyarsk. The rock-climbers, speleologists and
mountain-climbers were those people who promoted it. I became the judge
of a republican category in sledge sports. I was a judge in many
competitions. I was also interested in bandy and many other things my
life. Lately I have taken a great interest in riding a bike and
traveling in Israel where I live now. There is a wood and mountains
where I enjoy walking.
I began seriously engaged in photography being a college student. As
I’ve already mentioned, I was always lucky to meet good people -
coaches, teachers, etc. I was certainly good at taking photographs,
developing a film and printing pictures when I was at the college due to
my acquaintance with the photo laboratory manager. But later my hobby
has developed into a lifetime hobby. After graduating from college my
professional activity has been connected with taking photos and sports.
In Krasnoyarsk I worked at the School for Olympic Reserve, (i.e. a
school for promising athletes, which might take part in the Olympic
Games) and at the Sports Complex\Club for Development of Higher Sports
Skills (Top-level Wrestling School) I also supervised over the
children's club of photo travelers "Light".
Some words about sports shooting. I is difficult for a photographer to
take pictures of sports events if he has never gone in for sports.
Besides, there are kinds of sports which are much easier to take
pictures of. And very difficult ones. The volleyball, basketball,
football refer to the difficult ones. It is easily for me to take
pictures of bandy, because there are a lot of interesting situation
thee, which make it possible to create a masterpiece. I especially enjoy
taking photos of rugby, football, ski races, art gymnastics. As far as
sports gymnastics is concerned it is more difficult for me. When you are
standing at an edge of a sports ground or in a sports hall, you can
have all kinds of emotions and you can’t completely concentrate on
taking photos. When I was younger I didn’t use to speak about it, but
now I can admit, that any taking pictures on sports is a holiday, and
when all sports events come to an end, you feel sad, that everything is
over. I also enjoy rock climbing. I am not good at rock-climbing but I
manage to take good photos. I used to make friends with a lot of
strongest rock-climbers of former the USSR. Rock-climbing is a very
beautiful kind of sports and people who go in for this kind of sport are
remarkable.
