Al Bello
2019 Honoree / Achievement In Sports
Al Bello grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He attended South Shore High School in Canarsie in 1985. He went on to The University of New York at Stony Brook. He was a linebacker on his HS and College football team and towards the end of college he took a photo class. He started taking pictures of his friends that played on his team and other sports at Stony Brook. When he made prints of his friends playing sport he noticed the look in their eyes of seeing themselves in action. It was a look of joy and with that connection he knew what he wanted to do with his life. He went to work at the school newspaper as a writer and photographer. In 1989 Al graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts from Stony Brook. In 1990 Al worked as Darkroom Manager for The Ring boxing magazine. Al soon found his way by photographing boxing on a weekend basis while processing, and printing film during the week. In 1993 Al landed a position as a junior photographer at Allsport Photo Agency which became part of Getty images in 1998. He never looked back.
Since Joining Getty in 1993, Al has become Chief Sports Photographer in North America on a very talented staff. He is assigned to cover sporting events worldwide including 12 Olympic Games. He enjoys working one on one shooting portraits of athletes that have included Olympic Champion Michael Phelps, to Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson.
He also enjoys shooting picture stories involving sport. Some of Al’s favorites include “Cockfighting in Puerto Rico” “The Recovery of Sport One Year after Hurricane Maria” and a Portrait series in 4×5 format on “The Faces of Boxing”
Al has won various individual awards from World Press Photo, National Press Photographers Association, Pictures of the Year International, China International Press Photographers Association, The New York Press Photographers Association, The Boxing Writers Association, The Football Hall of Fame, The Baseball Hall of Fame, FINA, and The International Olympic Committee. He was named Sport Photographer of the year by POYI, NPPA, and NYPPA.
Al has taught and lectured at The Eddie Adams Workshop, The Creative Live Workshop, The National Press Photographers Association Short Course, Fotofusion Workshop, The Richard Clarkson Workshop, The World Press Photo Foundation, Hofstra University, The Rochester Institute of Technology, The Poynter Institute, The Wisconsin News Photographers Association, Sacred Heart University, and several functions for Getty Images.
On a personal note, Al now lives in Merrick, New York. He enjoys spending every second of his off time with his wonderful wife Debbie of 25 years, his two kids Nicole, and Daniel, and his lovable Beagle Maggie. He enjoys exercising, Scuba Diving, Paddleboarding, Skiing, Video Games, long walks with his doggie, and watching as much TV and Movies as possible!!