Career:
With more than 30 years of experience as a professional sports photographer including team photographer for the LA Lakers, LA Kings, LA Clippers and LA Dodgers, Andrew D. Bernstein has developed an impressive reputation in the world of sports photography. Recognized as a highly-skilled and innovative action and portrait photographer, Bernstein was involved in the creation of NBA Photos in
1986, which is recognized as the worldwide leader in licensing of NBA photography. He was instrumental in the creation of the position of Senior Director of NBA Photos, a position he held from 1986 through 2011, and he continues to serve as the longest tenured league photographer. He is the key photographic contributor to NBA Entertainment’s global media platforms, which include NBA.com, all league publications and NBA licensed products. Bernstein’s photography has appeared on thousands of newspaper and magazine covers worldwide, as well as major advertising campaigns
The unique personal rapport Bernstein has developed with athletes over the years allows him exclusive access to special behind-the-scenes moments, some of which were showcased in the 2010 book he co-created with Coach Phil Jackson, Journey to the Ring, a photo documentary book highlighting the championship season of the Lakers. Bernstein was also instrumental in the development and use of new technology, both on- and off- the court including the multiple-camera Flash Wizard II system, which revolutionized indoor sports action photography through the use of triggers and remotes. Early Work:
Bernstein, 54, grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was an avid sports fan who participated in the action through the lens of a camera. While attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst, his portfolio earned him a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and a scholarship to attend the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., where he earned a BFA in 1981. As a student, Bernstein devoted himself entirely to sports photography, working full time as a studio assistant and part time as an assistant for Sports Illustrated. Notable Projects:
Bernstein’s work frequently appears in international publications including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, The Sporting News, Time, Newsweek and more. He is known to sports fans off the printed page, making frequent television appearances to discuss his work. Bernstein Associates Photography, Inc., has served as the official photographer for most of the professional sports teams in Los Angeles, including the Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers and Kings. In addition, Bernstein holds the position of Director of Photography for STAPLES Center and Nokia Theater L.A. Live, the sports and entertainment complex in Los Angeles. High-profile projects involved photographic coverage of the 1992, 1996 and 2000 United States Olympic basketball teams from their inception through their gold medal wins in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, including the legendary 1992 “Dream Team”. Bernstein’s Olympic coverage also extended to the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic basketball teams’ trainings and international exhibition games. Bernstein is the team photographer for ten professional home teams to win a championship in basketball (Lakers in 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010), baseball (Dodgers in 1988), and hockey (Kings in 2012). Corporate projects include advertising campaigns featuring some of the world’s top athletes for Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Icy Hot. Book projects include Journey to the Ring: Behind the Scenes with the 2010 NBA Champion Lakers (written by Coach Phil Jackson), America’s Dream Team, NBA Jam Session, NBA at 50, and Basketball’s Best Shots as well as three titles from the Lakers recent championships: The Big Title Champion Los Angeles Lakers, Close Two a Dynasty and Kobe and the New Lakers’ Dynasty. A showcase devoted to Andrew’s NBA photography was published in NBA Hoop Shots: Classic Moments From a Super Era in 1996. Awards, Shows and Accolades:
Bernstein’s photographs have been showcased in solo shows in the Los Angeles area at the Sports and Entertainment Gallery, the Canon Gallery, Gallery 319 and The Perfect Exposure Gallery.He was commissioned to create a permanent installation of original hockey photography at the Prudential Center in Newark., NJ. His company’s photography is widely displayed throughout STAPLES Center and Nokia Theater LA Live. A Retrospective of Bernstein’s NBA All Star photography was held at the 2004 and 2011 NBA All Star Weekends, and a retrospective of his NBA Finals photography was displayed in a solo show during the 2009 NBA Finals. An exhibition of Bernstein’s photographs of the 2012 Kings Stanley Cup championship season is currently running at a gallery inside STAPLES Center. Bernstein’s unique style has led to other commissioned exhibitions throughout the country including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame exhibition “2009 NBA Finals” where Bernstein is among only four photographers whose work was selected for permanent exhibit in the media wing of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In the permanent exhibit, one of Andrew’s favorite shots, titled “Michael Jordan: Come Fly With Me,” is on display. He was commissioned to create a permanent installation of original hockey photography at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Bernstein was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in January 2001 and will be inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in April 2013. Bernstein is a mentor and board member at Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), a youth center benefiting inner city children and teens, where he was also instrumental in creating an after school photography program. In December 2005 HOLA honored Bernstein with their “Hero of the Heart Award” recognizing him as their volunteer of the year. Bernstein is also an active photographic contributor to Autism Speaks, the largest national autism awareness organization.
