First published in the Sept. 9 print issue of the San Marino Tribune.
Sports photographer Andrew Bernstein, a local resident who was honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will be the featured speaker at the San Marino City Club meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
With more than 40 years of experience in his craft, Bernstein has photographed and collaborated with many icons of the sports world. He will share his behind-the-scenes stories as well as the “Mamba mentality” it takes to succeed in the competitive world of sports photography.
He will also discuss the process of building his content platform and weekly podcast, “Legends of Sport”.
Bernstein is the director of photography for Staples Center and Microsoft Theater. Andrew D. Bernstein Associates Photography Inc. has been responsible for photography of all events at the L.A. Live complex since its inception in 1999. He is the key photographic contributor to NBA Entertainment’s global media platforms, which include NBA.com, all league publications and NBA licensed products.
He has been the team photographer for 10 professional home teams that won championships in basketball (Lakers in 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010), baseball (Dodgers in 1988) and hockey (Kings in 2012 and 2014). Bernstein has covered 38 NBA Finals and all-star games as the senior NBA photographer.
In 2018, Bernstein collaborated with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant on the worldwide bestselling book “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,” a unique look at Bryant’s 20-year career through Bernstein’s lens.
The Hall of Fame named Bernstein a 2018 Curt Gowdy Award recipient, acknowledging his contributions to basketball media. This prestigious award is presented annually to members of the electronic and print media whose longtime efforts have made a significant contribution to the game of basketball. Bernstein is the second photographer to receive this honor.
Bernstein received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his portfolio earned him a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and a scholarship to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Bernstein serendipitously came to the attention of NBA personnel while sitting in the Lakers’ public relations office in 1982. Conversations with NBA Properties put him in line for his first NBA job, which was photographing the 1983 All-Star Game at the Forum.
Bernstein was 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 by using triggers and remotes with strobe lighting.
Bernstein is a founding partner of a new media and events company called Legends of Sport that celebrates legendary athletes, teams and moments in sports. He hosts a weekly podcast called Legends of Sport, which can be found on Apple Podcasts.
Legends of Sport can be followed on Twitter @legends_ofsport, Instagram @legendsofsport, the website at legendsofsport.net, and YouTube and TikTok at Legends of Sport. Bernstein’s photography can be found at adbapi.com and Instagram @adbphotoinc.
A 5:45 p.m. reception will precede the 6:30 p.m. dinner meeting, which will be held at the San Marino Center. City Club members may RSVP by emailing cityclubrsvp@gmail.com or calling (626) 765-4411 and leaving a message with the member’s name and the full name of any guest whom the member wishes to invite. Adult guests will be welcome at this event for $30, and $15 for children, payable at the door by check or credit card. For more information on this event, visit sanmarinocityclub.org.
