The man behind the camera, capturing all angles of Northeastern athletics, just so happens to be a Husky graduate himself.
Jim Pierce, a member of the Class of 1991 and a baseball player, is deeply connected to Northeastern. Pierce has been a photographer for Northeastern athletics for over two decades, documenting significant moments in university history over the years.
“There’s a lot to Northeastern for me,” Pierce said. “Between the education, the engineering degree, playing baseball there, the friendships and even the friendships that I’ve made since with the athletic directors, the [sports information directors, or SIDs], and the athletes.”
As an undergraduate student, Pierce followed in the footsteps of his father, who played baseball at Northeastern from 1961 to 1963.
Pierce works closely with the SIDs on a schedule to photograph all of Northeastern’s Division I sports throughout their seasons. His photography is frequently posted on Northeastern sports platforms and can also be found on his own social media platforms such as X and Instagram with his handle @sportsphotog23.
“[Pierce is] our historian in capturing some of the most special moments in the history of our athletic department,” said Matthew Houde, the associate athletic director for communications, public relations and broadcasting for Northeastern Athletics.
Pierce pursued sports photography later in his professional life, but this wasn’t always his plan.
After receiving his diploma, Pierce committed to the corporate world, pursuing project management in engineering for more than 25 years. His interest in photography, however, still remained throughout his career.
“I was always into photography, videography, computers,” Pierce said. “Being an engineer, you’re into that.”
Pierce began his career at Northeastern by individually selling his own photographs to students. He had been invited by Jack Grinold, former Northeastern athletics director, to a Northeastern baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, allowing Pierce to reach a larger audience to sell his photography on his own accord.
As a freelance photographer, Pierce soon became highly integrated with the athletics program, telling the stories of the student-athletes and their game day endeavors.
“My job, I think, is to capture the moment in history,” Pierce said. “The highs and sometimes lows.”
Sports photography is a calculated craft; capturing players in motion from specific angles and being conscious of the background requires attention to detail and quick decision making, especially when applying it to multiple different sports.
“It’s definitely a different process [shooting different sports],” Pierce said. “Different lenses, different equipment, different thought processes beforehand. For hockey, you can use shorter lenses if you’re shooting through a hole. If they don’t [have a hole], then you have to get different lenses and go up top.”
Every rink, arena and field is different, Pierce said, and finding the right angle when confined to a limited space or watching out for referees is an art that he has improved on over his many years of experience.
“Shooting soccer is far different than shooting hockey, just because the field is so much bigger you need longer lenses to get the coverage,” Pierce said. “And a lot of times you need two lenses to get far away and then close up.”
Knowing the players, their tendencies and routines during the game, he said, is also crucial to getting their best shots. Pierce commits to this through a personal approach.
“He’s genuine. He’s authentic. He’s real. He truly takes a liking to the student-athletes and the team and their personalities, and I think that’s what sets him apart,” said Northeastern baseball head coach Mike Glavine.
For Pierce, this mindset has always come naturally.
“I look at them as athletes, that’s what I was. They’re the ones doing the work. They’re the ones being successful,” Pierce said. “They’re the ones I want to capture getting their success.”
Through wins, losses, championships and heartbreaks, Pierce has seen it all, but high emotions are not the only photos that deserve recognition.
Pierce works closely with the SIDs at Northeastern to provide photography for social media graphics and game highlights that are needed to promote the program. His pictures can also be found splashed on the walls of the Cabot Physical Education Center.
Pierce’s passion for the athletics program is conspicuous, connecting with the players and staff beyond just his needs on game day.
“He’s involved in a lot more ways than just showing up on game day. He knows the guys on a personal basis,” Glavine said. “It’s just such a wonderful relationship and a much more personal touch than if you just see a person over there with a camera.”
Aside from Northeastern, Pierce photographs for other local universities, high schools and youth leagues. In his free time, he also enjoys wildlife photography, extending his passion beyond just sports. “When I’m in the woods, it’s almost like a switch gets flipped,” Pierce said. “The serenity, the quietness, the calmness, the solitude.”
His passion still translates onto the field and among his peers.
“To me, it doesn’t look like he’s doing his job,” Glavine said. “He’s doing something that he loves.”
After over 35 years, going from student to photographer, Houde said Pierce has cemented himself as a fixture in Northeastern athletics.
“When you think of Northeastern athletics, Jim Pierce is one of the first people that comes to mind just because of how long he’s been around and how deeply he cares,” Houde said. “We’re super lucky to have him.”
