Week 12 - I love the Canon RF 85mm 1.2, and you should too
*Taps mic “Is this thing on” …Alright because we have a lot to unpack. It’s been 3 weeks since our last home game with the team in Germany and our bye week which has provided me with a much needed reprieve and the ability to explore some new creative opportunities. I covered the NWSL playoffs for NWSL and the Washington Spirit, being able to cover something different than football is a great change of pace and I could take the inspiration from those games and bring it back to the Giants.
Another aspect of my photography workflow that I want to highlight this week is my creative mood boards prior to our games. For this game I operated as the lead photographer for the team and wanted to provide a comprehensive view on my mindset for every photo. Many creatives are familiar with @ArtButMakeItSports who I would reccommend to everyone. This week’s photo essay will follow a similar vein of comparison.
Gameday started off with player arrivals before our players headed into the locker room. With our other photographer on the “Big Blue Carpet” I decided to stay inside and give variety for our guys as they love to post their outfits on social media following the game. The outfits serve as an expression of their personalities and it’s also great to share that personality with the fans!
I began warmups with my 85mm 1.2 attached to my hip, we’ve had it in the office for sometime but I really wanted to utilize it this game. At F4 the quality on this lens is amazing. I don’t even have words for how crisp these photos came out. Capturing the still emotions and intensity as our guys prepared was a breeze with this lens. Canon if you need an influencer I’m available!
It was Kayvon’s first game back from IR. Knowing his importance to the team and wanting to highlight his recovery from injury I spotlighted him during warmups.
As more players came out, I noticed Malik Nabers was rocking a new chain. Detail shots are always a must for me and this was no exception. I decided to isolate him for a few minutes as I got my shot and I’m more than happy with how this photo came out!
I captured our safety Jason Pinnock in the locker room getting ready as he applied eye black, I love those quiet moments that fans don’t get a chance to see. I want to bring them into the players world for further immersion into our gameday. Our receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette prays before every warmup, having this information in mind I wanted to capture it in a different perspective so utilizing my 85mm I photographed him with the field providing a clean background.
It was our Salute to Service game so highlighting our members of the military was a must!
As I write this article following this game, I’ve had many fans express how much they love this photo. Being able to showcase our players’ emotions and flair adds to the gameday experience and I have to admit it’s a favorite shot of mine as well!
The inspiration for the previous shot came from the film ATL. I love grillz, I even own a few pairs of myself and culturally I love what they represent. A lot of my inspiration comes from film and I love being able to apply it to my work
Our running back room getting hyped for the game!
Rakeem and Dex firing up the team in our pregame huddle as well!
After the pregame huddle I captured this moment between Dexter Lawrence and Defensive Line Coach Andre Patterson as he provided a pep talk for our DPOY candidate.
Keeping my head on a swivel I noticed that the players went to meet their wives and girlfriends prior to heading back into the locker room. Reiterating what seems to be the subject of this article, I love capturing the intimate details of our gameday. Everything isn’t about the game action on the field but rather all of the intricate details that go into Sundays.
With it being Tommy Devito’s first start of the season I made sure to key in on him during the national anthem and flyover to signify the moment.
Unfortunately it wasn’t the most action filled game on our end but I made sure to capture shots of our defense…
…and our offense for use on social media and our website galleries!
With a slow action game I decided to shift my perspective, to (sue me if I sound like a broken record) the details of the game. In this photo the Buccaneers fumbled the ball in the redzone and personally I love the abstractionism of the photo. You don’t always need a face for a great shot!
Late in the 4th Quarter Devin Singletary found his way into the endzone!
I made sure to sprint onto the field following the game to capture the postgame handshake between Tommy Devito and Baker Mayfield. One of my favorite parts of the game honestly to show off my track speed as all of the photographers rush to the middle of the field!
It was also Sterling Sheppard’s first game back at Metlife and all of the guys were happy to see him as they swapped jerseys!
Next up Cowboys on Thanksgiving!
CLUB ELEVEN celebrates sixth anniversary with launch of first-ever home kit
New York City, NEW YORK (November 11, 2024) — Today, CLUBELEVEN, a leading North American soccer brand and media publication founded in 2018, announced the launch of their first Home Kit, commemorating six years of their storytelling in the region and celebrating America’s special community of soccer creators. The CLUBELEVEN Home Kit marks the brand’s expansion from photography, written storytelling, and video, into the fashion world, as they explore new creative avenues in soccer. “Our goal was to develop a statement jersey that honors who we are as an organization and incorporates some of our favorite jersey design elements we’ve seen while covering every level of North American soccer. We’re proud to have a kit that represents us, and we view it as yet another step in our mission to take our creativity outside the screen,” said CLUBELEVEN Lead Community Manager Kyros Morales.
The CLUBELEVEN Home Kit follows a wide striped design with a base of dark Prussian Blue, contrasted against lighter shade, calling back to the brand’s original colors since 2018. The careful pattern-work gives the jersey a clean look from afar while remaining an exquisite statement piece when seen up close.
Beyond the colors, the Home Kit blends various classic jersey features into one seamless design. The CLUBELEVEN wordmark is deployed as a felt patch across the chest, a “Soccer Dancers” icon — inspired by Matisse’s The Dance and representative of the brand’s united soccer community — is depicted on the right breast through high density printing, and the CLUBELEVEN logo is embroidered above the heart, showcasing three different methods of printing in one jersey.
The Home Kit also takes inspiration from memorable ‘90s jerseys, featuring a thick knitted collar, buttons, a prominent sleeve stripe, and ribbed sleeve cuffs.
Finally, for the accompanying photoshoot to launch the jerseys, CLUBELEVEN brought together 20 creatives from all over the country into one studio to produce the campaign assets, underscoring their commitment to creativity through collaboration.
The Home Kit is now available online at clubeleven.com/shop
ABOUT CLUBELEVEN
Established in 2018, CLUBELEVEN is a soccer brand and media publication telling the untold stories of soccer in North America. Through a vast community of soccer creators, CLUBELEVEN produces high-end matchday content, in-depth storytelling pieces, and impactful player-led editorials to connect soccer audiences across North America. To learn more about CLUBELEVEN, visit clubeleven.com or follow CLUBELEVEN on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Week 9 - Legacy, Legacy, Legacy
10,858 photos, 8 cameras, and 1 broken PocketWizard trigger later we’re officially through the halfway point of the season! I had a lot of creativity coming into this game so let’s break it down! I began brainstorming for this game a few weeks before. Being our only legacy game of the season I wanted to give it a unique feel and look in comparison to our other home games. My mind immediately gravitated towards film so I planned to shoot 35mm on my Minolta X-700 and 120mm on my Mamiya 645v. I decided on CineStill 400D as it was a day game and I am familiar with how quickly our field can be enveloped in shadows during the game.
I also wanted to incorporate remote cameras into my gameday setup as well. We’re always looking for celebration shots of fans and placing remote cameras in places I otherwise cannot be can prove to be effective provided the right moment. I also wanted to take that curiosity one step forward by setting up a remote “touchdown” camera. I’ve hypothesized the idea during my time covering the MLS however I never had a chance to execute it. The goal was to capture the unique endzone art and hoping that we would get a touchdown in that endzone (Spoiler alert, we got 3). With the goal being fan safety I chose the uppermost part of the stadium devoid of fans and made sure to double and triple check the safety of my camera setup.
After setting up my remote cameras I went to our Big Blue Carpet to photograph player arrivals. With our team photographer providing digital assets I decided to supplement that by capturing some of our guys on film to get a hang on the manual focus (Believe me I missed a lot of shots because of that). For my first time capturing arrivals I love that we get to capture their personalities and style before they put on their uniform and the whistle blows.
LSU Football Alumni Malik Nabers and Jayden Daniels were reunited at Metlife for the second time this season as Jayden decided to surprise Malik as he warmed up. It’s always important to be aware of player connections on and off the field as it helps you predict moments before they happen
I decided to switch it up with black and white editing to focus on the intensity of the players as they warmed up!
I will always love a great silhouette image! While Darius Slayton was warming up I decided to expose for the sky behind him which led to this high contrast shot, one of my favorites from the day. I also love how the red sleeves on his hoodie add just enough color to make it an even more dramatic image!
With it being our throwback legend game I wanted to try an unconvential editing style for our quiet moments in the locker room to emulate a film style
I captured our guys stretching during warmups, emphasizing the quiet moments. As well as our linebacker Ty Summers looking like a player straight out of a 1980s defense with the neck brace
Deonte, Isaiah, and Tyrone all posing for the camera!
Dexter Lawerence breaking down the huddle during pregame warmups!
This week featured our defense during player introductions as I captured our standout linebackers Azeez Ojulari and Bobby Okereke as they ran out onto the field!
Prior to LT ringing the bell I asked him for an impromptu portrait on the sideline. While the light leak takes away from the photo a bit, I’ll always argue the beauty of film lies in the imperfections. I have a story behind every film photo I’ve ever taken and I will always appreciate that about the medium
It’s always great to capture as a legend when they return to the Giant faithful and Lawerence Taylor wasn’t an exception. I always want to think of new ways to capture the moment from both a fan perspective and an ode to the legends as well!
A new game calls for new angles as well. During the first half I am usually assigned to roam in the upper 300 sections, to add to my deliverables I took my 300mm lens as well as my 14-35mm for crowd engagement shots. As I saw the action head toward the endzone I decided to take a few shots and was rewarded with some of my favorite compositions of the day. I love how Darius Slayton is pictured in the middle of all of the action as well as the 10 yard line providing context to the team driving down the field. For the shot of Daniel Jones evading a defender’s tackle, the harsh shadows add depth and contrast to the image as well as a clean background for the action.
My first opportunity to test my touchdown remote camera came early in the second quarter. Daniel Jones completed a pass to Chris Manhertz for the score. I captured the image on the left with a 300mm and the image on the right was taken with my Canon 1DX fixed with a 120-300mm lens(1/1000 F8 ISO 400). When working with a remote camera, there is skill in the preparation but also a little luck to have the action come right to you. Unfortunately a fan blocked a partial angle of the frame but on the flip side, their arm perfectly framed the touchdown away from the line of the scrimmage. It’s those little strokes of luck that make me appreciate an image more.
For halftime we had a performance by our “frisbee dogs”. I’ll admit I’m a bigger fan of the corgis however capturing these unique activations is always a welcome challenge. If you can capture this, then NFL action is a breeze!
I captured some photos of our helmets on the sideline as I roamed during the game. They’re a fan favorite and mine as well!
With Daylight Savings Time on Sunday morning, we were rewarded with more creative light in the afternoon. Our safety Jason Pinnock is seen directing the defense here as his jersey is perfectly lit through the shadows.
Malik Nabers made a crazy juggling catch as we drove down the field in the 4th quarter!
Daniel Jones scored his first rushing touchdown of the season with one of the meanest stiff-arm I’ve seen!
Theo Johnson caught his first touchdown on a streak from Daniel Jones! I decided to follow the action with my 300mm instead of switching to my 70-200mm. Although tracking the ball is harder the compression that a longer lens provides is great and luckily it happened right in front of me
That’s a wrap from Week 9! Up next Germany and a well-deserved bye week!
Week 7 - Come for the corgi races, stay for the football
Alright, let’s get this started shall we. Before we talk about Sunday’s game we need to go back to Thursday. Ordering a 3 piece whiting from the New York Fried Chicken Shop (Yes that’s the resturant name) that’s a block away from my house. While I waited for my food I read an article by Billy Merck on Craig Mitchelldyer, the photographer for the Portland Timbers where he chronicled a day in the life of the photographer. He highlighted everything that went into a gameday, including the intricate remote camera setups, the planning that takes place weeks before a game, as well as the anticipation that takes place during the game to create the best assets possible for the organization. While reading the article I thought about my own workflow and what goes into my gameday performance so with 2 days until Sunday I began to plan.
I wanted to start implementing more creative ideas into my galleries, some old and some new. I utilized one of my go-to strobe light setups, a Godox AD400 with a blue gel to provide a rim light and a pop of color with a speedlight on top of my camera with a yellow gel to balance the temperature of the photo. The players love to show off their style in their pregame outfits and these photos give them a chance to show their personalities before they put their helmets on.
1 PM kickoffs give me the chance to capture my scene setters, using the dramatic shadows cast by the sun at high noon.
Drawing from the creative reservoirs again, I decided to use a photo technique called slow shutter flash where the flash freezes the subject while providing a motion blur around them. I love utilizing this to show motion in my photos or just to enhance a photograph.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches fired up during pregame warm-ups
Another Storyline was the return of our star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. I thought it important to isolate him as he ran out of the tunnel for the first time this season and the fog provided an extra dimension to the photo!
One of the storylines for this game was Saquon’s return to Metlife Stadium. I wanted to capture him taking it all in on the opposing sideline.
Giants Legend Plaxico Burress rung the Pride Bell to start the game this week. It’s always great to see legends being welcomed by the Giants faithful as they return to Metlife.
During the First Half I utilized remote cameras in the 300 section to capture crowd photography while not physically being there myself. With extensive shot lists on gamedays it’s efficient to use all of the technology afforded to me. By using Pocketwizard radio triggers and Manfrotto magic arms I was able to secure my two cameras without interrupting the fan experience.
Capturing fan reactions is always one of my favorite parts of gamedays. You can see the passion as they react to 3rd down stops and big plays from our offense!
Dexter Lawerence with his 9th sack of the season!
Malik Nabers and Darius Slay matched up on each other all day, eliciting the following reactions from each other
What would’ve been Theo Johnson’s first career NFL touchdown was unfortunately called back for OPI(Offensive Pass Interference), which sucks because I had the perfect angle for the catch and the celebration
Now for the most important photos of the game, halftime corgi races! Out of everything I captured today, trying to capture dogs running 22mph in focus this was definitely my hardest challenge
Drew Lock was subbed in for Daniel Jones during the 2nd half of the game, however the shot list remains the same no matter the QB. I wanted to provide comprehensive coverage of both gunslingers for social and web coverage.
I decided to use the harsh shadows to my advantage to capture silhouettes of our defensive backs Tae Banks and Dru Phillips!
Earlier this week I wrote in my notes app “The creation of art comes from us drawing inspiration from art we’ve seen before, wether that be architecture, music, fashion, or nature. It’s a constantly revolving loop that feeds back into each other”. I saw this photo of Patrick Peterson on social media a few months ago and saved it on my phone hoping to draw inspiration from it one day. I noticed Tre Hawkins III staring at the opposing wide receiver and began to formulate a plan. I had a 400mm with a 1.4x extender to give me the equivalent of a 560mm F4. I captured the image and prayed that it would retain enough detail to give me the shot I envisioned and voila!
After the game Saquon got a chance to reunite with his old teammates and share a laugh before heading back to the locker room.
Week 6 - Bengals enter the concrete jungle
Game week always begins with ideation. What worked last week? What can I improve upon? These are the questions that I ask before I pick up any camera on gameday. Following our upset win in Seattle, A primetime matchup versus the Bengals suddenly became a must-watch. Our second primetime game of the season and I wanted to make sure we built upon the momentum from the Cowboys game.
A specific shot came to my mind knowing that we would be utilizing fireworks again…A remote camera! Now I’ve used remotes in my time in the WNBA but this is different, thousands of more people, different safety protocols, and natural lighting compared to indoors. I wanted my shot to compliment what I was already capturing so I decided to set up my remote camera at the very top of the stadium to capture our full-field flag as well as our fans looking on!
I tested my remote camera hours before any fans arrived as the sun began to set on Metlife Stadium. I rigged my camera with a Manfrotto magic arm and safety cables to ensure that it did not fall on any fans. There was also a metal protector underneath the camera so no fans would be tempted to touch it.
Warmups began with our guys taking the field locked in ready for the matchup ahead
Along with a visit from the Sunday Night Football crew! It was such a surreal moment for me, just a few years ago Sunday Night Football meant the end of the weekend and preparing for school the next day and now it’s my career!
I captured a few shots of our DJ Camillo in collaboration with one of our sponsors
Dexter and Deonte hyped as they run into the pregame huddle!
I was tasked with capturing player introductions from above. I wanted to capture the fans in the foreground while still keeping our players as the primary focus which made for very interesting compositions!
As mentioned before I wanted my remote camera to compliment my photos. So as I captured the national anthem and fireworks from the 200 section my remote camera fired simultaneously as well for the perfect combination
For the first half I captured fan reactions from around the stadium. These shots are used for marketing purposes so I wanted to give a wide range for them to choose from. Also capturing some of our motion graphic assets in a live setting!
Halftime was a cause for celebration as we recognized our 2007 and 2011 Super Bowl Rosters!
The second half started with our defense making a stand, including sacks from Azeez Ojulari and Brian Burns…
…and Micah McFadden recovered a fumble!
Which our guys were obviously pretty happy about!
Following his performance against the Seattle Seahawks Tyrone Tracy became a fan favorite and he carried the momentum into this game with huge conversions on this drive
Capped off with his first career NFL touchdown!
It’s not a touchdown if you don’t celebrate with the people that got you there!
Dexter with his 7th sack of the season! We might be watching the best season by a defensive tackle (Knocks on wood)
Despite a close game, we couldn’t pull out the win as Daniel Jones met Joe Burrow at midfield following the game
Ja'marr Chase and Malik Nabers managed to meet after the game, passing the torch of great LSU alumni!
It’s always fun to find new ways to capture a moment and I love this detailed shot of Malik signing his jersey!
Week 4 - Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned rivalry?
How do you decide what lenses to use?
After my Week 1 vlog I was asked “How do I decide what lenses I use” so I wanted to provide some transparency into my shot list. On gameday I typically use 3 cameras, My Canon R5 and a 300mm on a monopod for action shots, A wide-angle lens for fan photos as well as atmosphere shots and a telephoto lens for tighter shots to show player emotion as well as an alternative lens choice when my 300mm is too tight for the subject. I also like to carry an alternative prime lens such as a 135 1.8 or an 85 1.2 which allows me to isolate the subject and separate them from the environment. As you can see on my shot list my deliverables for the first half of the game called for a 2 camera setup, my 70-200 as well as a 14-35. I didn’t carry my 300mm around the concourse as it was too bulky and I didn’t want it to be damaged as I moved around. For the 2nd half I picked up my monopod and began to follow the game action on the field. A 300 allows you to photograph subjects cleanly about 30 yards down the field and as the players run towards me I switch to a 70-200 and in the rare case of a celebration (such as Week 1’s fumble recovery in the endzone) I switch to a 14-35.
Since we’re playing on Thursday Night Football I arrived at the stadium at 4:30 to take scene setters before players arrived to the field. With it being the beginning of the season, it’s important to get as many photo assets as we can!
We’ll start off warmups with this shot of Malik Nabers locked in prior to the game, We send these photos to our social team for distribution . With the access provided to us as team photographers I always want to take advantage by creating uinique compositons that I otherwise would not be able to.
Including details like Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s cleats!
I kept my head on a swivel during warmups and ran into Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone. Track was my favorite sport and as a runner Sydney is a legend so I was more than elated to capture her as she took in Metlife Stadium!
For the first time this season, we introduced light bands to our fans. The environment that it creates in combination with fireworks at night is a scene like no other!
For the first half of Thursday’s game I was tasked with capturing fan perspectives. I decided to start at the top of the stadium and work my way down through the concourse. I found that the most energetic moments occured when it was a 3rd down or the defense made a tackle for loss. As I was focused on the fans and not the field I had to read our fans’ emotions to infer what was happening on the field of play. This led me to capture this photo of a Giants fan celebrating in front of a Cowboys fan. I want the viewer of my photos to feel emotion as they consume my work and I feel this photo perfectly captures what a rivalry is. It’s not pretty, it’s raw and passionate and here you can see the conflicting sides and the emotion it brings out of its fans.
I also utilized shutter drag with an off camera flash to create these photos which I feel exemplify what it truly means to be a fan…loud, rowdy, and passionate about your team!
The 2nd half started with Dallas backed up on their 8 yard line due to a holding penalty on the previous play. As they broke the huddle I noticed something unusual in their formation, star wideout CeeDee Lamb was lined up as a halfback. I noticed this same formation as I casually watched the Cowboys/Ravens game last week in an attempt to get Lamb the ball more he would substitute in as a running back in certain situations. Recalling this from memory I decided to isolate him in my camera and luckily Brian Burns made a huge stop in the backfield on him. I used the 300mm as I captured the tackle and as the play broke, immediately switched to my 70-200mm to capture the ensuing celebration…a salsa dance that even Victor Cruz would be proud of!
Tyrone Tracy has a huge run in the 3rd quarter and the ensuing reaction was deserving of the play as he roared alongside the crowd! It’s always important to follow the player long after the initial play has concluded as those are the impactful shots that tell the true story of the game!
Malik Nabers added to his Rookie of The Year campaign by posting another 100 yard performance against one of the best cornerbacks in the league!
The ending to this game was a whirlwind of emotions. Dallas was set to attempt a field goal to put the game all but out of reach. However, the kick was wide right and there was still a chance for us to drive down the field and win the game. I made a plan to stay in the end zone in the case of a hail mary. After 2 attempts downfield it didn’t seem likely that we would score so I reverted back to my original assignment which was to photograph the quarterback handshake at the end of the game. As Dallas kneeled the ball down I sprinted onto the field, not to find Daniel Jones, but Dak Prescott. As the players meet in the middle of the field it can easy to get lost in the crowd and lose sight of your subject. Knowing this I decided to follow Dak until he crossed paths with Daniel instead of attempting to find him through the sea of players.
Lastly I got to meet one of my mentors in Callena Williams. Representation matters in the creative industry and I’m glad to have someone to look up to in this league! Until next time!
Week 1 - How do you tell a story without a happy ending?
When we think about the NFL we envision the hard hits, the gravity-defying catches, and the team celebrations. As a photographer it’s our job to capture those moments in a clean and precise manner. This leads us to be reactive, to only shoot the moments that happen in front of our lenses. So what do we do when the game doesn’t yield those spectacular moments.
The story of week 1 starts where every story does…taking photos in the 300 concourse wishing I wore a hoodie. I joked with my friends that Atlanta spoiled me, all of our sports venues were indoors and combined with southern humidity the temperature never drops below 70 degrees. I enjoy taking scene setters because they depict the quiet before the storm, no one in the stands, no one on the field. You can capture the beauty of the stadium before the chaos ensues.
This was my first NFL game so I wanted to approach it with a mindset of “firsts”. As pregame started I quickly realized that this would not be like anything I’ve photographed in the past. The speed, the intensity, the noise was unlike anything I’ve experienced and I was forced to quickly adapt.
All summer I developed my creative voice and I wanted to showcase that as soon as possible. It began with capturing Daniel Jones and Devin Singletary as they went through their warmup routines. I’ve coined the phrase “imposing my perspective” as I show non-traditional imagery to my audience. I want the viewer to question their pre-conceived notions of the sport. To see the game they know and love flipped on its head, to create art that makes you think beyond the play itself.
As a team photographer I have access to areas of the stadium that most do not and I wanted to take advantage of that as our players came out for pre-game warmups. Featured on the left is our specialist group with WR/Returner Wandale Robinson photographed in the middle of the huddle. On the right is our Lineman/LB group as they come out of the tunnel for the first time this season. I used a Canon RF 16-35mm lens to achieve both shots. I love the ability to acheive an ultra-wide look without compromising quality or focus.
For player introductions we highlighted our defense including (from left to right) Rakeem Nuñez-Roches, Brian Burns, and Dexter Lawerence. I was tasked with shooting wide to include the players running out as well as the fans behind them. My favorite is the photo of Brian Burns as he’s introduced for the first time in a Giants uniform, turning around to greet the fans as they welcome him as well!
Every photo has a story behind it, mine are just more comical than most. I used two bodies for today’s game, a Canon R3 and R5. However the ethernet connection didn’t work on my R5 leading me to only transmit from one camera. Following the pregame activities I found myself in the end zone transmitting my photos to our social team. In front of me Dru Phillips forced a fumble that was recovered by Bobby Okereke. I was following the action on my 70-200 initially and had the awareness to switch to my 16-35 as they celebrated around the broadcast camera.
Malik Nabers’ first career NFL catch was a 25 yard reception from Daniel Jones on 3rd and 10. I was situated on the 20 yard line as the offense was marching down the field and managed to get the catch, run, and celebration following!
Our special teams unit decided to play a game of hot-potato as we were able to pin the Vikings on their 1-yard line!!!
The game was carried by our defensive efforts, including key stops on 3rd down. I love this photo because it shows the intensity of NFL Football as well as the teamwork of our defenders to take Aaron Jones down.
The Giants were founded in 1925 and with it being our 100th season, the halftime activities included celebrating our Top 100 players in franchise history. Being around so many impactful figures this weekend was a blessing and it was great hearing their stories about their playing days and capturing the moments as they reunite with teammates. I got to create powerful photographs such as Eli Manning with his head coach Tom Coughlin, the legendary Lawernce Taylor, and Bill Parcells smiling at the Super Bowl trophy.
As we entered the second half, the game began to become out of reach for us. With the possibility of a comeback fading I decided to shift my focus to isolating our star players to build our gallery. I want to showcase the power of cropping with before/after images. Cortney Lesovoy(@cortneylesovoy) a photographer/photo editor with FC Cincinnati posts her thought process behind her edits and I would recommend her page to any aspiring photographer.
My gear loadout for a majority of my action shots were the Canon R3 combined with the Canon EF 300mm. At 24 megapixels my file sizes retain enough quality to crop create creative crops as I see fit. For the first shot of Daniel Jones in the pocket I wanted to create a clean photo of lineman blocking while Daniel surveyed the field.
For the second photo I was able to isolate Dexter Lawrence as he pressured Sam Darnold in the backfield. I like to set my focus to the middle of the frame, shoot wide, and crop later. Football is an odd sport as you can’t see your players’ faces most of the time so when I’m able to show that it makes an image 10x better.
For the last photo, we have Malik celebrating as Wandale Robinson makes a run after the catch in Vikings territory. I love how you can read this photo from left to right as you see the celebration, the ball, and the defender in that order to create a clean photograph.
When the clock hit 0:00 and the players cross the field to meet each other, It’s important to predict the moments before they occur. In my experience players of the same college greet each other so I looked for Malik to find Justin Jefferson as they are both star wideouts from LSU. With Jefferson being the best wide receiver in the league currently a photograph that shows a transition from the present to the future can be a historical moment and I’m glad I put myself in the right place at the right time.
My 1st Song
“I’m just, tryin’ to stay above water y’know
Just stay busy, stay workin’
Puff told me like, the key to this joint
The key to stayin’, on top of things
Is treat everythin’ like it’s your first project, you know what I’m sayin’?
Like it’s your first day like back when you was an intern
Like, that’s how you try to treat things like, just stay hungry”
The intro to Jay-z’ “My 1st Song” served as the preface for this photo essay. This summer was a time of reflection for me and my photo journey. 3 years ago I discovered my passion for art in this very gym, using my fathers Canon T6i to take photos of the AEBL Summer League. Growing up in Atlanta you were familiar with the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Dream but I like many others share memories of pickup basketball on a 95 degree day. 5v5 play to 21, call your own fouls and shoot for captain. Those were my teenage summers and seeing how effortlessly this passion translated into my career has been a beautiful thing to watch.
I found myself at the beginning of this summer looking for meaning and purpose in my work. I had been blessed with the dilemma of not having time to pursue personal endeavors due to client work but I was left searching for a way to manifest my growing creativity. When the WNBA went on pause for the Olympics I was lucky to have it coincide with the start of AEBL.
Inspired by photographers such as @hisnameiscourtney and @reginaldthomas these photos are a preview of my photo book titled “My 1st Song”. A manifestation of my current perspective while honoring my beginnings as an artist.
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I can’t thank @liz.calls.it.soccer enough for encouraging me on this project and seeing the beauty in my work that I overlook.
