Bad Call, Ref!

Reactions of players on the bench can give you some of the best photos of a basketball game.

  

Bowdoin College basketball player Kate Kerrigan (5) scowls after a foul call against her team, before the Bowdoin women defeated rival Colby College

The Photo

Basketball players frequently show a range of reactions, and players on the bench are even more emotional as they intently cheer for and support their teammates on the court. Thus, some of the best pictures from basketball games will be emotional expressions from passionate reactions by players watching from the bench.  To capture these, stand close to the bench, perhaps under the nearby basket or on the sideline, and focus on the bench players with a long lens.

Even though Bowdoin was heavily favored in this women’s basketball game against intrastate rival Colby, both teams played with great intensity and emotions ran high throughout the contest. After one play, Bowdoin was called for a foul on a Colby drive to the hoop, and players on the Bowdoin bench couldn’t believe it, so they all jumped up and shared their displeasure with the officials. Most Bowdoin players quickly sat back down, but one remained standing and scowled at the referees the entire time Colby shot their free throws.

3 Tips

1.     Basketball players on the bench can often strong reactions, emotions and facial expressions, even more than players competing on the court.

2.     Position yourself with a long lens, and focus more on the bench players than the game action.

3.     Close games, intense rivalries, and numerous foul calls will often provoke the strongest reactions and expressions.

Foul Play

Photographing basketball games from courtside under the basket captures great close-up action coming directly at you.

Colby College basketball’s Keagan Dunbar (21) is fouled while driving to the hoop by Thomas College’s Shala Davis (24) and Anna Piirainen (13).

The Photo

Basketball is one of the best sports to photograph because you clearly see the players’ faces while sitting  courtside, adjacent to the action. One ideal shooting position is sitting on the floor directly under the basket, slightly to the right, which ensures nearly all the action comes toward you, since players tend to drive more from the left, likely because many are right-handed.  From here you can capture powerful photos of layups, rebounds, dunks, collisions, fouls, and player reactions to made baskets, missed shots, and referee calls. However, you need to stay alert to avoid airborne players or balls colliding with you.

In this women’s basketball game between Colby College and cross-town rival Thomas College, Colby jumped out early to a big lead, so Thomas players were determined to block the lane and prevent additional easy Colby layups. On this play, Colby guard Keagan Dunbar (in white) saw a clear path to the basket and quickly drove into the lane, but two Thomas defenders stuck out their arms to block the way, preferring to be called for the foul than allowing an easy bucket.  My telephoto lens blurred out the background, which more clearly highlighted the bodies colliding, the ball knocked loose, and the fouled player’s facial expression.

3 Tips

1.     Sitting courtside under the basket is a terrific vantage point to capture all types of close-up basketball action coming directly at you.

2.     Watch for players driving the lane, rebounding, colliding with one another, or reacting to shots or calls.

3.     Stay alert to avoid any players or loose balls that might collide with you.