Drive Time

Photographing basketball from the sideline perpendicular to the basket, can provide some of the best close-up basketball action pictures.

Colby's Max Poulton (1) drives through the lane for a layup past Wesleyan's Shane Regan (30).

The Photo
Many basketball pictures are photographed from under the basket, and some from the center court sideline, but I've found that some of the very best can be captured from the sideline perpendicular to the basket with a long lens. This is often a difficult shot to get because you need close-ups of a couple of players in the photo, without anyone blocking your view, with their faces turned toward you, and both the ball and basket clearly visible, too.

At this Men's Basketball game between Colby and Wesleyan, I was initially shooting from under the basket, and getting some decent pictures. However, after a constant series of layups and rebounds, I was certain I could get stronger photos from the sideline, even though those images are tougher to get. So I moved to the sideline directly perpendicular to the basket, set my Zoom lens to around a 105MM focal length, and looked for a close-up of player action with their faces, the ball, and basket all in the photo. I stayed patient, despite many photos not working out because of players blocking my view, referees getting in the way, and player faces covered by their arms. I kept at it and finally got lucky with this very tight shot of a Colby player driving through a crowd and laying the ball in for 2 points.

3 Tips
1. Position yourself on the sideline perpendicular to the basket using around a 105MM lens or so, instead of only photographing from under the basket from where too many basketball pictures are shot.
2. Try to capture drives for layups, rebounds, or put-backs, but be patient because you'll miss many shots as players block your or you can't see their faces.
3. When it works out, you'll capture a close-up of one or several players in action with both the ball and basket visible.

A Heroes' Welcome

Including happy sports fans can often transform a routine player celebration into a far more powerful photo.

Colby College fans pound the glass to celebrate with Men's Hockey players after a game-tying goal vs. rival Bowdoin College.

The Photo
Colby College's Men's Hockey team was trailing cross-state rival Bowdoin 2-1 late in the 3rd period on their home ice, when Colby forward James Tepper scored to tie the game. As ecstatic Colby players rushed to hug and and celebrate against the boards, the near-capacity crowd cheered loudly, and fans nearest the players banged on the glass to share their joy with the players.

Late in a close hockey game, I often shoot with a long lens, typically a 300MM, from the stand near center ice, so I can capture a winning goal scored by either team, along with any subsequent celebration. After this goal, I initially shot a few players hugging, but when all the Colby players on the ice celebrated near the boards and fans joined in by cheering loudly and banging on the glass, it captured the joy of the moment and of the game's final result, as Colby scored two more goals to win the game 4-2.

3 Tips

1. Many sports provide an opportunity to combine happy players and fans, which can turn an ordinary player celebration into a much more powerful photo.

2. Look for players celebrating near the edge of the playing area, where fans are seated and often trying to share their joy with the happy players.

3. For indoor sports, you may need to adjust your camera settings to compensate for fans having less light shining on them than players do.

Sky High Catch

Exceptional fielding plays at first can be some of the very best baseball action photos.

Colby College first baseman Cabot Maher leaps high to grab a line drive for the out vs. Bates College.

The Photo

Colby College's baseball team was facing cross-state rival Bates College, who had a runner on first with no outs, and was hoping to start a rally.  The game was played in Spring, 2021 during the COVID pandemic, so players wore masks throughout the games to ensure their continued safety, but it made playing more challenging for the athletes.

Plays at first are too often routine, as the first baseman casually catches the ball before the runner arrives, and pickoff plays are rare, so photographers tend to ignore most action at first. However, when the Bates batter fouled a ball toward first, I decided to train my camera on the Colby first baseman, in case he had the chance to make a play.  Luckily for me, the Bates batter hit a hard line drive on the very next pitch, and the Colby first baseman leaped high into the air to snag it for the out, although he couldn't land fast enough to beat the runner diving back to first to get a double play. But this catch stopped any Bates momentum, and Colby went on to win the game 12-4. The powerful photo was a good reminder that first base action can provide outstanding pictures, too.

3 Tips

1. First base plays are often routine and uninteresting, with the first baseman easily catching the ball as the runner approaches the bag, so photographers often don't shoot much first base action.

2. When a batter tends to hit the ball toward first base, focus your camera on the first baseman, since that's where the ball is likely to be hit next.

3. Spectacular fielding plays by the first baseman and pickoff plays will create terrific first base action photos, so photographers shouldn't ignore first base.

We Did It!!

After a big win, hockey players will often remove their gear, enabling you to photograph their exultant faces.

Yale's Courtney Pensavalle (19), Mallory Souliotis (14) and Kaitlin Gately (20) celebrate with teammate Eden Murray (8) after clinching playoff spot with 2-0 win over Quinnipiac.

 

The Photo

The Yale women’s ice hockey team needed to win its final game of the regular season at home vs. higher-ranked intrastate rival Quinnipiac, in order to make the ECAC playoffs.  Players were charged-up, fans were loudly enthusiastic, and the game was intensely played, with Yale clinging to a narrow 1-0 lead after a 2^nd period power play goal, and Quinnipiac almost typing the game several times.  With 1½ minutes remaining, Quinnipiac pulled their goaltender, and Yale scored an empty net goal to finally clinch the crucial victory.

 

After the big win, Yale players streamed onto the ice to celebrate, and I captured many photos of hugs and raised arms in a “v” for victory.  Unfortunately, as with many hockey photos, the winners’ joyous faces were hidden beneath the players’ helmets and face shields.  However, because this was the final home game, it was also Senior Day, when the school celebrated the graduating senior women’s hockey players on the ice after the game. So when the players remained on the ice, removing their helmets and face masks, and continuing the celebration, I was able to photograph several powerful close-ups of the happy players. 

 

3 Tips

1.     Look for opportunities to photograph hockey players’ reactions without face masks hiding their facial expressions.

2.     After an important victory, watch for players removing their helmets and face masks to celebrate.

3.     Use a long lens to photograph their happy reactions and expressions up close.

Cheering section!!

Volleyball bench players often stand, cheer, and encourage their teammates throughout the entire game, making for terrific emotion and reaction photos.

Colby College volleyball players on the bench cheer their on-court teammates during a match vs. interstate rival University of New England.

The Photo

It seems most college volleyball teams have bench players standing throughout the entire match, supporting their teammates who are out on the court playing. The bench is constantly active, loud, enthusiastic, and emotional, with many of these players rotating frequently on and off the court, almost never taking a break to sit down.

 

Volleyball players are already very expressive and emotional, as the ones on the court cheer, high-five, and congratulate one another after nearly every point, providing great photo opportunities of game action, happy reactions, and ongoing celebrations. However, the bench players react intently too, frequently in unison with intense expressions and body language to motivate their teammates to victory. Sometimes, the bench will demonstrate the wave, execute a sequence of gestures, coordinate cheers, or react randomly to the play, nearly always with passionate facial expressions.

 

In this match, Colby College fought fiercely throughout against Maine intrastate rival University of New England (UNE), winning the first game, with the Colby bench loud and animated throughout.  I shot many photos of the bench players, but this picture conveyed their intensity and enthusiasm, along with a little humor.  Unfortunately for Colby, UNE rallied to win the three successive games and the match 3-1.  

 

3 Tips

1.     Volleyball players may be the most emotional athletes of any sport, with terrific facial expressions as they cheer, celebrate, and react to practically every moment during the competition.

2.     Volleyball bench players often stand and cheer for their teammates throughout the entire match, with their own unique reactions and expressions, often very different from players on the court.

3.     By monitoring and photographing the bench players, you can capture group shots of facial expressions and body language, to supplement the action and reactions of on-court teammates.

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.

Our Hero!!

Fan reactions and interactions often create extremely powerful sports photos.

Enthusiastic fans hug Colby College football player Asher Inman (center) after a 23-20 win over interstate rival Bates College.

The Photo

When a school’s football team plays one of its biggest rivals, fans are eagerly ready to celebrate every positive moment throughout the contest. And if the team defeats this big rival in a close, exciting match, after an afternoon of high emotion, player and fan reactions will be especially intense after the win, making for many photo opportunities of emotional reactions.

Naturally, you’ll first want to capture images of exuberant players, either throughout the game, as the clock counts down to zero, or just after the game ends. However, don’t put your camera away too quickly because the fans are often just as happy and emotional as the victorious players, and they frequently want to join the player celebrations on the field, especially in university, college, and high school games.

During this Colby College football win over Maine state rival Bates College, Colby took the lead early, but Bates gradually chipped away at the Colby lead, until they were within 3 points and progressing toward the Colby end zone with just minutes remaining.  However, the defense held firm at the end and Colby won its first game of the season 23-20.  Not only did the players celebrate jubilantly, alumni, parents, and students also poured from the stands onto the field to join in. When triumphant Colby defensive back Asher Inman was swarmed by happy fans, mostly female, their combined joyous expressions made a great photo.

3 Tips

1.     Fans and players often react emotionally to close or exciting wins over rivals.

2.     As the game ends, and for a while after it’s over, watch for photos of strong emotional expressions.

3.     Fan interactions with players or reactions to the victory will often make the most compelling photos.