Tunisia World Cup
The moment I saw that photo of Fajardo receiving his award during the Leo Awards at Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City, something clicked in my mind about what makes basketball photography truly special. That image wasn't just another trophy ceremony shot - it captured the raw emotion of the golden season kickoff, the sweat still visible on his forehead, the genuine smile that reached his eyes. This is what separates professional basketball photography from simple snapshots. After fifteen years shooting courtside for various leagues, I've learned that capturing these fleeting moments requires both technical mastery and artistic intuition.
Let me share something most photography tutorials won't tell you - the best basketball shots often happen when you stop thinking about your camera settings and start feeling the game's rhythm. I remember shooting a championship game where I missed three potentially incredible shots because I was too busy adjusting my shutter speed. The fourth quarter came around, and I decided to trust my instincts instead. That's when I captured what became the sports section's front-page image - a player suspended in mid-air, ball extended toward the rim, with every muscle in his body defined against the stadium lights. The technical details? My shutter was at 1/2000s, aperture at f/2.8, ISO 3200. But the real magic happened because I anticipated the play rather than reacted to it.
Basketball moves at an incredible pace - players can reach speeds of 15 miles per hour during fast breaks, and vertical jumps often exceed 28 inches. To freeze this action, you need to understand your gear inside out. I typically shoot with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens because it gives me the versatility to capture both intimate player expressions and full-court action. The aperture stays wide open because I need every bit of light in those often poorly-lit stadiums while maintaining that beautiful background separation. Some photographers swear by prime lenses for sharper images, but I prefer the flexibility of zoom lenses during live games where repositioning isn't always possible.
What really makes dynamic basketball photography stand out is capturing the story beyond the scoreboard. Those Leo Awards photos of Fajardo weren't remarkable because of technical perfection - they mattered because they conveyed the significance of the moment. The golden season celebration, the anticipation in the air, the culmination of years of hard work - these emotional layers transform good photos into great ones. I make it a point to arrive at games early and stay late, capturing everything from players warming up to their exhausted but triumphant expressions afterward. The three-point shot might make the highlights reel, but the quiet moment between a coach and player during timeout often tells the more compelling story.
Lighting presents one of the biggest challenges in basketball photography. Stadium lighting can be inconsistent, creating weird color casts and harsh shadows. I've developed a custom white balance setting that I tweak depending on the venue - for most indoor courts, I start around 4500K and adjust from there. The Novotel venue where they held the Leo Awards actually has surprisingly good natural light during daytime events, which explains why those ceremony photos had such beautiful, soft quality to them. During evening games, I'm not afraid to push my ISO up to 6400 - a little noise is better than missing the shot entirely due to motion blur.
Timing is everything in this genre. The difference between an ordinary shot and an extraordinary one can be a fraction of a second. I've trained myself to watch players' eyes and body language rather than following the ball. When a player's eyes widen slightly before a dunk or their muscles tense before a defensive stance, that's your cue to start shooting. Continuous high-speed mode helps, but it's no substitute for genuine anticipation. I probably shoot about 800-1200 frames per game, but only keep around 50-70. The delete button is as important as the shutter button in basketball photography.
Post-processing plays a crucial role in bringing out the dynamism in sports photos. I spend about two minutes per image on average - enough to enhance what's already there without creating something artificial. My typical workflow involves adjusting exposure, boosting contrast slightly, and carefully sharpening only the key areas like players' faces and the basketball. I avoid heavy filters or dramatic presets - basketball photography should feel authentic to the moment. The vibrant colors of jerseys and court markings usually provide enough visual interest without needing extra saturation.
The business side of sports photography has changed dramatically over the years. When I started, you'd mainly sell to newspapers and magazines. Today, social media demands constant content - teams want behind-the-scenes footage, players need personal brand images, and fans crave instant replays from unique angles. I've adapted by always carrying a second camera body with a wider lens to capture these supplementary shots. The commercial value of a great basketball photo can range from $200 for stock usage to over $2000 for exclusive licensing, though I've never sold anything quite at that premium level myself.
Looking at that Fajardo award photo again, I'm reminded why I fell in love with basketball photography. It's not about perfectly composed images or technical excellence alone - it's about preserving the human stories that unfold on the court. The exhaustion, the triumph, the disappointment, the camaraderie - these are the moments that deserve to be remembered. Next time you're shooting a game, try looking beyond the obvious shots. Watch for the subtle interactions, the unguarded expressions, the quiet moments between the explosive plays. That's where you'll find the images that truly resonate, long after the final buzzer sounds.
