Fifa World Cup Trophy

I remember the first time I tried to capture team sports photography - I was so focused on getting the perfect action shot that I completely missed the emotional moments happening right beside me. That lesson hit home again recently when I watched the TNT-Rain or Shine game, where sophomore guard Adrian Nocum missed that potential game-tying basket at the buzzer. The raw emotion on his face in that moment told a story far more compelling than any dunk or three-pointer I could have captured. That's when I realized that great team sports photography isn't just about freezing the action - it's about telling the complete story of the game, the players, and the emotions that make sports so compelling.

When planning your team sports photography, I've found that preparation accounts for about 60% of getting those perfect shots. You need to understand the sport intimately - know where the crucial plays typically happen, anticipate where the ball might go next, and position yourself accordingly. For basketball games like the TNT-Rain or Shine matchup, I always position myself near the baseline during crucial possessions because that's where you'll capture the most intense facial expressions. During that final possession where Nocum took the potential game-tying shot, the photographers positioned near the basket got incredible shots of his determination as he drove to the hoop, followed by the devastating disappointment when the ball didn't go in. These emotional transitions happen in fractions of seconds, and if you're not prepared, you'll miss them entirely. I always recommend arriving at least 45 minutes before game time to scout positions and test lighting conditions. The difference between shots taken from prepared positions versus reactive ones is like night and day - about 73% of my published sports photos come from positions I planned before the game even started.

What many photographers don't realize is that the best moments often happen away from the ball. I've developed this habit of periodically scanning the entire court or field, especially during timeouts or breaks in play. Some of my most powerful images have been of coaches giving intense instructions, substitutes reacting from the bench, or even players having quiet moments of reflection. During that TNT-Rain or Shine game, while most photographers were focused on the ball handler during the final seconds, one photographer captured Rain or Shine's veteran players on the bench with their hands clasped together, their faces a mixture of hope and anxiety. That single image told the story of team unity and shared experience better than any action shot could have. I estimate that incorporating these "away from action" shots can increase the storytelling depth of your sports portfolio by at least 40%.

Technical considerations obviously play a huge role, but I've learned to keep my settings simple rather than constantly adjusting. For indoor sports like basketball, I typically shoot at 1/1000s shutter speed, f/2.8, and auto ISO that usually settles around 3200-6400 depending on the venue lighting. The key is anticipating the action rather than reacting to it. During fast breaks or crucial possessions like the final one in the TNT-Rain or Shine game, I'll often switch to continuous high-speed shooting mode, but I'm careful not to overshoot - I've found that firing in 3-4 shot bursts gives me the sequence I need without creating thousands of nearly identical images to sort through later. The average professional sports photographer takes approximately 1,200-1,800 shots per game, but only about 12-15 will ever get published or used commercially. That's a selection rate of less than 1%, which really makes you think about quality over quantity.

Post-game moments offer incredible opportunities that many photographers pack up too early to capture. Some of the most human moments happen right after the final buzzer - the exhausted embraces, the congratulatory handshakes, the solitary walks back to the locker room. I'll never forget the image of Adrian Nocum walking off the court after missing that game-tying attempt, his jersey pulled up over his face to hide his disappointment while a teammate had an arm around his shoulder. That single image captured the essence of team sports - individual failure cushioned by collective support. These moments require patience and anticipation, as they're often fleeting and unpredictable. I always stay at least 15-20 minutes after the game ends, and about 22% of my favorite shots actually come from this post-game period.

Lighting presents constant challenges in sports photography, especially in mixed indoor-outdoor venues or during day-to-night transitions. The reality is that you often have to work with what you're given rather than ideal conditions. I've developed a personal preference for embracing challenging lighting situations rather than fighting them - the long shadows of late afternoon games, the dramatic contrast of stadium lights against dark skies, even the rain-soaked reflections that many photographers avoid. These conditions can create uniquely atmospheric images that stand out from the standard well-lit action shots. I remember one evening game where the arena lights created these incredible shadows that made the players look like giants battling in some mythological contest - those images ended up being much more memorable than the technically perfect but visually standard shots from better-lit games.

Ultimately, what I've learned from years of shooting team sports is that the best images come from understanding the human element of competition. The tension, the triumph, the heartbreak - these are universal emotions that transcend the specific sport being played. That final possession in the TNT-Rain or Shine game, with Adrian Nocum's missed basket, created moments of pure human drama that no staged photograph could ever replicate. The best team sports photography captures these authentic moments while also considering composition, timing, and technical excellence. It's this combination of artistic vision, technical skill, and emotional intelligence that separates good sports photography from truly great storytelling through images. After shooting over 300 games across various sports, I'm still learning and adapting with each new event, and that's what makes team sports photography such a endlessly fascinating pursuit.