Create Your Own Luck

To properly cover a sporting event, you need to do more than just point-and-click. The key is to anticipate what’s going to happen so you can put yourself in a position to make the photo.

I covered the New England Patriots playoff games this month on assignment for Sports Illustrated magazine.

Coming into the game two weeks ago, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow was the big story. But the New England Patriots were up 35-7 at halftime, essentially ending Tebow’s miracle season.

I decided to spend some time shooting behind the line of scrimmage when the Broncos had the ball. It was a risk, because if Tebow threw a bomb down the field for a touchdown, I would have been out of luck.

But since the Patriots defense was all over him, I took my chances and came up with a nice sack photo.

(Nikon D3, 200-400 at 280mm, ISO 4000, 1/800, f/4)

The next week, I covered the Patriots in Foxboro again. This time it was the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.

It was still a close game in the fourth quarter when the Patriots brought the ball to the Ravens one-yard-line.

Quarterback Tom Brady tried a QB sneak, but he was ruled down before the ball crossed the goal line. I thought he might try to score it himself again on fourth down, so I focused on him and zoomed in pretty tight.

He jumped over the top of the defense and reached out just enough to get the ball across the goal line and score the game winning touchdown.

(Nikon D3, 200-400 at 400mm, ISO 4000, 1/800, f/4)

You never know what’s going to happen when covering sports, but with preparation and the right opportunity, you can create some of your own luck.

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