54 spoRts photogRaphy: FRom snapshots to gReat shots
poRing oveR the pictURe
At the Australian Open, I decided to climb to the roof to shoot
Venus Williams from an elevated position to capture a different
kind of image. The angle combined with the strong directional
light allowed me to make a very graphic action photograph that
was powerful, yet simple. From the ground, the light would be
entirely different, cutting her body in half, and the shadow would
be barely visible.The shadow is a key element in the composition, suggesting
motion and depth. She is running out of the dark into the light
with the light coming from above and behind her. I exposed for
her and let everything else fall into place.Incorporating Venus’s shadow
into the image gives the
picture another element and
helps balance the light and
dark spots of the background.