Sports Neil Leifer\'s Photograph Makes

Sports

Neil Leifer's photograph makes basketball superstar Michael Jordan looks larger than life, capturing the moment the player soars through the air to earn his nickname Air Jordon. The other players on the court literally and figuratively look up at him, as Jordan seems to defy gravity. Jordan actually is flying through the air, as the distance between his knees and the ground seems impossible. Yet the image does not present Jordan as a magician but as a true athlete: someone who has reached the pinnacle of his career because he works hard. The other players seem diminutive next to Jordan and they also respect him even though they are his opponents. The composition of the photo facilitates the point-of-view that Jordan is in the foreground, large, looming, and dominant in the game.

David Black's photo relies both on composition and on shadow to convey the tense moment of the hockey face-off. The shadows are ominous, and one section of a shadow looks like it will eat the other. Clearly they are the shadows of two opponents. Their shadows are in fact larger than the players themselves. This evokes the dark side; the shadow-self of players who will do everything possible to win including fight their opponents on the ice. The face-off circle looks like a drop of blood, which signals the intensity of the game and a possible brawl. The referee is noticeably garbed in neutral black and white, in contrast to the red of the face-off circle.

2. An opportunity to shoot college football in mixed weather is actually a mixed blessing. On the one hand, I must be prepared for any number of lighting conditions, including irregular light and natural shadows as well as wet weather. This demands flexibility with regards to f-stop settings. The light will change, possibly from one moment to the next.

On the other hand, the stark contrasts that stormy weather brings to a shot can add highlights that could never be achieved using digital manipulation. Therefore, I seize the opportunity to take some key shots in the rain, even while the players are drenched. By focusing a shot on glistening raindrops, I can capture the intensity of the game as the droplets mirror the sweat from the players' bodies. I would need a telephoto lens to capture the droplets while also including some key portions of players' faces or bodies in the depth of field. I might even consider swapping lenses for a wide-angle, in order to capture the entire gridiron as sheets of rain fall on the field.

3. In Brandi Chastain's photo, the feeling of victory is palpable. There is absolutely no question that she has just won a major sporting event. The aesthetic impression is one of simultaneous relief and triumph. She has slid onto the field, on her knees and is clenching her fists in glory. Having taken her jersey off, Chastain is saying, "It's over. We won!" Her body language suggests confidence and personal pride. Chastain looks pumped, more than she appears exhausted by the exertion of her sport. By capturing Chastain's face in a huge smile, the photographer is conveying the end result of Chastain's hard work on the field. Interestingly, focusing on Chastain offers an aesthetic appreciation of her role in the game, as she plays a team sport.