PERFECT TIMING: MIND BLOWING IMAGE

Photographer Huang Chao

This picture blows my mind because although the picture is based on an ordinary high school football practice, the photographer, Huang Chao, was able to capture an incredible shot. I love how the football players serve as a border to the ball mid-air and in the middle of the whole picture. The picture seems to be taken during the afternoon where the sun is fully out and on top. The light illuminates the subject of the ball and football players that are behind. But I absolutely love how the light hits the football players from in front creating shadows on the football players and darkening the football players so our eye is immediately attracted to the football and players in the middle.

The timing of the photographer is perfect. He was able to capture the moment where the football was just thrown, mid in the air, and the football player who just kicked it in action. The photographer’s “decisive moment” highlights the football in the air while the football players surround it.

What makes this photo great is the subject, the timing, and how the elements in the picture highlight the subject. The photographer used a great angle getting close and personal to the football players in an angle that would create a frame for the subject behind. The timing is perfect and is a perfect shot that tells a great sports story.

I hope to get a photo like this as candid and perfect in timing. I can try to make a photo like this both in Las Cruces or El Paso, where there is a sports event. I’m sure that I can take a picture of something similar either a sports event or kids playing with a ball. If I don’t get an opportunity to go to a sports event anytime soon with COVID, I can try and get a picture similar in style. Inspired by this picture I can try to obtain the perfect “decisive moment” and the subject center focus and a frame surrounding it. This is a great example of using the different photography elements to focus on a subject with angles and timing. What inspires me from this picture is the photographer’s “decisive moment” and his ability to capture a moment in an ordinary high school practice and turn it into something extraordinary.