After months of being outside breathing petrol fumes, listening to the sweet sounds of engines roaring, and walking many miles around racetracks, my winter season opened the gymnasium doors with men's basketball.
It's my favorite game to photograph that uses a ball for three reasons:
1.) Emotion
It gushes out of every athlete's face. Sweat, pain, surprise, joy, fear, and anger all leave their mark on the countenance of every player. And in basketball, there's no pesky helmet to get in the way. It's on display, raw, and visceral for everyone to see.
2.) Action
Close contact, reaches, grabs, fast feet, flying through the air, grace, and power all battle for attention while the clock ticks off fleeting seconds.
3.) Both a team and individual sport
Every team's plans and strategies hinge on each player's talent and skills.
One masterful person rarely makes their team victorious, but it's equally as hard for a well-practiced team to rise above mediocrity.
So enjoy some of my favorite shots from the Saint Joseph's University Men's Basketball game last night against the University of Albany played at the Hagan Arena.
