My Sports Photography Inspiration

Photo Credit - Winslow Townson

As you all know, I have been a sports photographer for about a year and a half now. However, I have been a Red Sox fan my whole life. Call it a coincidence or not, but Red Sox Team Photographer, Billie Weiss, is my sports photography hero. I have been following him and his work for a really long time now, and all I have to say is wow! Everything about his work is incredible. From framing to exposure to action to emotion, he really knows how to capture the perfect sports shot. He is also extremely humble and wants to help beginner sports photographers learn the ins-and-outs via is brand new YouTube channel. I have learned a lot from these videos as he puts out Photoshop tutorials and important tips sports photographers should know.

What is so special about his work is the emotion you can feel from just looking at one of his images. For example, take the picture below of David Ortiz's last game at Fenway. You can feel that sadness because of the emotion of Ortiz's face, the tip of the cap, and Fenway Park in the background. This image was captured at the perfect moment to give the viewer the true feeling a baseball legend leaving the game. Let's now take the two images from the 2018 World Series. You can feel the thrill and excitement of victory. You can see and feel the emotion of baseball. The way he captures images transposes the emotions of the athletes directly on to the viewer in such a powerful way. You feel with players whether it's pain or victory. That is what makes his work so special - capturing the perfect emotion at the perfect time.

Photo Credit - Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox

Whenever someone asks me who my favorite photographer is, the answer is always Billie Weiss. Whenever I see an incredible photo on the Red Sox social media channels, my reaction is always "ugh! Billie Weiss is so talented!". I look at his work for inspiration. He shows me that playing with light, angles, and objects can create an impactful image. I try to apply that knowledge whenever I am photographing a basketball game. It would be a dream to work alongside him one day or even be able to shadow him for one game just to learn his process.

Check out this incredible TEDx Talk he did in 2018.

Well, why am I telling you this? I think it is important to have someone to look up to. They are proof that dreams can happen if you believe in yourself, put in the work, and take any and every opportunity that comes your way. They are proof that anything is possible if you're motivated and hungry.

Who inspires you?