Dripping Sweat

"Langston Galloway #2 of the New York Knicks has sweat drip from his eye as he sits on the bench during a timeout against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Verizon Center on October 9, 2015 in Washington, DC."

When shooting a sporting event - in the most basic sense - it comes down to the fundamentals of visual storytelling.

At its core, photographers are there for a historical purpose. To document the sporting event so that there is a visual record of what occurred. Those images need to tell the story - who won, who lost - and help those after us remember what players took to the field.

The images that are often remembered are the compelling emotional images - the game-winning or game-losing moment. Yet any sort of emotion draws viewers into the picture and helps them relive the play, make a connection from their own life or ask questions.

Other times it's another type of picture that helps a clients needs. Whether that's a stock picture of a single player or a wide scene setting picture to give a sense of place.

In other words, no single picture can meet the needs of every client. So I always try and stick to thinking about the fundamentals of photojournalism.

I want to shoot: a wide shot, a medium shot, a tight shot, a scene-setter, and even a detail rectangle in my take - all within the big action, emotional moments and stock pictures.

The other night, as the New York Knicks played the Washington Wizards during a preseason hoops game, I noticed the detail of sweat dripping from Langston Galloway of the Knicks - a quiet moment showing that he has been giving it all on the court.

I love these types of moments in sports. Anyone can relate. But without knowing to look for in terms of basics of photography, it can be overlooked by many shooters.