Doug, you're really reminding us of the value of sport.
Photography, by its nature, freezes a moment in time without explanation of what happened before or after. Sure, our minds can fill it in, but that non-contextual record allows us to study a moment that would otherwise go by too fast to consider.
These images show us the effort that the athlete is expending through their body. The explosion of the jump, the violence of the pitch, the impact of the tackle. More than that, we can see the anticipation as a pass arrives or a rebound is attempted. These are still human beings. Seeing the intensity on their face, realizing their mastery over uncertainty through concentration, make the sport relatable to those of us who could never have the ability to compete.
Finally, we see the result of competition - the joy of success, and sometimes the disappointment when success did not arrive. These kids, still responsible for their classroom studies, flood our emotions vicariously!
Keep posting the pix (I like the older ones best as a "remember when" bit, but they're all fascinating in their own way). We're all enjoying your talent!
Photography, by its nature, freezes a moment in time without explanation of what happened before or after. Sure, our minds can fill it in, but that non-contextual record allows us to study a moment that would otherwise go by too fast to consider.
These images show us the effort that the athlete is expending through their body. The explosion of the jump, the violence of the pitch, the impact of the tackle. More than that, we can see the anticipation as a pass arrives or a rebound is attempted. These are still human beings. Seeing the intensity on their face, realizing their mastery over uncertainty through concentration, make the sport relatable to those of us who could never have the ability to compete.
Finally, we see the result of competition - the joy of success, and sometimes the disappointment when success did not arrive. These kids, still responsible for their classroom studies, flood our emotions vicariously!
Keep posting the pix (I like the older ones best as a "remember when" bit, but they're all fascinating in their own way). We're all enjoying your talent!