I remember the first time I tried to capture basketball action professionally - it was during a local championship game where the energy was absolutely electric, but my photos turned out disappointingly blurry and poorly composed. That experience taught me that basketball photography requires far more than just pointing a camera at the court. The recent Leo Awards ceremony at Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City, where Fajardo received his award, reminded me how crucial it is to master both the technical and artistic aspects of sports photography. Having shot over 200 basketball games across various levels, I've developed a system that consistently delivers professional results, and I'm excited to share these insights with you.
Getting your camera settings right is the foundation of great basketball photography. I always shoot in manual mode because it gives me complete control, which auto mode simply can't match in fast-paced environments. For indoor courts, which typically have terrible lighting ranging from 800 to 1600 lux, I set my ISO between 1600 and 3200 to compensate for the low light while keeping noise manageable. My aperture stays wide open at f/2.8 or f/4 to let in maximum light, and I maintain a shutter speed of at least 1/1000th of a second to freeze the action. Some photographers swear by shutter priority mode, but I find it often sacrifices image quality by pushing ISO too high. The recent golden season celebration at Novotel actually had surprisingly good lighting at around 1200 lux, which made shooting much easier than typical gym conditions.
Positioning yourself correctly can make or break your basketball photos. I always arrive at least 45 minutes before the game to scout locations and test my settings under the actual court lighting. My favorite spots are along the baseline about 10-15 feet from the basket, slightly angled toward the court rather than straight on. This perspective gives you incredible shots of drives to the basket, rebounds, and defensive plays with much more depth and drama than sideline shots. During timeouts, I'll quickly move to different positions to vary my angles throughout the game. At professional events like the Leo Awards ceremony, photographers typically have designated areas, but for regular games, you need to be strategic about where you plant yourself.
Anticipating the action separates amateur snapshots from professional basketball photography. After shooting countless games, I've learned to read players' body language and recognize offensive sets before they develop. When a point guard brings the ball up and signals a play, I'm already focusing on the likely scoring options. Defense is actually my favorite to photograph because those moments of intense concentration and sudden reactions create the most powerful images. I captured one of my favorite photos ever when a player made an incredible block - the expression of determination on his face and the shooter's surprise told a complete story in a single frame. These are the moments that make basketball photography so rewarding.
Equipment matters more in basketball photography than many beginners realize. While you can start with a basic DSLR and kit lens, upgrading to a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens was the single biggest improvement to my basketball photos. The constant aperture and sharp optics make a noticeable difference in image quality. I typically bring two camera bodies to games - one with a 24-70mm for wider shots and celebrations, and another with the 70-200mm for the action. The investment in proper equipment has paid off tremendously, especially when covering important events where you can't afford to miss crucial moments.
Post-processing is where good photos become great ones. I spend about 2-3 hours editing photos from a single game, which might seem excessive but makes all the difference. My workflow starts in Lightroom with basic adjustments to exposure, contrast, and white balance - gym lighting often creates weird color casts that need correction. Then I move to Photoshop for more detailed work like removing distracting elements in the background or enhancing facial expressions. The key is subtlety - over-edited photos look artificial and lose the authenticity of the moment. I've seen photographers ruin perfectly good shots with excessive filters and effects.
What I love most about basketball photography is its ability to tell stories through single moments - the exhaustion after a tough play, the joy of a game-winning shot, or the intensity of a defensive stance. These images become historical documents of athletes' careers and team legacies. The recent Leo Awards at Novotel celebrated exactly these kinds of moments from the league's golden season, recognizing outstanding performances that photographers had the privilege of capturing. After years in this field, I still get excited before every game, knowing I might capture something special that will be remembered for years to come. The combination of technical skill, artistic vision, and split-second timing makes basketball photography challenging but incredibly rewarding when everything comes together perfectly in that one shot that truly captures the spirit of the game.