I remember the first time I tried to capture basketball photography professionally—I was so focused on getting the perfect dunk shot that I completely missed the emotional storytelling happening on the sidelines. That experience taught me that great basketball photography isn't just about action; it's about narrative. When I learned about Chris Gavina's penalty being appealed, it struck me how much untold stories exist in basketball—moments that deserve to be captured beyond the standard game shots. Over my 12 years shooting for college athletics and professional teams, I've discovered that the most compelling images often come from unexpected angles and perspectives.
Let me share with you 15 creative approaches that have transformed how I document this beautiful game. Starting with what I call "the glass floor perspective"—positioning your camera directly beneath a glass basketball court. I shot this once during a University of Kentucky practice session, and the results were mind-blowing. The distortion through the glass created this surreal effect where players appeared to be floating above the lens. You'll need a wide-angle lens, preferably 16-35mm, and permission to access the under-court area, but trust me, it's worth the effort. My second favorite technique involves capturing the "sweat spray" at peak action. Set your shutter speed to at least 1/2000th of a second and focus on players' faces during intense defensive stands. The droplets catching the arena lights tell a story of effort that standard action shots often miss.
What most photographers overlook are the moments immediately after the whistle blows. When I heard about Chris Gavina's appealed penalty, I realized how much drama exists in these transitional moments. The third technique on my list is "the coach's notebook"—getting close enough to capture the scribbles and diagrams drawn during timeouts. I've found that a 85mm prime lens works perfectly for this, allowing you to stay at a respectful distance while still capturing intimate details. Another powerful approach is what I call "crowd reflection shots." Position yourself so you can capture the action reflected in the polished court surface during night games. The distorted reflections create this beautiful, almost painterly effect that standard photography rarely achieves.
My personal favorite—number seven on my list—involves using arena lighting creatively. During a recent G-League game, I experimented with silhouetting players against the giant LED screens behind the baskets. The key is to underexpose by about two stops and use spot metering on the brightest part of the screen. The results were these dramatic, shadowy figures that conveyed the athleticism without showing facial expressions. It reminded me that sometimes what you don't see is as powerful as what you do see. Similarly, capturing the "infrastructure" of basketball—the net moments after a swish, the backboard vibrating from a powerful block, or even the water droplets left on the court during timeouts—can create powerful visual metaphors for the game's unseen forces.
I've developed what I call "the three-quarter time-lapse"—setting up a camera to capture the entire game from one position, then speeding it up to show the flow and patterns. It's fascinating how this reveals the game's geometry in ways the naked eye misses. For technical specs, I typically shoot at 2-second intervals with an aperture of f/8 to maintain depth of field throughout. The data shows that teams average about 98.6 possessions per game, and this technique visualizes that rhythm beautifully. Another technique I swear by is "the free throw ritual"—focusing exclusively on players' pre-shot routines. The way each athlete has their unique mannerisms—some dribble three times, others take a deep breath, some glance at specific spots in the arena—these micro-moments reveal incredible psychological depth.
Let's talk about equipment choices because I've made every mistake in the book. Early in my career, I thought I needed the most expensive gear, but I've captured some of my favorite images with relatively modest equipment. For indoor basketball photography, I recommend cameras that perform well at high ISO settings—the Sony A7III has been my workhorse for three seasons now. Pair it with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for versatility, but don't overlook the creative potential of prime lenses. The 35mm f/1.4 has given me some stunning environmental portraits in locker rooms and tunnels. The key is knowing when to break the "rules"—sometimes shooting at slower shutter speeds like 1/125th can create beautiful motion blur that conveys speed and energy better than frozen action.
The final techniques on my list involve post-processing creativity, because let's be honest, the work doesn't end when you press the shutter. I've developed a custom Lightroom preset that enhances the specific color palette of basketball—the orange of the ball against the wooden court, the contrast between jerseys and skin tones. It's based on boosting warm tones while cooling down the shadows slightly. My most shared image last year was a double-exposure combining a player's portrait with the texture of the net—something I created completely in post-production. The reaction taught me that audiences crave creative interpretations as much as documentary accuracy.
What ties all these techniques together is the understanding that basketball photography, much like the game itself, balances structure with creativity. The appeal process surrounding Chris Gavina's situation reminds us that there are always multiple perspectives to any basketball story. Whether you're shooting for professional publications or building your portfolio, these 15 approaches have consistently helped me capture images that stand out. The next time you're at a game, challenge yourself to look beyond the obvious shots—the real magic often happens in the spaces between the action. After all these years, I still get chills when I review a photoshoot and discover that one image that perfectly captures the emotion and athleticism of this incredible sport.
