It wasn’t the first time I was stranded on an airplane during a Super Bowl or World Series game because of a snowstorm. Air travel in late fall or winter is always uncertain, which can be frustrating for a sports fan. In years past, the pilot or a flight attendant would sometimes announce the score of a big game. But with today’s smartphone technology, hardcore fans don’t have to miss important game moments.
A few rows ahead of me, football fans leaned into the aisle to watch the closing minutes between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots during the 2019 Super Bowl.
Most of us will never photograph a Super Bowl or World Series game, but that should not keep us from looking for pictures that reveal the excitement of the event. Stay focused on the fans during big plays, especially early or late if the game is close.
If a television screen is in your picture, use a slow shutter speed, 1/30th of a second or less. You can then bounce flash off a white card or low ceiling to properly expose those reacting to what is happening on the screen. If the screen isn’t in the picture, and there is enough light to see faces, consider using a higher ISO, 1600 or higher, and a wide aperture, 2.8 or however wide open your lens will open, and turn off the flash.
Reader Challenge: Photograph the Big Game, But Without a Ticket
People gather for parties, buy truckloads of snacks and beverages, and congregate in groups anywhere a big screen television shows the Super Bowl. Storytelling pictures are everywhere. See if you can capture the mood and emotions—the joy, despair and anxiety—surrounding the “Big Game.”
To respond to this challenge, and share your work, email your best image to social@pur.coop with a caption and photo credit. We will share the best submissions on our website or social media channels.