This article will be a little different from many of the ones I like to read about sports photography. Most provide helpful advice on which camera settings work best for different types of shots. I’ve read others that provide great insight on how to take better sports action photos. All of these are very informative. But how do you know if you have a great action shot? I think it would be very interesting to find out what different photographers are looking for in a great sports action photo. So that’s what this article will address. What’s the difference between a good action shot and a great one? Here are three things I look for when making that distinction. If you capture any of these three elements, you have the makings for an incredible shot. Get two of the three, and there’s a great chance you’ve taken a photo that will always be remembered.

Element # 1: Intense Focus and Concentration. Being able to capture the expression on the athletes’ faces when they are fully in the zone can really make a difference in a photograph. It’s one of those qualities in a shot that you can’t necessarily plan, but you know when you watch it. This is what I mean. One tennis player that I really enjoy watching is Roger Federer. If you ever want to see what full concentration looks like when a tennis player at the top of his game is hitting his deadliest shot, just Google “Roger Federer Backhand.” His eyes are focused on the ball like a pair of lasers as he prepares to hit the ball. I’m convinced that if someone blew an air horn right next to Federer’s ear, they wouldn’t even hear him as he nailed another winning backhand. There are also many examples in other sports. So without question, if an athlete’s focus and concentration can be captured in a photo, it can be a very special shot.

Element # 2: Raw Emotion. If focus and concentration can give a photograph a certain edge, sheer emotion brings it to life. I have seen many iconic sports moments on television. And years, even decades later, nothing can bring me back to that moment better than a photo that has captured the emotion in that instant. One of the best examples I can think of is Brandi Chastain’s shot after she scored the winning penalty to beat China in the 1999 Soccer Women’s World Cup. Again, you can google it to see what I mean. . Caught in the moment, Chastain pulled off her shirt to reveal her sports bra and knelt down to celebrate. The expression on his face says it all, but that’s only half the story. One of the larger shots shows her teammates running across the field to join her in that celebration. That was pure, unadulterated joy, and I can’t imagine there’s anything that gives a sports photographer more satisfaction than capturing that for eternity.

Element # 3: The human body operating at its peak. Let’s face it, the human body is an incredible machine. And when you can capture it in a photo working at peak performance, it is truly amazing. It doesn’t really matter what sport the athlete plays, but my favorites to watch in this arena are individual Olympic sports. One athlete that I really enjoyed watching at the Rio Olympics was Simone Biles. She dominated the competition on her way to winning the gold medal in all respects. There were times when I thought I was going to jump out of the gym. There are dozens of standout photos (yes, that’s right. Google “Simone Biles”) that show her twisting and turning in a way the human body wasn’t meant to do. And the ease with which Biles seems to do it is equally impressive.

So those are three elements that I think are key to a great sports action photo: intense concentration, raw emotion, and the human body functioning at its peak. Capturing one of those elements will separate your shot from the pack. Nailing two of them would be a clear game changer. What are some of your favorite sports action photos? I would love to hear from you and your perspective. In the meantime, good luck in your endeavors.