Hang On

"Defensive end Sam Hubbard #94 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackles quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland."

After much thought, I've come to realize that this blog is a very much a one way street and will end my posting here. With now so many easy ways to share content online with others, I'll focus more on those starting in 2022. I hope you'll continue to follow my journey.

I can be found on all the trending web-based communities and look forward to accepting your request so that we can build a digital relationship before and/or after working together in person. 

Interact, create and share on the various different platforms with me. I can be found by following this link: Patrick Smith Social Media Links

I appreciate all of your support on this blog over the years!

Up and Over

"Jorge Urena of Team Spain competes in the Men's Decathlon High Jump on day twelve of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 04, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan."

Whether it's the biggest name, a rookie, it doesn't matter who they are when they bring beauty into sport. 

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Jorge Urena of Team Spain did just that as he competed in the men's decathlon high jump on day twelve during the athletics. I had photographed a similar image of a different athlete with such grace at the Pan American Games in Lima in 2019.

She and Urena both excelled at the high jump with a picture perfect form. It's something that should be text book when teaching the art of high jump.

After Urena's first jump, I prioritized his next few in an effort to make this image and it worked. It was a bit of deja vu, but a welcomed version.

Allez

"Luigi Samele of Team Italy and Aron Szilagyi of Team Hungary compete in the match in Men's Sabre Team Semi-final on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Makuhari Messe Hall on July 28, 2021 in Chiba, Japan."

Having the opportunity to document the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was memorable.

Because of the global Covid-19 health pandemic, the games were held an entire year later. There were a lot of unknowns going into the games, but looking back, were fulfilling.

Having the opportunity to photograph a wide array of sports before shooting mainly athletics, or track and field, was also a lot of fun.

You can read about my experience here: How a Getty Images sports photographer captured some of the most stunning images from the Tokyo Olympics

More to come!

Swoosh

"Cory McGee prepares to compete in the first round of the Women's 1500 Meter during day one of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 18, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon."

Sports photography is a lot about predicting what will happen or being in a place where things will happen.

Much like in track and field, the finish line is a popular spot for photographers because everyone knows the race will end there. But it also takes away from looking for something different.

Finding this picture and lining it up in a split second was one of my favorites from the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field.

It took the perfect place and time for this to line up and I know no one else shot a similar image.

So here is to starting line pictures over finish line pictures - sometimes!

Bling

"Cristian Pache #25 of the Atlanta Braves runs off of the field after the first inning against the Washington Nationals in game two of a doubleheader at Nationals Park on April 7, 2021 in Washington, DC."

One of the biggest misconceptions of sports photography is that a great picture is only action. And that cannot be further from the truth.

It doesn't take much for a little bit of seeking around to find a nice picture. Sometimes it's like a little luck, sometimes is wondering around and other times it's staying focused in-between the action.

I loved this simple, clean image of Cristian Pache of the Atlanta Braves running to the dugout after the inning. The sun catching his sunglasses made from a welcoming picture.

Wanamaker

"As the sunsets, Phil Mickelson of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy on a sand dune after winning during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina."

When athletes are young, they're rarely legends. It takes time for them to build a following after winning historic championships.

Back in May, Phil Mickelson became the oldest major champion in history after winning the 2021 PGA Championship at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

It's always exciting to see history be made with a big name - and sometimes when they're legendary - all you need is a silhouette of them and the trophy to know exactly who it is and what they won.  

Double Jockey

"Jockey Julian Pimentel walks to the jockey's room after riding Torch of Truth in the 7th race prior to the 146th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 15, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland."

Documenting the same events can be visually challenging. But there is a saying that if you don't look at what you did before, you'll do it all over again.

I try to remember that as I always want to bring a fresh perspective to the events I am documenting. Sometimes that's much more of a challenge than others.

Yet all it takes is a new signage board like above that catches your eye when it makes a reflection.

Having covered the Preakness Stakes more than I care to remember, it was a reminder that every year to be different and have a positive attitude going into it.

Paddle Rock

"A surfer waits to catch a wave as they paddle by a jetty at the Ocean City inlet on March 12, 2021 in Ocean City, Maryland."

Last year during the pandemic, I picked up an Aquatech housing and got into shooting images in the ocean. Be it summer or the dead of winter, I found a new passion and love for photography while neck deep in the ocean with a camera.

However, with many different tools at my disposal, it's always a gamble trying to decide whether to get into the water or photograph a scene from the beach.

Back in March, the waves were great, but I had been in earlier in the day and wanted to shoot some surfers with my drone. One of the spots I thought would be interesting was the inlet in Ocean City.

Thankfully, there were a handful of surfers, and as per usual, the drone opened up a new vantage point.

Whether I am in the water, or simply near the sea, there is an itch that needs to be scratched and find myself searching for every availability to get back to the shore.

Legendary

"Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida."

Every game has its challenges. Be it preseason, regular season or the Super Bowl.

In the age of Covid-19 restrictions, shooting the biggest game in North America, or the globe considered by some, it was our biggest hurdle yet.

A game we at Getty Images usually cover with a massive team had to be done with only three photographers a couple of technical and editorial support on scene.

Not only was that a new way of approaching such a historic match - we also didn't have field access. Strategy in our movements became much more of a thought process and deliberate.

At the end of the day, it was a huge success for our team. From the coaching to the players, it felt good.

As for myself, the best way to describe the image above is from a recent Twitter post by professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood below. It totally describes photography perfectly:

"Ever have one of those rounds of golf when you’re so frustrated at this stupid game for not giving you what you deserve? Then, just when you're about to lose it, you hit the shot that makes you realize why you're so hopelessly in love with it."

In the Bubble

"Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals warms up before playing against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on February 1, 2021 in Washington, DC."

With sports pretty much fully returned since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, not all is how it used to be.

For most professional and college sports, photographers are out into different tiers away from the field of play. This mostly means, the snappers are put into spectator seating far from the atheltes. 

However, some sports there has been no change. One of them is the hockey. While modified in that not all of the ice level cut out holes are available, photographers are close.

We've taken advantage of this and I've even pulled out the circular fisheye lens to try something different. A bubble view of the game if you will.