- Travel
The city of New York offers plenty of opportunities for capturing high-energy scenes, and professional photographer Matt Dutile has some tips on how to do just that. His stunning image of a basketball competition in the Big Apple made it to the cover story of National Geographic Traveller (UK) in November 2023, and he’s here to share the story behind it.
Published December 7, 2023
Duration: 5 minutes
This article was created by National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Let’s dive into this captivating image.
This electrifying shot was taken at ‘The Cage,’ an informal basketball court in Greenwich Village. The vibrant and energetic atmosphere of the game immediately caught my eye, and I knew I had to capture it. I stumbled upon the game while meeting an art director, and the timing and lighting couldn’t have been more perfect. The hosts graciously allowed me to take as many photos as I wanted from inside the court, and after exploring different angles, I knew that this particular shot perfectly encapsulated the essence of the game.
How did you capture this stunning moment?
Equipped with my trusty Nikon z9 and the versatile Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, I set my shutter speed to 1/1600s and used a relatively shallow f-stop of f/4.5 to focus on a single player. The camera’s wide area and 3D tracking capabilities allowed me to effortlessly follow the fast-paced action throughout the game. Additionally, I set my ISO to auto to adapt to the changing light conditions, giving me the flexibility to focus on capturing the moment without worrying about exposure adjustments.
What challenges did you face while capturing this image?
Despite the exhilarating energy of the game, I had to navigate limited angles due to the physical nature of the game. I had to be mindful of the referees and players while finding the perfect vantage point. Additionally, the chain-link fence posed a creative challenge, and I had to find ways to incorporate it into the shots without overpowering the main focus of the image.
What elements did you consider while composing this shot?
After exploring various perspectives, I ultimately settled on the image that highlighted the leading lines from behind the hoop. The composition allowed me to capture the dynamic crowd on either side while maintaining the focus on the game itself.
