2016 marked my tenth season with the LA Galaxy. Although I know each season will be different, my approach to photographing the team always remains the same; Tell the story of their journey. I accomplish this not just by capturing the action on the field, but also by photographing the subtle moments around the match.
Although this season didn’t end as we had hoped, I will cherish both the highs and lows of 2016 as a reminder of how special it is to be a part of this incredible organization. I am humbled and proud to be able to share the LA Galaxy’s story through my vision. Here are some of my favorite images of the 2016 season, in no particular order.
1) "The Gio Show"
For a brief few seconds before the start of each game, Gio routinely steps away on his own to lace up his boots. When I first noticed him doing it, I immediately thought “shoe ad”. I laid on the ground a few feet away from him and used a wide angle lens to to exaggerate the height of the stadium lights behind him. He looks like a hero on a stage, ready to put on a performance.
2) "¯\(ツ)/¯"
Remote cameras in soccer are often a lot of work with very few payoffs. Several elements need to be just right in order to come away with an image that works. I love how all the elements came together in this shot of Mike Magee scoring this goal; the goal scorer celebrating, the goal keeper defeated on the ground, the ball in the net, and beautiful StubHub Center in the background.
3) "High Five"
They say that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Though I do think this photo could classify as lucky since there’s no way to ever predict a player coming over to slap the camera, I wouldn’t have been able to capture this image had I not been prepared with an extra camera with a wide angle lens on it. Having seen the team train the week of this game, my intuition told me that the Galaxy were going to play well and score several goals. I prepared to shoot any celebrations in front of me with a wide angle lens, as opposed to normal telephoto zoom, so that I could have a more dramatic perspective. When I saw that Stevie scored, I thought he would slide into the corner but as it turned out he ran over and was so pumped that he shouted at my camera and swung his arm across in excitement. I’m happy I was prepared and that I didn’t stop shooting so that I was able to end up with this once in a lifetime shot of Stevie.
4) "Huddle"
What I really enjoy about this photo is that it gives the viewer a glimpse into a private moment between the starting 11. It’s the moment where the captain rallies and inspires his teammates. It’s always a challenging photo to capture technically because the nature of how the players come together but I was able to position myself in a great spot across from Robbie Keane. In the end I was pleased to create this dramatic image where the viewer is right in the middle.
5) "THEYLOVEDABADGE"
One of my favorite images from this past season is this shot of Da’ Boy kissing da' Galaxy badge on his jersey. I see players do it all the time but what moves me about this photo is that Sebastian wasn’t making this gesture towards the fans the way other players do. It simply means so much to him to have done well for the club he loves being a part of. It was a genuine gesture and one of those moments that remind me how important it is to always be prepared to shoot. A secondary part to this for me is how it’s somewhat mimicked by Jack McBean in the background who has his hand over the badge, almost in allegiance.
6) "Control Everything"
This photo is from a remote camera I setup on the ground to the side of the goal. I was just hoping to get a different perspective, something i’ll often do over the course of the season to change things up. One of the images I was pleased to capture was this shot of Keano celebrating his goal. I enjoy that Keane is the only Galaxy player in the image and that he’s framed in celebration by the goal. I also like that the elements came together; the ball in net, the New England players in dejection, the StubHub Center crowd in the background, and one of Robbie’s sponsors (Adidas) in view in the background.
7) "You'll Never Walk Alone"
Earlier in the season I had captured a similar image of Stevie walking out to midfield but that image was during mid-day and my hope was to get a similar image but with more "atmosphere”. I knew the lighting would be better with the mixture of evening light and stadium light but I was pleased when I noticed that the smoke from the pre-game fireworks had lingered and was enhancing the rays of light coming through the top of the stadium. I positioned myself at the right angle and waited for Gerrard to walk through the right spot. I’m very proud to have created an image like this that seems to have "divine" light shining down on one of the best players to ever have played the game. The light, his body position, and his isolation in the photo make this one of my all time favorites.
8) "AARP"
This was an incredible moment that I will definitely never forget. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been there to capture some special moments in Landon’s career and this one was no different. Not only was its brutally hot that it was getting hard to keep the perspiration out of my eyes, we were trailing late in the game and about to drop points. As Landon was preparing to come into the game, the supporters were heckling him non-stop, especially with “AARP” chants. Losing the game seemed all but a conclusion until Landon showed a moment of brilliance and tied the game up with a beautiful shot. One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is capturing the moments that make the crowd go quiet. I love that Landon had the last laugh and this photo was his response to not just the hostile fans, but also to those who doubted him.
9) "Rise"
It’s usually pretty difficult to capture good images of our goalkeepers since we are always on the opposite side of the field from them. For the match vs New York Red Bull I was able to use an 800mm lens for the early part of the game, allowing me to see further down the field and capture tighter shots. Brian Rowe had a great season and I think this photo is somewhat of where he is with the team. He is a guy who’s willing to sacrifice for the good of the team, as he is sacrificing his body in challenging for this ball. His determination allowed him to rise up to being the #1 goalkeeper with the Galaxy, just as he is rising up in full extension to make the play. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to make images that show the best of the guys, especially when they work hard like Brian.
10) "Eleven"
The team photo prior to the start of the game is one of the most repetitive shots we capture over over the course of the season. I decided to shoot it in a different way this particular game, but I wanted an image that had unity. I got at a low angle behind the guys because I knew it would be dramatic with the stadium above them. What I love most about the way this photo came together is that Jelle Van Damme is the anchor point in the center. To his left are Brian Rowe and Dan Steres, both younger and in their prime. To his right are Steven Gerrard and Jeff Larentowicz, two veterans in the twighlight of their career. As it turned out, Jelle was a true leader in the locker room, respected by the younger guys and the older ones. It’s clear why he finished the season with the Captain’s armband, he was the glue between both.