Even though I love running now I think my previous relationship with football and dreaming of being a sports photographer and collecting sports cards weighs in on this one.

I also think that a photo of a sport like football really captures the action more than in a sport like running. A still image is challenging to capture the performance of running which is speed and movement.

A photograph taken during a football game often includes more than one person. It can depict the interaction of those two players. Or the image alludes to what is about to happen in the next moments, especially because many people are so familiar with football as a sport. They know what typically precedes a given moment and can predict what may be about to happen.

Photography of a football game also allows the photographer to much more easily capture a wide variety of images depicting different components of a game. In running for example, especially long distance running an image is more likely to contain only one person. And it is challenging to determine if the image depicts the beginning, middle, or end of the race.

Whereas during a football game during one play that takes only a short period of time a photographer can take several images that depict a variety of activities. The quarterback takes the snap. The quarterback drops back and prepares to throw a pass. A recover downfield catches the ball. In running the goal is to repeat the same physical motion over and over with no deviation until the race is over. So every image can look kind of the same.

Photographs of a football game just push all the buttons. There is a huge nostalgia factor. So many of us grow up going to school somewhere that football is a big deal so we either play or attend local football games at our high schools or colleges. Imagery of football reminds us of our youth or the good old days.

It is in my opinion relatively easy to capture a compelling image of a football game. It is much harder to create a compelling image of a running event. I am trying to become a better more creative photographer so that I feel as good about my photos of running events as I do about these football images.

What sports do you like to see photographs of?

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