Note: This is our last Lesson of the Day for the 2021-22 school year.
Lesson Overview
Featured Article: “Our Favorite Sports Photos of 2021” by The New York Times
At the end of last year, The New York Times asked photographers to choose their favorite sports images they made in 2021 and explain why they liked them. They selected photos taken at skate parks and swimming pools, high school football games and Olympic trials, crowded streets and empty stadiums.
In this lesson, you’ll look closely at these stunning images and learn what makes them important and meaningful to the people behind the lens. Then, we’ll invite you to take on the role of a photojournalist and document the sports stories in your community that you think are worth sharing.
Warm-Up
What do you think makes a good sports photograph? Before you look at any pictures, make a list of the qualities you think are essential to sports photography.
Then, look at the slide show of photos below from The New York Times and The Associated Press, taken throughout history and in the present day, and consider these questions:
What are some qualities you notice in these sports photos that make them compelling? Add them to your list.
Do any of these images challenge your ideas of what makes a good sports photograph? If so, which ones, and why?
Which photos stand out to you most? What do you admire about them?
Questions for Writing and Discussion
Read the article, then answer the following questions:
1. What did you learn from the article about being a sports photographer? Was there anything that surprised you?
2. Which photo from the article stands out the most to you, and why?
3. How was Chang W. Lee able to capture the dramatic bird’s-eye picture of Simone Biles on the vault? What does that tell you about being a skillful sports photographer?
4. “Compelling sports photography captures the spirit of competition, and some of the best moments are found on the periphery,” Todd Heisler wrote. Do you agree? What do you think he meant by “found on the periphery”? Which images best illustrate his statement?
5. Some of these photos don’t take place during athletic events. Why do you think the photographers chose them as their favorites of the year? What do they reveal about sports and the stories photographs can tell? How do these images expand your understanding of compelling sports photography?
6. Look back at your list of the qualities you think make a strong sports photograph. Would you change anything on your list now that you’ve read the article? What else might you add?
7. Did any of the stories remind you of a sports moment you have experienced in your own life?
Going Further
Now, it’s your turn: Take what you’ve learned about sports photography and become a sports photojournalist for a day (or longer!).
What are the sports stories in your community that you think are worth telling? Here are some ideas:
To learn some additional photography skills, check out this video from Mr. Heisler on how to think like a photographer (also embedded above), or this lesson in which he and two high school photography teachers share advice on how to make interesting portraits.
After the assignment, pick your favorite photo and write a paragraph about why it stands out to you, using the featured article as an example.
Additional Teaching and Learning Opportunities
The work of a photographer: Learn more about the life and preparation of a New York Times sports photographer by reading about how Doug Mills photographed the Olympic trials or how Sara Krulwich became the first woman to shoot on the football field during games at the University of Michigan.
Creative writing: Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by one of the photos you viewed in this lesson, or tell us about a memory from your own life that the image makes you think of.
Favorite sports photos: Take a closer look at sports photography in The Times and elsewhere, and write about the photos you found most effective. You might check out Sports Illustrated’s “100 Greatest Sports Photos of All Time” from 2015, or ESPN’s compilation of “Iconic Sports Images” from the 2010s. In The New York Times, you can look through the Sports section and “Our Best Olympics Photos.” You can also search online for a memorable photo of one of your favorite athletes and write about what the athlete and photo mean to you.
Want more Lessons of the Day? You can find them all here.
