September 26, 2015; Concordia vs Cal Baptist at Aggie Roundup, Davis, CA. Photo credit: Catharyn Hayne
Canon 5DMiii, 300 mm, f 4.5 1/1600

This image marks a turning point for me in how I approached shooting water polo. I wasn't at UC Davis hosted Aggie Round Up to shoot these two teams, but I like to continue to shoot throughout a tournament. I also enjoy shooting at UC Davis because there are fewer restrictions with regard to areas I can access as vantage points. Prior to the game I had climbed up on the dive platform to check out how that might be as a shooting position. The sun in Davis was strong, as always, and I was looking for ways to use the hard light to my advantage. The players were preparing to line up. I shot this looking straight down from the dive platform as Thomas Henline of Cal Baptist University rose to the surface. He had not yet broken the surface tension of the water, his exhale bubbles obscuring his face. I wasn't sure if anyone other than me would like this photo, thinking maybe it was so outside of the norm for water polo that no one would like it. I posted it to my instagram account and was surprised at the reaction with which it was met. This photo is my reminder to continue to look for and find the little moments within water polo and life that speak to me. Sometimes the obscure moments resonate more than the big ones.