‘Shot of the Month’ is brought to you by FEVO Sport Industry Awards partner Shutterstock. In this ongoing image-led series, we turn the spotlight on those behind the lens. Telling the story of the standout photos that grace newspapers, magazines and digital screens around the world from the photographer’s point of view.
FA CUP UPSET!
MICHAEL ZEMANEK, Shutterstock Photographer
27th January, 2024
Maidstone United F.C. were 98 places below Ipswich Town in the football pyramid. Yet, the team was able to pull off a huge shock by knocking the latter out of the FA Cup, making it the biggest football story of the day.
Just after the final whistle, the Maidstone United players ran towards the away supporters stand to celebrate, and I was in prime position to capture the images.
I ditched my 400mm telephoto lens and started chasing players with wide-angle and 70-200mm lenses, mounted on two camera bodies. It’s usually quite hit or miss trying to run and get pictures like this, and my initial photos were not of the highest quality. It can be hard work navigating through players celebrating, stewards bustling around, and other photographers jostling to get the right shot. However, I quickly figured out that both Maidstone goal scorers were being interviewed by television channels on the other side of the pitch. These were the players I needed in my pictures because these are the type of shots that the media has appetite for.
Eventually, as things settled a little, the whole team gathered together in front of the away fans, with their manager standing at the front. It became obvious that all of them were going to run and possibly jump as they moved towards the celebrating fans. I positioned myself straight in front of the group, and then captured the moment of them all shouting and celebrating, some with their hands in the air. I’d perfectly executed the image illustrating the joy and magnitude of Maidstone United’s outstanding achievement.
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