As a sports photographer with over 20 years of experience, I’ve spent countless hours documenting the raw intensity and emotional depth that defines athletic competition. For me, sports are more than just physical feats or statistics—they are a rich narrative of human will, struggle, and triumph. In my latest collection, Emotive Dominion, I’ve chosen to focus on these often-overlooked moments of vulnerability and strength, stripping away the distractions of color to reveal the true heart of athletic performance.

The decision to present this collection in black and white was an intentional one. I wanted to draw on the visual style of classic sports photography, using the graininess reminiscent of film to bring out the grit and determination of the athletes I’ve captured. For me, this aesthetic choice isn’t just about evoking nostalgia—it’s about distilling these moments down to their most essential elements. By removing the vibrancy of color, the emotional range of the athletes takes center stage. The focus shifts to the subtleties of their gestures, their hands, their expressions—the language of competition itself.

Hands play a focus role in this collection. I’ve always been fascinated by how much emotion and intent can be conveyed through something as simple as a hand gesture. In “Anticipation,” the tension in the athlete’s grip on the discus speaks volumes about the pressure of preparation, the calm before the storm. Every calloused finger, every crease of the palm, tells a story of dedication and sacrifice in the pursuit of success.

One of my favorite images, “Ballet,” captures the grace and fluidity within the chaos of competition. The hands of the athletes stretch toward their goal, suspended midair like a dance—a reminder that sports are not just about power but also about precision, timing, and grace under pressure. To me, this image embodies the balance between athleticism and artistry that makes competition so captivating.

“Coming Together” and “Holding On” are deeply personal to me because they speak to the collective nature of achievement. As much as we celebrate individual victories, success in sports often requires the strength and support of others. The intertwined hands in these images represent teamwork, trust, and the shared effort required to achieve greatness. I’ve always believed that the beauty of sport lies in its ability to unite people, and these images reflect that truth.

Other images in the collection zoom in on the meticulous focus and control that athletes must have over their tools. The preparation behind every pitch or throw fascinates me—these small moments of calculated precision, where every movement matters, are often the difference between winning and losing.

Over the thousands of hours of sports photography, I found that art values competition and was often inspired and encouraged by others pursuing the human hand from an emotional point of view. Tim Booth, whose images of hands are well known, made a powerful observation: “When you look at just the hands, your mind is free from pre-conceptions and is able to imagine the whole life of the person, their completeness, rather than just the aesthetic of a face." Linda Callaway wrote in “The Symbolism of Hands” that hands hold a powerful symbolic significance… they convey a wide range of emotions.”

At its core, Emotive Dominion is my way of celebrating how the hands of the athlete express the full emotional experience of the game—the fear, the hope, the determination, and the ultimate triumph or defeat. Thus, this collection isn’t just about sports; it’s about the resilience and vulnerability that all of us possess and the ways we push ourselves to overcome challenges, both on and off the field.