I recently put together a new Sports Photography page to explain why I spend so much time standing along sidelines, behind goals and at the ends of basketball courts.

The short answer is simple: I enjoy it.

The longer answer has less to do with photography and more to do with time.

A high school sports season can feel long when it begins. There are weeks of practices, bus rides, early mornings, late nights and games in every kind of weather. Then senior night arrives, the final home game ends and four years suddenly feel as if they passed in an afternoon.

That is when the photographs begin to mean more.

More Than the Biggest Play

Sports photography naturally draws attention to action. I am always looking for the game-winning goal, the diving save, the difficult catch and the celebration that follows.

But the biggest play does not always produce the most meaningful photograph.

Sometimes the moment worth keeping happens away from the ball: a coach encouraging an athlete after a mistake, teammates laughing during warmups, the bench reacting before the crowd realizes what happened or a senior pausing alone after the final home game.

Those moments never appear in the box score. Years later, they may be the ones people remember best.

Creating a Record of My Community

Most of my sports photography centers on Twinsburg High School. My children graduated from Twinsburg in 2020 and 2022, and my family has been part of this community for years.

That connection changes the work.

I am not simply photographing anonymous teams. I am creating a visual record of athletes, families, coaches and traditions belonging to a community I know. The uniforms will change, new athletes will take the field and familiar faces will eventually disappear from the stands. The photographs preserve a small part of what it felt like to be there.

Letting Parents Watch the Game

Parents should be able to watch their children compete without experiencing the entire game through a phone screen.

Sports photography is difficult even with good equipment. The action moves quickly, lighting can be terrible and the best angles are rarely available from the stands. Because I have the equipment, experience and access to make these photographs, I can give families something they might not otherwise have.

They get to remain present for the game and return to those moments afterward.

Why the Photographs Are Free

I volunteer my time, and the sports photographs on my website are available to download without charge.

Free does not mean the work costs nothing. Photography involves cameras, lenses, computers, software, travel, training and website expenses. It also involves many hours at each event, followed by more time sorting, editing and publishing the images.

I continue to make the photographs freely available because I want the athletes and families in them to have access to their memories.

If you share one publicly, I ask only that you include a simple credit: “Photo by T.J. Powell.” It is a small acknowledgment of the work behind the image, and it helps others discover the galleries.

Those who would like to help with the cost of maintaining the site and continuing the coverage can support the project through the link on my Sports Photography page. Contributions are appreciated, but they are never required.

See You on the Sidelines

One of the best parts of doing this has been meeting the athletes, parents, coaches, alumni and supporters who give the photographs their meaning.

If you see me near the field or court, please say hello. I may look serious because I am watching the play and waiting for the next moment—not because I am trying to be antisocial.

You can learn more, find the latest galleries and browse the complete sports collection on my Sports Photography page.

I will see you on the sidelines.

Go Tigers!