A photograph can be powerful. It possesses the ability to capture the raw emotion of a singular moment and preserve an otherwise fleeting snippet of time, all while telling a story in the process.
Over the next several weeks, we're going to take a look back at 10 of the best photos from the 2024-25 season along with commentary from Chiefs' Director of Photography Steve Sanders.
Here's what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with No. 9:
"Even in Defeat"
Setting: Super Bowl LIX
The Subject: Wide receiver Xavier Worthy shares a moment with wide receiver Hollywood Brown following the Chiefs' loss in Super Bowl LIX.
Taken By: Steve Sanders
Camera Model: Canon EOS R1
Focal Length: 26 mm
Exposure Time: 1/500
Aperture: f/2.8
Steve Sanders' Thoughts:
Q: What was going on here, and why did you pick this photo as part of our collection?
Sanders: "This was a bad day, but – even when things are going wrong – as a photographer, you still have to do your job. You still have to document history and tell a story. Everything we do revolves around storytelling, so we had to continue to work," Sanders said. "With this one, you can see how disappointed Xavier is. He has the towel over his head as the confetti is falling behind him. He's saying something to Hollywood, and I'm sure that conversation is something like, 'We're going to be back. We're going to work, we're going to get back, and we're going to redeem this loss.' You can see that emotion in Xavier's face."
Q: What did this photo say about the brotherhood on this team?
Sanders: "Coach Reid's motto is 'Come in as teammates, leave as family.' This is a real family moment," Sanders said. "It's two brothers coming together to support and encourage one another."
Q: You touched on this a little bit already, but how difficult is it to keep shooting during moments like this?
Sanders: "That's one of the things about being a photographer. You're watching these moments happen through your lens, and that means taking in the bad with the good," Sanders said. "You have to continue to work without stopping to watch the moment. That's what separates the real professionals. You have to keep making images no matter what."
