The Players' Tribune

Double Vision

Cooper Neill

Cooper Neill

Cooper Neill

Sports photography can be an extremely challenging creative endeavor. At every game, there are several photographers, all with the same equipment, sitting in the same spots along the field of play. When you’re working in the same venues several times a week, it can make work very repetitive.

To get myself out of a creative funk, during blowouts, I started shooting 35mm film, then rewinding the film and shooting over it a second time. The goal is to add extra layers of information into a single image through multiple exposures that would not be possible with a standard photograph. There is so much going on at a sporting event — the action, the atmosphere, the details.

The challenge is fitting it all into a single image.

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov looks on against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on November 1, 2013.
Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov looks on against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on November 1, 2013. /
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich during a press conference before the 2015 College Football Playoff Championship
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich during a press conference before the 2015 College Football Playoff Championship /
A ref looks on during an NCAA football game between SMU and UConn on November 16, 2013 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
A ref looks on during an NCAA football game between SMU and UConn on November 16, 2013 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. /
Nina Davis of the Baylor Bears shoots a free throw against Ole Miss on December 18, 2013 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
Nina Davis of the Baylor Bears shoots a free throw against Ole Miss on December 18, 2013 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. /
Quarterback Casey Cochran (No. 12) of the Connecticut Huskies reads the defense against the SMU Mustangs on November 16, 2013 at Gerald J. Ford Stadiu
Quarterback Casey Cochran (No. 12) of the Connecticut Huskies reads the defense against the SMU Mustangs on November 16, 2013 at Gerald J. Ford Stadiu /
Karviar Shepherd walks to the bench after committing a foul against the Baylor Bears on January 11, 2014 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
Karviar Shepherd walks to the bench after committing a foul against the Baylor Bears on January 11, 2014 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. /
An SMU cheerleader is hoisted into the air while a ref signals the start of play during an NCAA football game between the SMU Mustangs and UConn Huski
An SMU cheerleader is hoisted into the air while a ref signals the start of play during an NCAA football game between the SMU Mustangs and UConn Huski /
Mitch Moreland of the Texas Rangers steps to the plate against the Detroit Tigers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Mitch Moreland of the Texas Rangers steps to the plate against the Detroit Tigers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington. /
Kin Parker of Ole Miss shoots a free throw against the Baylor Bears on December 18, 2013 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
Kin Parker of Ole Miss shoots a free throw against the Baylor Bears on December 18, 2013 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. /
Detroit Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont looks on against the Texas Rangers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Detroit Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont looks on against the Texas Rangers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington. /
Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota receives a play from the sidelines while fans wait for the doors to enter to the 2015 College Football Playoff
Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota receives a play from the sidelines while fans wait for the doors to enter to the 2015 College Football Playoff /
Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey raises her hands from the bench as she communicates with her defense against Ole Miss on December 18, 2013 at the Ferrell
Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey raises her hands from the bench as she communicates with her defense against Ole Miss on December 18, 2013 at the Ferrell /
A member of the SMU marching band takes the field for the halftime show during an NCAA football game between the SMU Mustangs and UConn Huskies on Nov
A member of the SMU marching band takes the field for the halftime show during an NCAA football game between the SMU Mustangs and UConn Huskies on Nov /
Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders takes the field before a game against FC Dallas on April 12, 2014 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders takes the field before a game against FC Dallas on April 12, 2014 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. /
Nick Reed of SMU takes a seat on the bench against UConn while two Texas Rangers look on from the sidelines on November 16, 2013 at Gerald J. Ford Sta
Nick Reed of SMU takes a seat on the bench against UConn while two Texas Rangers look on from the sidelines on November 16, 2013 at Gerald J. Ford Sta /
Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers steps to the plate against the Detroit Tigers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers steps to the plate against the Detroit Tigers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington. /
Aidan Schneider of the Oregon Ducks prepares to kick off against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2015 College Football Playoff Championship Game on
Aidan Schneider of the Oregon Ducks prepares to kick off against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2015 College Football Playoff Championship Game on /
Scott Feldman of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Detroit Tigers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington
Scott Feldman of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Detroit Tigers on August 10, 2012 at The Ballpark in Arlington /
Cheerleaders from the University of Oregon cheer after the Ducks score a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2015 College Football Pl
Cheerleaders from the University of Oregon cheer after the Ducks score a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2015 College Football Pl /
Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen looks on against the Colorado Avalanche at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on November 1, 2013.
Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen looks on against the Colorado Avalanche at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on November 1, 2013. /

FEATURED STORIES