Director of photography Michael Clemens shares his perspective of the 2025 season as he breaks down six of his favorite photos.
Process of reflection
A competing team isn't just an opponent — you see them in yourself. When they move, plan and push forward, they reveal parts of your own team you might not notice otherwise. Their reflection shows your own strengths and weaknesses and the potential you haven't fully used yet. Let what you see in them push you. Their discipline can drive your own. Their teamwork can amplify yours. And their success can remind you what's possible. The real goal isn't simply beating that reflected foe, but to what their image brings out in you. You can finally see where you need to grow and appreciate how far you've already come.
As always, a game against the Kansas City Chiefs brings out all the history of two fierce divisional rivals. It was a sunny day at Arrowhead which led to a lot of light bouncing everywhere. I have always gravitated to images with reflections, so players with face masks on their helmets can often be a gold mine. In this case, with the Chiefs' line of scrimmage backed up closer to our end zone, I could really see the players faces through my lens. ERob's eyes are always intense, but seeing the overlay of the Chiefs' O-line, the one thing between him and the quarterback, told the story by itself. And, being able to get the quarterback in the foreground, we're able to see the whole story in one frame. Subject, target, obstacle.
Patience is a virtue
Patience is one of the most valuable skills a photographer can develop. Especially in a world that moves so fast, photography often requires slowing down and waiting for the moment when elements align naturally. Light shifts, subjects move and scenes transform in subtle ways that can't always be rushed. Waiting is tough. It's a choice to trust that the right moment will reveal itself. Believe me when I say it is a skill I had to learn. I had to change my mindset from "I'm missing so many shots right now" to "I don't want to miss this one." I could get a lot more shots similar to what I've captured in the past, or I could wait for something that could be more special. Through waiting, you learn to appreciate that the perfect shot is often a reward for the calm persistence.
Tre Tucker was stretching on a bench in the gym before heading out to practice. I was standing by the door waiting for shot after shot of everyone to emerge when I'd caught a glimpse of a small streak of light that would, intermittently, hit Tre's face. I knelt down and ignored everything else, just laser focused on what could be. I remember getting a few shots of Tre turning his eyes to me as if to say, "How long does it take you to get a photo of me sitting on a bench?" That is part of the patience – and sometimes uncomfortableness – of waiting for the moment.
Breaking through
Finding the light is about noticing moments that transform an ordinary scene into something unforgettable. In photography, few examples are more striking than god rays – those beams of sunlight that break through clouds, treetops and windows. They appear only when light meets just the right mix of shadow, atmosphere and timing, reminding us, once again, that illumination is often born from contrast. To find the light, you have to pay attention. God rays don't last long, but when they appear, they reveal the world with a sense of clarity and awe. Seeking them teaches patience and awareness, showing that light is always there, you just have to look for the moment when it finally breaks through.
Going to SoFi, Arrowhead or Mile High stadiums, I know what to expect. I know what to watch for and when to look for it since we go there every season. But this was my first time at NRG Stadium in Houston for our game against the Texans, so everything was new. I was not loving what I was getting all morning during arrivals, warmups, the anthem, etc. Very flat light, strange color shifts and just overall "boring" uninteresting images. While I can't control those elements and variables, I still can't help to feel like I'm failing that day. And then I saw it. Some of the most magical light I'd ever seen at a football game. I was near the goal post, so I quickly got up and ran over to this moment that I knew would not last long. This image is honestly straight out of camera. Zero edits because sometimes something is so perfect that it feels less like a moment and more like something otherworldly breaking through.
Don't look, see
In my opinion, seeing things differently is what separates good photographers from great ones (and I'm not calling myself great, but trying to be). While a camera simply records what is in front of it, a photographer interprets the world through his/her personal vision and curiosity. This often means looking beyond the obvious. If the mass of photographers all go to X, then you go to Y or Z. When photographers train themselves to look where others don't, they can often get something, if not special, at least unique (and sometimes, just the uniqueness of perspective of moment becomes special). This shift in perspective encourages creativity and invites viewers to experience the world from a point of view they haven't seen before. Ultimately, photography becomes not just a method of documenting reality, but a way of revealing hidden possibilities. By embracing the challenge of seeing differently, photographers can expand both their artistic expression and their understanding of the world around them.
This image was taken during the 2025 Raiderettes Final Auditions. The "obvious" shot would have been in front of the stage, lights fully hitting the dancers and shooting from the same perspective as the judges and audience see. But that's no fun! So I squeezed myself through a small opening on the side of the stage, and shot between the giant LED boards that acted as background for the dancers. This point of view gave me an amazing background of the Torch. As always with photography, luck plays a role too. I had been shooting for a while back there as each dancer moved across the stage, but then, (thank you Ali), one dancer finished her performance with this gorgeous pose right in line with the me and the Torch. Couldn't have deliberately staged this shot better.
Collision
The magic of light in photography comes from the way it reveals itself against the contrast of shadow. Light defines shape and texture but it is the surrounding darkness that gives those qualities their power. Shadows act as a frame, allowing illuminated areas to stand out with greater clarity and intention. This contrast creates depth, turning simple subjects into compelling compositions. How a beam of light can carve out form or guide the viewer's eye is the basis of what I look for (if you hadn't figured that out yet). Through this juxtaposition, scenes become more dynamic when light collides with shadow, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.
This is an image from our Week 16 game vs. Philadelphia. It had snowed all morning, but prior to the game starting, the field was cleared to the point you'd never know a single flake had fallen. The cloudy gloomy skies started to part and streaks of blue began to show. There were still heavy shadowed areas of the stadium but with specific slivers of light mixed in. When the "difference" between the brightest part of a frame and the darkest part are very far apart, you have to make the choice of which to expose for. In this frame, the stadium lights, and their effect on Coach's face, were the clear choice. And by chance, the ribbon boards in the background were transforming to create the horizontal shapes, not only giving a pop of color, but also a sense of motion to an otherwise static shot.
Fit check
NFL players know that arriving to the stadium is more than just showing up for a game — it's a moment to set the tone. Dressing to impress on gameday sends a message of confidence, swagger and style to teammates, fans and opponents. The walk from the parking lot to the locker room has become a runway where personal style reflects individual identity and team pride.
During the season, environments can get repetitive and boring. This year, I decided to create a "Fit Check" station along the arrival route to allow these guys to show off their style. It was a lot more work for me, but giving something to these guys that they'd love and creating something "different" for me was worth the effort. Everyone knows that Maxx Crosby is usually the first one to arrive, so I had to make sure I was up and running well before the required time to be in the locker room.
Sure enough, the first one around the corner was Maxx. Locked in, moving to the music in his headphones. I looked at him and said "Fit check?" He smiled and replied, "I'm good." I don't usually show my emotions when shooting, but I think I closed my eyes and pursed my lips in disappointment because who is more perfect than Maxx for a fit check? He saw my reaction (which I didn't mean for), he stopped, took off his headphones, dropped his bag and said "OK, let's do it."
Thanks Maxx for appreciating my efforts. I certainly appreciate yours on and off the field!
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