This was my first paid job as a photographer since relocating to Spain. After visiting the magazine about potential design work the previous month, I received an unexpected call inviting me to shoot for them. The opportunity to photograph ice hockey players in action presented both excitement and technical challenges.

Ice hockey demands exceptional timing from photographers. The players move with incredible speed across the ice, requiring anticipation and precision to capture decisive moments. Despite having limited equipment at my disposal, I managed to create numerous dynamic shots that conveyed the intensity and athleticism of the sport.

I’ve discovered I possess a natural ability to anticipate action before it unfolds. Rather than relying on continuous shooting modes to hopefully capture “the moment,” I prefer trusting my instincts and timing. When a camera takes control through automatic metering or high-speed burst modes, it creates a sensation similar to descending a steep hill in a vehicle without brakes—a complete loss of creative control that contradicts my photographic philosophy.

The connection with subjects often leads to superior images. I returned twice to photograph these athletes, drawn by their welcoming nature and the opportunity to create more intimate portrait-style images during their training sessions. While the image featured here isn’t my personal favorite from the series, a variation ultimately graced the magazine’s cover—an impressive outcome for what was originally commissioned as a minor story.

What began as a small assignment evolved into featured content, demonstrating how quality photography can elevate a story’s prominence within a publication. This experience reinforced the value of building rapport with subjects and investing additional time to capture diverse perspectives of the same event.