EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Pamela Smith is a freelance photojournalist for The Associated Press based near New York. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2024, I interned at the Associated Press and have been working as a full-time freelancer ever since. Last year, Smith covered the Club World Cup in New Jersey for the Associated Press. This is her first World Cup assignment.
why this photo
When Erling Haaland stepped into the spotlight during the showdown between Norway and Brazil, both teams were locked in a scoreless tie. Therefore, I paid particular attention to every goal attempt, staying as far away from the corner position as possible, anticipating the first goal of the match as the players approached. The moment I saw Haaland jump and send the ball into the air, I pressed the shutter button. I was very lucky to get this image, as other players immediately rushed into my frame and blocked my view. After Haaland scored, I took out my wide-angle lens to film the Norwegian celebration, which also happened in my corner. Haaland scored and celebrated again in my corner.
How this photo was made
I was shooting with a Canon 1DX mark III and a 200-400 lens. The second body was also a 24-70 1DX III. I had both cameras connected to the server via an Ethernet connection, so I could send images as soon as I scored a goal. It was fun to photograph this game, which was full of non-stop action, even though it was difficult for the teams to score.
Why this photo works
Despite the heat and humidity on the pitch, it is very important to focus on goal chances at this stage of the match. This photo captures the timing and effort it took for both teams to score a goal that would have been elusive in the match.
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