A Denison University player jokes with a teammate as each player receives a trophy for making it to the final four in the NCAA D3 Women’s Lacrosse Campionships. Denison fell to Salisbury University, 10-20, on May 23, 2021.
(Photo by Mike Tripp)
Photographer’s Note: Ok, I would LOVE to know what was going through her head and what she was saying in this moment. Of all my lacrosse photos yesterday, THIS ONE is the one that I love the most.
Fact of life … Not all the teams we photograph or pull for win. Everyone knows that. Yet, we still have to walk away with photographs that tell the story, show the emotion and capture the moment.
When photographing for a college (and even when not), it seems appropriate to also look for emotion and moments that show the other side of the loss coin — that it’s not all tears and heartbreak.
I mean … These ladies made it to the FINAL FOUR in the NCAA Division 3 tournament. They were ONE GAME from the finals.
Yes, they did not win, but they put up a good fight.
Now some would say those are just participation trophies, but those trophies mark their achievements in reaching this point in this tournament.
I mean … I don’t have one. Do you?
Years from now, they will look back on these and remember just how far they went … their teammates and happy times in life this represents.
And I still want to know what was in her head in this moment as I know it was in fun, good humor and celebrating the moment with a quick well-earned joke that helped ease the pains of loss. And it made me laugh.
What follows are a couple of more photos taken while trying to capture their loss.
