Panthers Wrocław: Behind the Scenes with Łukasz Skwiot

Łukasz Skwiot describes a pre-season photo shoot for Panthers Wrocław.

Introduction

American football is dynamic, spectacular and visually powerful. Once again I had the opportunity to photograph Panthers Wrocław, Polish champions and one of Europe's leading teams. A roster shoot with more than 60 players and staff is a major organisational challenge, so a clear concept and workflow are essential.

Concept

The photographs were intended for marketing graphics, posters and advertising. We photographed black and white uniforms against a neutral grey background that could later be removed easily. I also wanted several more dramatic frames with less obvious lighting and effects.

Lighting

I chose Quadralite Atlas 600 Pro TTL flashes. Their efficient batteries and optional mains power provided security during a long production, while consistent output was critical for commercial work. Fast burst operation and short flash duration were especially useful for freezing smoke. Navigator X Plus made it easy to adjust parameters quickly as the setup changed from player to player.

Setup

The basic setup used three flashes: one overhead key light and two strong rim lights. The main modifier was an 85 cm Quadralite Flex Foldable Beauty Dish – effectively a hybrid of beauty dish and softbox. Used bare, its silver interior produced harder, more contrasty light; with two diffusers attached, it became much softer. It was mounted on a boom centrally above the player. The two rim lights outlined the athletes and separated them from the background, reinforcing the aggressive visual character appropriate to American football.

Photographs

For the first graphic-style portrait, the priority was controlling reflections on the helmet while creating hard facial shadows and keeping the eyes visible.

We also created darker, less obvious frames. Reflections in helmet visors are difficult to control, so precise side lighting and reflectors were essential.

For the final part of the session, we introduced effects. Instead of the dust used the previous year, we chose two forms of smoke.

On the field at Wrocław's Olympic Stadium we used coloured smoke flares selected to work with team and sponsor colours and contrast with the uniforms. Here the battery-powered mobility of Atlas 600 Pro TTL was particularly valuable.

Conclusion

The equipment performed reliably throughout a large, long shoot. Consistent output reduced work in post-production, while power, mobility, short flash duration, burst mode and efficient cooling made Atlas 600 Pro TTL particularly well suited to sports photography.

Backstage

Text and photographs – Łukasz Skwiot

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