My First “Orange Ball” — 3×3 Basketball in St. Petersburg

Today I shot 3×3 basketball for the first time — the All-Russian “Orange Ball” tournament in St. Petersburg.
The format was new to me, but damn, it turned out to be insanely dynamic. On the same court you could see school kids, men over forty, and those who really should be getting senior transport discounts. And sometimes these veterans played with such elegance that the younger ones were left gasping for air.

The sun was blazing, the ball flying, arms and legs flashing — perfect conditions for sports photography. At first the pace felt crazy: by the time you locked focus, the moment was gone. But after a couple of games, I found the rhythm, started reading the players’ moves, and catching frames a split second earlier. I even got a few shots where the ball, the hands, and the eyes all lined up perfectly. For me, that’s pure joy.

This kind of reportage shooting is gold for teams and organizers: it shows raw emotion, tension, and contact.
I shoot sports in St. Petersburg — and now I know for sure I want to try myself in “big” basketball as well. 3×3 hooked me, but it also sparked my appetite.