Диана — Штурм-2002: когда водное поло превращается в одну атаку

You know the game is tilted from the start when I barely have time to settle at Nevskaya Volna in Saint Petersburg and Diana are already pushing Shturm-2002 deep into their own half. Women’s water polo has its own rhythm: fast, physical, emotional. As a sports photographer working in Saint Petersburg, I love matches like this — honest, intense, no staged moments, just pure action that can turn into a clean visual story for clubs, federations and sponsors.

Early on Diana take control, and the score starts running away. At 5:0 I’m constantly changing spots: low by the water for powerful shots through the splashes, tight frames of the center battle, close-ups of the goalkeeper reacting a fraction too late. Shturm-2002 struggle to find their game, and even when they score, it feels more like a brief pause in a dominant home performance. A series of five-meter penalties adds a layer of tension: focused stares, short silence, sharp throw. These sequences are gold for proper match photography, press releases and social media updates.

Once it’s clear there will be no comeback, my angle shifts. Now I’m building the narrative around attitude and resilience: how Diana keep pushing until the last second, how the visitors still fight for possession, how the league’s level shows in the details on and around the pool. That’s the kind of sports photography coverage I aim to bring to every event in Saint Petersburg and across leagues — fast delivery, consistent style and images that work equally well for organizers, teams and commercial partners.

See the full gallery with the best moments here: Diana — Shturm-2002.