Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes

21 December, 2022

The best of the 2022 season by Tommy Zaferes.

Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
This was probably my favourite image of the year. I always love a good puddle reflection shot, and typically I’ll try for them on the run as opposed to the bike because the athletes are going significantly slower, but when I saw this opportunity I thought I would challenge myself. I was able to get this shot when the first group of athletes went by, and was able to carry on to the next location without skipping a beat. When this rare occasion happens it seriously makes my whole day.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
There is one section of road on the Yokohama course that has great lines, but I haven’t been able to capture it the way that I have wanted in the past, but this time I asked a police officer if I could stand on an electrical box that was next to the road. He told me it was okay, so I climbed up and was able to get this angle.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
When I originally was planning this image, I was waiting for a japanese athlete to go by and hoping the flag would be blowing open right when the athlete was going by (I know, a boy can dream), but because it was raining so much the flag was actually stuck folded in half and cutting the red dot down the middle, which to me was a bummer… but this actually turned out to make the image better, and more symbolic, as the athlete only has one arm.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
A rare angle, and also rare that the athlete (Leo Bergere) diving back into the next lap will have good diving technique. Also rare that there are no other athletes in frame. Combination of a few different things had to come together for this image to happen.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
At every race I’m always looking for something that isn’t the normal everyday picture. It’s always fun when the environment and sunlight play a part in creating something spur of the moment when at an event.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
Underwater pictures are always better when it’s sunny, but sometimes clouds can make for some more dynamic underwater imagery like this one of Taylor Spivey.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
After many years as a swimmer and professional triathlete myself, I have gotten used to how close I can get to athletes while they are training/racing to get a unique shot. The hard part is having athletes who are ready to just continue doing their thing and trust you will get out of their way. I am happy to report that I was able to get this shot, while staying 100% clear of Takumi Hojo. #1 rule: Don’t get in the way to get the shot!
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
This image was quite unique in the sense that there was such a huge contrast between the top and bottom of the image. It’s very rare you can get an image that’s full dark in part, and full light in the other part.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
In bermuda I was walking by a house that had a balcony overlooking the course. There was a man there watching the race and so I yelled up to him and asked him if I could come up there to take a picture. He was kind enough to invite me up and I hung out with him for about 5min explaining how triathlon works, and waiting for the pack of runners to come by.
Best photos of 2022 - Tommy Zaferes
If you follow the sport at all, you’ll have noticed the Norwegians bringing back the “tops off” cheering trend for all the Long Distance elite women’s races and of course getting the favour repaid by groups of women and fans during their races. So during the grand final in Abu Dhabi, I came across Kristian, Gustav, and Vetle on their pre-race run and was able to capture them in their element.