My View: The stories behind the Top 10 photos of 2019

Despite losing the Week 10 game against Green Bay, our trip to Lambeau couldn't have been more memorable. Not only did the Panthers play their hearts out, they did it in a snowy tundra. It was amazing to shoot a snow game in the most historic stadium in the NFL. This shot of quarterback Kyle Allen walking off the field at the end of the game really speaks to the entire feel of this battle.

This photo of Cam seems simple, but I love that because of my perspective (being further up the hill as he descends). An athlete with such stature looks like a little action figure walking out to practice. The clean background, how he is perfectly framed between the two crepe myrtle trees, the light and how it silhouettes his body all comes together to make a great frame.

After back-to-back games on the road, the Panthers returned home to face Jacksonville. Going into this week I knew that at some point in the game I wanted to shoot from a completely different vantage point. During the first half I decided to head up to the 500 level of Bank of America Stadium. This is where I was able to capture CMC's flip, one of the most exciting plays of the 2019 season.

This entire game was such a heartbreaking loss. Add to that, so many of the photos I made that day were of Panthers making mistakes, getting scored on, etc. This interception by Falcons safety Ricardo Allen framed up so nicely that it ended up being my best action photo from the game. Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore's surprised face being perfectly lit as the villainous defensive back steals the pass in the shadows was visually poetic.

Some of my favorite moments to capture weren't always action. During the intros of the Week 4 game in Houston, I was able to capture this cool image of the opposing team's logo reflecting off of cornerback James Bradberry's visor. This image spoke to me as it represented his focus being on the task at hand.

I have always wanted to make a photo of steam rising off of the hot head of a football player in frigid temps. The visually iconic snow game at Lambeau Field provided that opportunity. Offensive tackle Taylor Moton was seated on the bench after coming off the field, and as he removed his helmet you could see the steam pouring off his shaved head. The stadium lights shone just enough to give his head a halo, outlining it against the dark and snowy background. It is a photo that I have always wanted to make and probably my most favorite of this entire season.

Up until this point in the season I'd been itching to capture a receiving touchdown right in front of me. I finally got the shot Week 9 against Tennessee. I was on the goal line when wide receiver Curtis Samuel ran a beautiful double move on Titans corner Malcolm Butler and went up to snag the touchdown.

This is all about wide receiver Curtis Samuel's facial expression. He looks positively stunned and playful and childlike and comical all the same time after making a catch for a touchdown against the Buccaneers in London. In my opinion, this reaction was way better than the touchdown itself. Moments like this make my job extremely fun. Hands down, this was my favorite TD celebration of the year.

I was about 30 yards down the field shooting with my 400mm when Christian McCaffrey broke free in Arizona. I quickly pulled my 135mm from my right side and fired off a few frames as he was passing me, which resulted in this sweet picture of Christian in full stride with a diving Cardinals defender halfway in the frame.

This moment between tight ends coach Pete Hoener and tight end Greg Olsen was so full of love that I almost teared up watching it occur through my viewfinder. The game was winding down, Olsen seemed to be saying his goodbyes to the fans, to fellow teammates and finally made his way to his position coach for the past nine seasons. Olsen hugged Hoener, said a few things and then just lingered in the hug. I could tell it was a powerful moment for both of them and a chance to show appreciation for one another. One look at this photo and you see that football is, undeniably, about family.