Kevin Durant Was a Photographer at Super Bowl 50
Guess who was on the sidelines photographing Super Bowl 50 yesterday? Kevin Durant.
The NBA star (and MVP two years ago) was a credentialed photographer at the championship game, shooting for The Players’ Tribune. One day earlier he was shooting basketballs against the Golden State Warriors at nearby Oracle Arena in Oakland.
“When I was invited by The Players’ Tribune and the NFL to be a credentialed photographer on the sidelines during the Super Bowl, I said ‘I’ll do it’ before they even finished their question,” he writes.
He was photographing with a Canon 7D — one that he had gotten for his birthday earlier this year, and one that he almost left at home while rushing to catch the plane.
Thunder F Kevin Durant, who enjoys taking photos, is a credentialed photographer at Super Bowl 50: pic.twitter.com/BRLW2ghd8A
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) February 7, 2016
Welcome to #SB50, @KDTrey5! pic.twitter.com/HRdD8uyMb4
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2016
Durant joins baseball stars Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson as athletes who have a passion for photography.
Last night, @KDTrey5 was shooting the lights out of Oracle.
Tonight, he's shooting #SB50 for the Players' Tribune. pic.twitter.com/FrZe039F5G
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) February 7, 2016
Selfie game strong at #SB50 for our on-field photographer @KDTrey5. pic.twitter.com/QWJwvgbU8x
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) February 7, 2016
“I learned a few things while I was scrambling to take photos,” Durant writes at The Players’ Tribune. “The first thing is: you have to keep your wits about you. It’s a safety thing, man. As you’re looking for good pictures, and scoping things out through your lens, you have to be aware of the action on the field.”
“Another thing is: I’m learning how tough these action shots are to get … they happen so fast. It’s hectic following the action, then checking your settings in between plays. It’s a lot of guessing and adjusting as you go,” he continues. “One trick I was using to make it easier on myself: I’d predict if it was going to be a run or a pass and then focus in on just one player for an entire play.”
Kevin Durant is on the clock as a photographer at #SB50: https://t.co/wFzqfRkBjm pic.twitter.com/YUN0zZfDci
— Esquire Magazine (@esquire) February 8, 2016
Kevin Durant @KDTrey5 is a field photographer in front of me – for real! pic.twitter.com/y74LBAoYTP
— Phil Sanderson (@SanFranciscoVC) February 7, 2016
Here’s a short clip of NFL cameras spotting Durant with his DSLR behind the end zone:
Wait for it…
Wait for it…
Yep, that's @KDTrey5 aka professional #SB50 photographer ? pic.twitter.com/xOloQykPvU
— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2016
Other athletes were excited about Durant’s new direction:
saw bro @KDTrey5 snapping pics of the Super Bowl for the @PlayersTribune.. Need to see how the photos came out lol
— R.HollisJefferson (@RondaeHJ24) February 8, 2016
Who else is excited to see KD picture?
I'm actually excited to see @KDTrey5 pictures tomorrow man… I know that was a dope experience
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) February 8, 2016
Durant has new found respect for professional photographers after spending an afternoon in their shoes.
“The biggest thing I learned is something I knew on a certain level … but didn’t know until tonight: that sports photography is hard work and it takes a lot of skill and focus in a crazy atmosphere with a lot of distractions,” he writes. “I have a ton of respect for the people who do this as a profession.”
Here's a sneak peek of how #SB50 looks through the ? lens of @KDTrey5. pic.twitter.com/uyuJvypMHc
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) February 8, 2016


If you’re itching to see more the photos Durant left Levi Stadium with, a large gallery has been published over at The Players’ Tribune.