Looking back at the best photos from the Chiefs’ archives in 2023
A photograph can be powerful. It possesses the ability to capture the raw emotion of a singular moment and preserve an otherwise fleeting snippet of time, telling a story in the process.
Over the next several weeks, we’re taking a look back at 10 of the best photos from the 2023-24 season along with commentary from Chiefs’ Director of Photography Steve Sanders. Unlike in previous years, this isn’t a countdown of Sanders’ top images, but rather the chronological story of the Chiefs’ championship season told through some of his favorite photos.
Here’s a look at what we’ve covered so far:
We’ll continue with No. 8:
“Snow Flurries”
Game: Week 13 at the Green Bay Packers
The Subject: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up at Lambeau Field prior to the Chiefs’ matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Taken By: Mikayla Schmidt
Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Focal Length: 35 mm
Exposure Time: 1/1,000
Aperture: f/1.6
Steve Sanders’ Thoughts:
Q: Why did you want to include this photo in our collection?
Sanders: “This one is special because Mikayla, who is originally from Wisconsin, is the photographer who shot it,” Sanders said. “This was a special game for her, and I thought this image was super unique. We always take several photos of Patrick during warmups, but I don’t know if we have another one quite like this. It’s at night, it’s snowing and there’s just a lot of cool stuff going on here. This is a great ‘hero portrait’ and it could be used for anything. It could be a magazine cover or the cover of a video game. It could be anything because it showcases Patrick here in the snow.”
Q: What went into the decision to make this black and white?
Sanders: “If you look at this picture in color, it really kind of takes away from the snow and everything else going on in the image,” Sanders said. “By turning it black and white, it really enhances the little specs of snow in a way that makes it look clean.”
