Photographer: Nicolas Stempien-Lauff

You often see photographers around baseball fields, laden with a camera and a massive lens. Baseball TV France met one of them who recently discovered baseball after spending years around American football fields.

BTVF: Who are you, Nicolas Stempien-Lauff?

Hello, I’m Nicolas Stempien-Lauff, an amateur photographer for about five years now.

BTVF: Specializing in sports photography, how do you define the shot that makes the difference?

The shot that makes the difference for me is one that tells a story, capturing a moment in life. I love storytelling, so I need more than just an action shot, even though action is part of sports.

BTVF: Your photos are recognizable in their framing and color development. How do you define your style?

My style is hard to describe. I try not to do what everyone else does. I draw a lot of inspiration from cinema and street photography. I love the feeling that my photo comes straight out of a movie. To achieve that, I always vary my angles, from close-ups to portraits, wide shots, and action. Always with a cinematic touch.

BTVF: Baseball has entered your universe. How do you approach the specifics of baseball photography?

I’m new to baseball, so I don’t master all aspects of the game. But I think you need to know what you want before the ball is pitched. Unlike other sports where you follow the ball, if you want a player leaping for a base, a pitcher throwing, or the batter swinging, you have to choose beforehand because the ball moves too fast to track once you’ve got your eye in the viewfinder. So you need to focus on one aspect of the game and hope to capture the moment.

BTVF: If it hasn’t been done already, do you have in mind the photo you’d love to capture in baseball?

The shot I’d dream of is a catcher leaping or sliding into a base, kicking up a cloud of dust.

BTVF: What can we wish you?

More photography projects, access to major events, and a bit of sports photography in the United States.

Instagram: @nsl.photographer