Sports have the remarkable ability to evoke a wide range of emotions in humans, from joy after a thrilling 1-0 win, to sympathy after a teammate gets injured, to anger after a tie that feels more like a loss, to frustration after making a mistake, to contentment and even laughter after a solid performance.
Someone who knows this firsthand is sports photographer Josue Zamora, more commonly known as “Rhino Fotos.” Mr. Zamora is a Connecticut-based sports photographer whose love for sports and storytelling through his camera has made him a beloved figure among athletes at KO and beyond who want those perfect action shots. He found his way to KO after tagging the school in a picture he posted on Instagram when he went to see his friend’s daughter, who attends Suffield Academy, play in a basketball game. Suffield happened to be taking on KO, and KO’s Jackie Pisani noticed the picture and reached out to him. “We discussed business, and within 30 minutes, we had come to an agreement that I would begin taking pictures in the spring,” he said. “It was like a blessing in disguise for me.”
During our interview, Mr. Zamora shared his journey into sports photography, the joy he finds in it, and the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed. He described what led him to become a sports photographer. “Honestly, I feel like I kind of just fell into it,” he said. “My oldest son, he’s eight years old, and now he’s playing sports. I want to document his life. And I figured I love sports. Why not combine the two, my love for photography and my love for sports, and begin documenting the sports careers of these KO athletes.”
He’s always been fascinated by the art of photography and enjoys taking shots of athletes. He constantly thinks about himself and his days of being on the gridiron. He would love to see the current KO athletes looking back on his photos when they are older.
Mr. Zamora wishes he had access to more pictures during his playing days when he was a collegiate athlete playing football at Westfield State. He recalls one play that he wishes was captured. “The other team had scored and they were going for the extra point,” he said. “I ended up jumping over the center. I blocked a field goal. I got there almost at the same time as the ball. I literally stood in front of the ball. The kicker kicked it into me. It took the most perfect bounce and it bounced up to my hands. I caught it, ran it back for 90 yards and scored a touchdown.”
Mr. Zamora’s love for sports photography is evident in his images. “What I love about sports is that it’s genuine,” he said. “There’s no posing. There’s no acting… there’s none of that.” This authenticity shines through in his work, the shots providing a unique canvas, where every emotion is raw and genuine. As a former athlete, he feels that he can anticipate what is going to happen in order to get the right shot. He shoots with a Nikon D750 which he believes is a bit outdated, but he also believes that the knowledge he gained from “YouTube University” has helped him navigate in properly adjusting his settings on his camera to get him through tough lighting scenarios. Mr. Zamora taught himself how to take photos. “It was a long, tedious process,” he said. “It was lots and lots of trial and error, corrections, and figuring out what works and what doesn’t for me.” However, there’s much more to taking a picture than just clicking the button.
As with many professions, the world of sports photography involves a significant amount of behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed. He spends countless hours editing. A lot of people have no clue about what happens after the game and the process of getting these photos from the camera to the computer to the client. He went on to explain the little details that might be overlooked by many, citing one of the most important pieces: composition and anticipation for the shot. “One of the traits I most appreciate about myself is my natural eye,” he said. “I was just given the natural talent to have the eye for some of the shots I take. Sure, field placement and the settings on my camera also contribute, but it’s hard to teach having the eye for the right pictures.”
When asked about his favorite moments, he was genuinely enthusiastic, expressing his enjoyment in capturing every time a team scores, regardless of the sport. However, he shared an interesting revelation, one that I certainly didn’t expect: the intensity and team chemistry on the volleyball court, and the profound impact it had on him. “I didn’t know how many emotions and celebrations there are in a volleyball game,” he remarked, highlighting the often unseen aspects of sports.
Mr. Zamora’s work can be found on Instagram (@rhino_fotos and @jzamora.photography). He posts sports on the ‘Rhino Fotos’ account and family portraits and graduation pictures on the other account. His work is of a very high caliber, and anybody looking for great pictures of the highest quality should contact him!
