Josh Okogie's New Passion: From Hardwood to the Camera Lens
Phoenix Suns guard Josh Okogie has long been admired for his relentless energy and defensive tenacity on the basketball court. Now, he is channeling that passion into a new arena: photography.
A Summer of Discovery
This summer, Okogie delved into photography, ignited by a serendipitous purchase of a Sony a7 III camera while vacationing in Milan, Italy, during Fashion Week. Encouraged by a friend to explore his creative side, Okogie began to develop his skills behind the lens.
His initial attempts at capturing live basketball action, however, proved challenging. "I'm still not good. I'll say 90-95% of my pictures are BS, but I feel like I've gotten better -- slightly -- each day I've taken pictures," Okogie admitted candidly. It's a humbling admission from an athlete used to mastering his craft on the court, but it reflects his commitment to improvement.
A Learning Curve
Okogie's learning curve in photography has been steep. He acknowledges the intricacies involved, from understanding camera settings to perfecting white balance. "I've kind of figured out how the camera works, how to do the settings, how to do the white balance and all that. So it's been pretty cool," he said.
Capturing the fast-paced action of basketball presents unique challenges. "It's very fast. Every time somebody dunks, by the time I take a picture, he's already done finished the dunk and he's already playing defense," Okogie explained. Recognizing the need to adjust to the speed of the game, he stated, "I feel like the biggest improvement I have to make is adjusting to the speed of the game and not only anticipating, but also about being at the right angle to get the best picture."
Inspiration and Guidance
In his journey to master photography, Okogie draws inspiration from seasoned photographers like David Sherman of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Barry Gossage of Phoenix. "That's my guy. He films the Wolves and he also films a lot of other NBA-sanctioned events. So I've always paid close attention to David," Okogie shared.
Okogie's goal is not just to take pictures, but to capture the raw emotion behind moments, an aspiration that adds depth to his new passion. "Because you want the picture to replicate the feeling of the play for those who weren't there," he noted.
Expanding Horizons
This summer, Okogie has already had the opportunity to capture live action during the NBA Creator Cup celebrity game and summer league games, including matchups between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, and the Phoenix Suns versus the Golden State Warriors. He plans to continue honing his skills and aims to shoot WNBA games during the offseason.
"My mentality is just to go out there and just try to give this team the energy that they need on both sides of the floor," Okogie said, acknowledging that his heart remains firmly rooted in basketball. Recently, he signed a two-year, $16 million extension with the Phoenix Suns, affirming his commitment to the team.
Looking to the Future
As the upcoming season approaches, Okogie has been in discussions with new Suns coach Mike Budenholzer and is optimistic about the team's prospects. "The West is going to be really competitive next year. I feel like we can be as good as we want to be. I feel like our ceiling is as high as we make it. I'm excited. I feel like if we get a good training camp and we start to jell, the sky's the limit for us."
Okogie envisions himself as the driving force behind the team's energy. "We have a lot of talent on this team, but I want to be the battery of this team, if that makes sense. The motor of this team, to get people going, get people excited to play, get people moving."
In many ways, Okogie's journey with photography mirrors his approach to basketball: a relentless pursuit of excellence, an eye for detail, and an unwavering commitment to improve. Whether it's through the lens of a camera or on the hardwood, Okogie's passion continues to shine.