The Art of Capturing Athletics: A Visual Chronicle of the XVII International Meeting Santa Cruz de Tenerife
By: Pablo García 120 Lenses
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, April 2025
Sports photography demands a special sensitivity: the ability to freeze the moment when strength, technique, and emotion reach their highest expression. Armed with my camera and a 75-300mm lens, I had the privilege of documenting the XVII International Meeting Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Julián Martínez Alonso Festival, an event that not only celebrates athletic excellence but also the spirit of human perseverance.
A Stage of Speed and Technique
From the very first events, it was clear that the Tenerife Island Athletics Center would become a theater of fleeting gestures and unrepeatable moments. My 75-300mm lens allowed me to maintain the perfect distance, avoiding interference with the competitions while precisely capturing the focused gazes, the tensed muscles, and the explosive energy of every sprint start or discus throw.
Choosing the telephoto lens was essential: it offered a narrow angle ideal for isolating the athletes from the busy backgrounds, while still conveying the vibrant atmosphere that surrounded the track.
The Poetry of the Steeplechase
One of the most visually striking moments was the 2,000-meter steeplechase. From my lateral position, I could capture the cadence of the runners leaping over hurdles and diving into the water pit. Each droplet suspended in the air under the evening light added drama to the images—a beauty that only sports photography can immortalize.
Here again, the 75-300mm lens proved its effectiveness: it caught expressions of effort and determination that the human eye can barely perceive in real-time.
Throwing Events: Strength in Motion
Documenting the throwing events, particularly the heavy hammer and javelin, was especially moving. Each throw is a ballet of power and balance that, when seen through a medium-long focal length lens, reveals the tension of the moment before the thrust, the rotation of the body, the release of the object, and finally, the suspended trajectory through the air.
The javelin, in particular—the symbolic star of the event—offered scenes of sculptural beauty, where the connection between the athlete and their instrument seemed almost ritualistic.
Beyond Competition: The Legacy
Photographing the Meeting also meant capturing moments of camaraderie, the embraces after crossing the finish line, the faces of satisfaction or frustration. As a photographer, my aim was not merely to portray the competition, but to tell a human story of collective effort, passion, and memory.
The tribute to Julián Martínez Alonso, the soul of this athletic festival, also permeated every image: in the banners, in the loudspeaker announcements, and in the applause of the attendees.
Final Reflection
Every shot I took during this XVII International Meeting was a search: a quest to find, amid the speed and strength, a moment of pure truth. With my 75-300mm lens as an extension of my gaze, I aimed to capture not just the athletes in action, but the very soul of an event that reaffirms the power of sport as a universal language.
Beyond the athletic results, what remains is the emotion frozen in an image: the living memory of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on an April Saturday that has now become part of its history