Photographer: Mike Yoder

Camera: Nikon D1X

Lens: 24mm

ISO: 250

Aperture: F14

Shutter: 1/400

Photographers will tell you that two of the most important parts of creating a good photograph are position and timing.

Editors will tell you the most important thing in a photograph is the subject’s name, spelled correctly.

In some situations, getting all these ingredients in one good shot can be difficult.

During the Kids Day event last Sunday after a Kansas University football practice, dozens of children scattered across a large field to get autographs. To ensure that I would be photographing children from the area and that I would be able to identify them, I had earlier tracked down a few children from Lawrence and made note of their names.

As the autograph rush began, I followed these children, hoping for a situation worthy of a photo. But nothing happened, and I quickly had to switch plans.

I noticed one player on his knees, signing for children, and as I got on my knees and moved toward him, a father and his two children crowded around for an autograph. With my position set, I waited for an interaction between the football player and the young boy. When the boy responded to a question by slapping his hand on his face, I quickly fired my camera. Although I managed only two frames with the boy’s reaction, I timed them right, and my positioning paid off.

I even remembered to get names.