Photographer: Scott McClurg

Camera: Nikon D1H digital

KU quarterback Bill Whittemore dives for a touchdown against Colorado.

Lens: 80-200mm zoom, shot at 115mm

ISO: 400

Shutter: 1/1500th sec

Aperture: F 5.6

For this picture of Kansas University quarterback Bill Whittemore diving for the goal line during the Colorado game, my first concern was position. During football and most sports, position is the only thing a photographer can control. You can’t control the light, where the play will go or what happens. You can put yourself in a good spot to get the picture. You also can make an educated guess of where the play will go, allowing an opportunity to take a good picture.

When shooting football I tend to spend a lot of time in the back of the end zone or inside the 20-yard line. These are the best positions to not get blocked on passing plays or big runs. When KU is inside the 20-yard line, I like to shoot with shorter lenses and show a little more of the field.

For this picture, Whittemore was basically in a footrace to the front corner of the end zone. He dived to break the plane of the goal line for the touchdown and I got this picture.

— “Behind the Lens” is an ongoing weekly series that features an image selected by the Journal-World photo staff that previously ran in the newspaper or online. Wondering how a certain picture was created? Nominate it for “Behind the Lens” by contacting chief photographer Mike Yoder at 832-7141 or myoder@ljworld.com.