The images from this year's World Cup were edited in real-time and made available to the public within seconds.
There are 22 photographs from the World Cup library and the story behind them by the person who took them.
As Neuer was sent up to contest a corner in the dying moments of the game, I was positioned in the stadium catwalk high above the pitch, wearing a harness with two cameras and two lens strapped to me. It's rare to get a picture with both goalies. You cannot tell which team is attacking or which team is defending. You don't usually get a high angle in football. The frame works because the ball is in the air and everyone is looking at it. The faces of the players add to the picture.
The Croatia players warmed up on the pitch when it was partly cloudy and partly sunny. I moved into the right position to get a good shot of Luka Modric, who is still one of the best players in the world. I set up my camera on the highlight exposer so that I could take a picture of the Modric-shaped head.
Croatia were in a perfect position to show a defensive wall when Morocco were awarded a free kick. Most teams now place a player lying on the floor to stop a low ball if the wall jumps, so I thought it would be nice to focus on the player lying down.
The picture of Richarlison scoring his goal against Serbia was captured on a remote camera. Major football tournaments give access to the elevated position. I had two cameras set up in line with the 18-yard box, one with a wider lens showing the supporters and the other with a tighter frame, which I triggered from my position on the halfway line.
The picture was taken using a small remote camera that was placed inside the goal. We've been working on it for a long time. The picture works because the Mexico goalkeeper dives in mid-air as the ball crosses the line. It is very difficult to find a different angle at a football match these days, but every now and then something will come along that will work, and this is one of them. The technology that allows us to capture moments like this is the work of my colleagues at the same company.
According to David Ramos, the authorized photographic agency of the world's most popular sport has been given by the company. The goal is to document what goes on behind the scenes. An example can be found in this image. The players got off the bus and went to the dressing room to dance and sing. I waited for them in a corridor halfway between the bus and the dressing room to mingle with the players. The shot was easy and they were able to perform their ritual. They didn't progress further in the World Cup.
Hangst was assigned to work on the runway. It means that you can stay on the roof of the stadium and watch a football match. It gives a different view. As Messi is one of the key players in this tournament, I was focused on Argentina's attack. I was happy to cover it with a 400mm lens because it was rare that he would end up in a clash with a goalkeeper. Instead of hitting the ball, the goalkeeper's hand went into Messi's face. They won the game despite Messi missing the penalty.
It is fun to capture winning moments, but the hardest part of the job is to take a picture of the team when they leave the World Cup. Germany was under pressure to leave their group after losing the first match. Kai Havertz came off the bench to score two goals and was going to be the player of the match, but they were still going home. To be discreet, you have to shoot on a longer lens and not hang around in their eyeline. I was able to take a few pictures.
It is important to watch out for off-the-ball incidents during knockout matches. Our editors told us to look out for key Swiss players. The two players who scored and celebrated by forming a double-headed eagle with their hands were both Kosovar. It makes you more aware of what's happening. I kept an eye on both players in case the situation got out of hand.
The kids who escort the players in the tunnel are always excited when Lionel Messi is playing. Sometimes it's like the other players don't exist, but he always looks to engage with the children. It can be hard to find the perfect spot for a live broadcast in the tunnel because there are so many cameras. I waited for Messi to lead the team from the changing rooms. One girl who was not his escort snuck to the front and told him she was a big fan. He smiled when she put her thumb up.
There are fantastic players in this tournament, then there are the superstars of world football that steal the show. That's right, Mbappe of France fits that criterion. I was looking for a picture to show his skill and pace because he was the star performer on the night. It was not easy to achieve such a sharp and clearly recognisable face by using a slow shutter speed.
Brazil are known for their flamboyant celebrations when scoring goals, and there was a lot of talk about the celebration being disrespectful towards the opposing team. I was focused on him running towards my corner to get the shot after he scored the second goal from the penalty spot. I switched back to a shorter zoom lens to make sure I captured all the players dancing after he scored.
Alex Grimm is a sports photographer at the World Cup. You can't predict who will run onAdrenaline and who will freeze in shock. The concentration on getting the perfect shot is mixed with excitement and euphoria when it's just a few seconds.
The Netherlands vs Argentina match was one of the highlights of the tournament. The match went to penalties after a lot of fighting. The first save for Argentina was captured by my camera behind the goal. The start of the shootout was set by the stop from van Dijk.
The catwalk is the unique vantage point we are granted access to for Fifa tournaments. The advantage is that you don't have to think about where you are on the pitch. I was able to take a picture of Argentina's celebration as soon as the match was over. I am always thankful for some luck in my job, as it was a tense game and I wasn't expecting this reaction.
With less than 10 minutes left in the tournament, Portugal was on their way out and Patrick Smith was working from the runway. My plan was to follow him. After coming off the bench in the second half, he was either going to make a difference in the game or be eliminated from the World Cup. The image is a result of a missed opportunity late in the game and it shows the story of Portugal's loss.
Alexander Hassenstein was able to work from above the benches in the media tribune. Usually, we are positioned on the field of play, so it was nice to get a different perspective. After finding his mother in the stands, he took her to the pitch to dance with her for the world to see. As the two danced so beautifully together, I was completely fascinated by the fun and atmosphere, as they will remember for the rest of their lives.
The picture was taken during England's World Cup journey. It was taken with a small camera mounted high up in the top corner of the goal, a location that requires a lot of luck and custom equipment. We were able to get a new perspective on goalmouth action with the addition of two remote cameras behind each goal. They are set up a few hours before kick-off and can get knocked off balance by a goal or something that shakes the net, so for it to stay in place after the first penalty was lucky. As if they were a second goalkeeper in the back of the net, the ability to see a moment without the net draws the viewer in.
I was able to look down on the pitch from the stadium's catwalk, thanks to the lighting rig. It's a unique angle that we have been working on to bring something different to the table. You have more control over your position above the field. You can think about what kind of picture you want to take. I was positioned above the Croatia goal in the first half of the game. They did that. The shape of the bodies is what makes this image special, it is the fully stretched leg of Alvarez that knocked the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper.
The pitch at the World Cup was only open to the media after the game. These images allow players to connect with fans through the lens of a camera, when emotions are at their highest, and we photographers try to capture the players' reactions when emotions are at their highest. I knew I had to grab his attention by shouting "Yeeessss Kyliaaaaan!". He gave me the perfect shot and celebrated right down my lens. It's nice that he's wearing the shirt of his team mate. The visual sums up how excited I am for the final.
Hangst, what a final. Messi led Argentina to world supremacy. The image shows Lionel Messi in the spotlight moments before he lifts the World Cup trophy. I was in an exclusive position on the roof of the stadium to get a better look at the greatest player in the world.
In 1986 Diego Maradona of Argentina held the World Cup trophy aloft in the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, and this image of Lionel Messi on the shoulders of a teammate is similar. Messi had to avoid hitting his head as they passed under the bar.
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