Josh Okogie's Journey from Defense to the Camera Lens
Josh Okogie, the Phoenix Suns' energetic guard known for his tenacious defense, has been channeling his relentless drive into a surprising new endeavor this summer: photography. While his work on the court has earned him a reputation for his defensive prowess, Okogie's off-court passion has taken an artistic turn, capturing moments through the lens of his Sony a7 III camera.
Okogie's foray into photography began serendipitously during a vacation in Milan, Italy, coinciding with Fashion Week. Encouraged by a friend to test his abilities, Okogie picked up the camera and hasn't looked back since. Despite admitting that the majority of his early photos were not up to his standards, Okogie expressed his determined spirit. "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," he said.
His journey hasn't been without its challenges. "It's very fast. Every time somebody dunks, by the time I take a picture, he's already finished the dunk and he's already playing defense," Okogie shared, highlighting the difficulty of capturing live basketball action. However, this hasn't deterred him; rather, it's spurred him on to improve. "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," he reflected.
Okogie's dedication to honing his craft saw him taking his camera to Las Vegas, where he captured live action during the NBA Creator Cup celebrity game, as well as summer league games featuring the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors. Each shot, successful or not, has been a step forward in his learning process. "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," Okogie remarked.
Drawing parallels between his basketball career and his new hobby, Okogie emphasized his commitment to continuous improvement and learning. He's found inspiration and guidance from seasoned photographers like David Sherman of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Barry Gossage of Phoenix, whom he respects deeply. "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," he said of Sherman.
The ultimate goal for Okogie in photography is to capture the raw emotions behind each moment, enabling viewers to feel the essence of the scene. "Because you want the picture to replicate the feeling of the play for those who weren't there," Okogie explained. His passion for this aspect of photography is evident, as he plans to extend his work to WNBA games during the offseason.
On the professional front, Okogie recently solidified his future with the Phoenix Suns by signing a two-year, $16 million extension. As he gears up for the upcoming NBA season, his focus remains on bringing energy and intensity to both ends of the floor. "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," he asserted.
With a new coach, Mike Budenholzer, at the helm, Okogie has been in discussions about their shared objectives for the team. He believes that the Western Conference will be fiercely competitive next year but remains optimistic about the Suns' potential. "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 expressed with enthusiasm.
As Okogie prepares to balance his commitments on the court with his newfound passion behind the lens, his journey serves as a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence, whether in basketball or photography. His story is an inspiring reminder that the same drive and dedication that propel athletes to greatness can translate into any field they choose to explore.