Andrew Bernstein Unveils Life’s Work & Wisdom at Xposure 2025

Photo : Sharjah Govt Media Bureau

The last day of the International Photography Festival (Xposure) 2025 in Sharjah was a special moment for people who love sports and photography. Famous sports photographer Andrew Bernstein stood on the stage and shared his journey. He showed the audience some of his most famous pictures and told stories about them. He captured many great moments in sports, like Michael Jordan hugging his father after winning his first NBA championship and Kobe Bryant’s rise to fame. His camera has seen history being made.

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When someone asked him about his favorite photo, he smiled and said it was like choosing between his children. But if he had to pick one, it would be the picture of Michael Jordan in 1991, sitting on the floor, holding his first championship trophy with tears in his eyes. This photo became more special because, years later, Jordan’s father was sadly killed. Bernstein shared that Jordan loved this photo so much that he asked for a copy to keep.

Bernstein has taken NBA pictures for many years. He explained that taking the perfect picture in the past was much harder. Today’s digital cameras can take many pictures in just one second. But back then, he could take only one photo every four seconds because he used special arena lights that had to match his camera’s speed. He had no second chances. To get the best pictures, he arrived at stadiums hours before the game, set up his cameras, and studied how the players moved. His pictures of Kobe Bryant flying through the air and Shaquille O’Neal’s strong moves were not just about pressing a button—it was about knowing the game and being ready at the right second.

One of the best experiences of Bernstein’s life was working with the 1992 Dream Team. This was the greatest basketball team ever, with stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. He had special permission to take pictures inside their locker room and practice sessions. No other photographer had this chance. His rule was simple—be quiet and stay out of the way. He remembered that coach Phil Jackson had a special way of telling him to leave. If Jackson raised his eyebrow, it meant Bernstein should step out of the room.

Even great photographers have moments they regret. Bernstein admitted that he missed one of the greatest basketball moments ever. In the 2000 Olympics, Vince Carter jumped over a seven-foot-tall French player and dunked the ball. It was an unbelievable moment, but Bernstein missed it. He did not make any excuses. He just accepted that sometimes, mistakes happen.

His photos have been on the covers of Sports Illustrated and in big ads for Nike and Reebok. But he said that sports photography has changed a lot. In the past, getting a cover on Sports Illustrated was a big deal. It meant you were a top photographer. But today, Sports Illustrated is almost gone, and many of his photographer friends have lost their jobs. Even with these changes, Bernstein still loves photography. He was proud of his work with Kobe Bryant on the book The Mamba Mentality. He said that Kobe wanted to share his thoughts on what it meant to be the Black Mamba and asked Bernstein to bring the story to life with his photos.

Bernstein also talked about how photography has changed. He remembered taking a picture of LeBron James when he broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record. In that picture, almost everyone in the crowd was holding up their phones to record the moment. But he noticed two people who didn’t—Phil Knight, the owner of Nike, and his friend Jimmy Goldstein, who does not own a phone. This small detail made him think about how people now experience big moments through their phone screens instead of watching with their own eyes.

At the end of his talk, Bernstein gave some advice to young photographers. He said that great sports photography is not just about being lucky. It is about understanding the game, being ready for anything, and capturing moments that tell a story.

Bernstein has spent his life taking pictures of the world’s greatest athletes. Now, he has also become a legend. His photos are part of basketball history, and his work will be remembered forever. His talk was one of the biggest highlights of Xposure 2025, a festival that brings together photographers from all over the world. As the event came to an end, it was clear that Bernstein’s photos will always be a part of sports history, just like the unforgettable moments he captured.

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