CARDBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY - This Photo Theme Is Worthy Of The Bike Spokes

Let's start the week with some Cardboard Photography. It's been a while.

There was a time in the 70's and 80's where hockey card pics would be a "what you see is what you get" situation. There weren't a ton of photo opportunities (maybe a couple games in some instances) for some of the shutterbugs to capture all the players, so the options and varieties would be quite limited. It's why we saw a lot of backup goalies doing warmup laps with towels around their necks.

These days, I feel like there are countless photos to choose from when putting a player's card together - and it's gotta be infinitely easier for everyone. Photos are digitally stored, accessible at anytime and anywhere. The quantity of pics to choose from must be overwhelming at times...you aren't thinking about the costs of film or having to develop your rolls before submitting. It's just "here...dig through this pile".

So the ability to get the best of the best is there...right?

Not always.

This stunning snap comes from the 2023/24 Upper Deck Series 2 set. This is the flagship offering for UD and has been a staple for set collectors since the early 90's.

Now, I know Mike Matheson can often be the buttend of some jokes...but this card feels like there's a bit of a dirt kick going on. 

He's gone sliding into the net, back to the netting and seemingly focused on......something. It is one of the more unflattering photos I've seen on a card in some time.

But as I was sifting through other singles from the set, I couldn't help but notice a trend.

Fabian looks like he's just flat out falling down. And his face shows more panic or concern than it does grit and determination.

Did someone give him a little hipcheck just moments before?

Is Palmieri stretching before the game? Is he diving for a puck? Did he fall?

What is happening here?

Marner looks like he hit the boards awkwardly...all by himself. The scorpion look on a forward isn't flattering.

This is not the kind of superstar photography I'd like to have on my cards.

Sure, it's "low angle"...but there are better ways to do it.

Exhibit A....now this is a stunner of a photo! Beautifully framed, wonderful depth. So many great details to check out.

Why can't more hockey cards be like this? Is the selection just not there? Doubt it.

Just because somebody is following the puck, doesn't make it a captivating photo.

And switching to a landscape layout does not help.

Toffoli looks like he's scrambling.

Geez...this is not the "up close and personal" vibe I'm looking for.

Nope.

OK...this was a planned shot...right? Jake posed for this.

Even Matthews can't escape the wrath of the "I've fallen and I can't get up" theme.

Man, sucks to be a Leafs team collector with this product.

It's shocking to see how many photos from this set just fall completely flat in my eyes. This is a first for a flagship product. I can't think of another example where this many shots just don't cut it.

Am I wrong here? Do these pics do anything for you? Sure, it's a bit "outside the box"...but it's too much of a reach for me. Give me slick looking action shots, closeups of faces that show some emotion, unique moments that grab a viewer, or even a reflective moment...a posed shot with a smile. Something less messy.

If anything though, these cards made me stop...look, and even post about. So there's that.  :)