When a photographer from a basketball country arrives in a city known for basketball, that already sounds promising and you know the final results will be excellent. For the first time, the Croatian coastal city of Zadar hosted a FIBA 3×3 World Tour event, bringing together 14 of the world’s top teams, thousands of fans, and two unforgettable days of basketball, music and street-sport energy in one of the most spectacular settings on the Adriatic.
While 3×3 basketball is not something I photograph every day, I have worked on many events with a similar rhythm, energy and atmosphere. Because of that, I had a clear idea of how I wanted to approach the FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Zadar and how to visually tell the story of the event. Although 3×3 basketball is fast and dynamic, it is still more predictable to photograph than extreme sports, where the key moment can disappear in a split second. The challenge may not have been the biggest one, but that did not make the experience any less enjoyable.
I wanted to capture not only the basketball action, but also the unique character of the location itself. My goal was to showcase the iconic Greeting to the Sun, one of Zadar’s most recognizable landmarks, and blend the spirit of the city with the intensity of the competition.
The tournament opened at this iconic location, where the court, the sea and the crowd created a unique open-air arena. Fast-paced games, acrobatic performances, dunk shows and DJ sets turned the first day into much more than a basketball competition — it became a full city experience. Through moments on the court, I aimed to tell the story of both the winners and the defeated, using photographs to capture the emotions that define every tournament.
Despite challenging weather conditions on the final day, the action moved to the legendary Jazine Hall, a place deeply woven into Zadar’s basketball history. The shift only added to the atmosphere, as fans packed the stands and brought the kind of energy only Zadar can produce.
In this part of the world, spectators always bring something special to sporting events. Their reactions, emotions and support become part of the story itself, which is why photographing the crowd is often just as interesting as capturing the action on the court.
In the final, Miami defeated Amsterdam 21:19 after a tense and high-quality matchup, becoming the first-ever winner of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Zadar. James Parrott was named tournament MVP, while the event itself showed how powerful the connection between sport, city and culture can be.
INSIDE THE PHOTOSHOOT WITH PREDRAG VUCKOVIC
Even though 3×3 basketball is not a sport Predrag Vuckovic photographs on a regular basis, finding his way around events like this comes naturally. Part of that comes from growing up in a country where basketball is deeply woven into the culture, but even more from years spent documenting some of the world’s fastest and most demanding sports.
Compared to aerial disciplines, motorsports and extreme sports, where decisive moments can disappear in an instant, 3×3 basketball offers a different rhythm. Yet the ability to anticipate action, read the flow of competition and position himself for the right shot remains just as important.
Equipment used for this project
Cameras: 2x Nikon Z9 camera, 1x Nikon Z7 II camera
Lenses: 70-200mm f 2.8, 24-70mm f 2.8, 14-24mm f 2.8, 35mm f 1.2
Numerous different mounts; 5x remote controls Pocket Wizards Plus 3; Drone DJI Mavic Pro 3
For Vuckovic, the goal is never simply to photograph what happens on the court. By combining the action, the atmosphere, the crowd and the unique backdrop of the location, he creates images that capture the full character of an event and reveal the true essence of both the sport and the place where it unfolds.