Andrei Golovanov and Sergei Kivrin

Canon Ambassadors and Russian sports photographers Andrei Golovanov and Sergei Kivrin are a great example of why two heads are better than one.

Their collaborative imagery has adorned the pages of almost all of Russia's daily newspapers and sports magazines, plus international titles such as Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times for more than 30 years.

However, it wasn't sports photography that first piqued Sergei's interest; the son of the famous Soviet photographer Vladislav Kivrin wanted to be a photojournalist. "At the end of the eighties dramatic events took place in our country, and genres such as sport were not interesting against that backdrop. People fought for their lives, not for gold medals," Sergei explains. His eventual frustration with the authorities led him to try a new genre. "I began to shoot sports, because during those Soviet times it was the only area where you could show the truth. Other types of photography were basically just propaganda."

"It seems to me that such cooperation only has advantages," Sergei suggests. "Firstly, we always have two points of view of an event. Secondly, if one of us misses something, the other is always there as insurance. Thirdly, we never have to pass on assignments, even if one of us is sick. Finally, this arrangement is especially beneficial at large events, where you can capture more than one sport at the same time."

As well as appearing in a host of publications, the duo regularly collaborates with news agencies such as Associated Press and Reuters. Their images have also reaped a host of sports photography awards across the world.

When asked what makes their images unique, Sergei explains that they try to make sports reportage aesthetically attractive. "We don't just 'catch' a moment. We pay particular attention to the light, the background, the emotion of the athlete, the beauty of their form, and the dynamics of the sport." Andrei adds: "We know the sport thoroughly and take only the beautiful and unexpected."

Andrei and Sergei are now passing their skills on to the next generation, using their relationship with Canon and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) to provide masterclasses for sports photographers all over Russia.

What pre-shoot routine should a sports photographer follow?

"You need to know the time of the competition and get to the venue early. Check the internet for up-to-the-minute sports news and if it's a team sport, find out who is playing," says Andrei. "Then head to the venue and reserve your place."

How do you know which is the best place to reserve?

"We have shot sports for a long time, so know instinctively, but if we turn up and see something unusual about the place – how it is lit, the colour of the floor, etc – then we will move," says Andrei.

What type of images work best in sports?

"I've never been interested in capturing goals, or fixing moments," Sergei says. "Human behavior in extreme conditions, the geometry of the game, the beauty of the body – that's what attracts me. Furthermore, a sports photo is only interesting when the photographer is able to convey his/her attitude to what is happening."

Does the type of sport make a difference to how you shoot?

"I like to shoot where there is struggle, excitement, emotions," says Sergei. "Photographing a local team can be just as interesting as a national championship match. The same can be said about photographing chess. Such a calm sport, but how many emotions are there? How many interesting characters?"

What settings do you typically use?

"Mostly I use shutter priority mode, but if the lighting is complex, or if there's a lot of white and black in the frame, I'll switch to manual mode. I use cross-type rather than single focusing points unless it is snowing or raining," explains Andrei.

One Thing I Know

Sergei Kivrin

"If you're just starting out, take a look at the type of images famous sports photographers are taking, and try repeating them. Once you've got that down, find a style of your own, something that makes you stand out."

"You need to fully understand the sport that you want to photograph. You must know the rules, finer details, and who the stars in the teams are. Do as much research as you can and watch it on television to discover the best shooting angles and understand the movement of the sport."