The Milwaukee Brewers erased 58 seasons of agony by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays to win the franchise’s first-ever World Series. At the precise moment when decades of pain turned into eternal joy, Brewers catcher William Contreras, the 2026 World Series MVP, raised his eyes and arms to the sky.
Carmen Mandato and Mike Carlson captured this moment, creating an all-time sports photo:
CLASSIC WORLD BASEBALL CHAMPION ✅ WORLD SERIES CHAMPION ✅ TAKE IT FROM WILLIAM CONTRERAS, YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE WORLD CHAMPION TONIGHT! https://t.co/kDsBqOC9Dt
– MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2026
Carlson and Mandato were on assignment for Getty, and after the photo went viral, Carlson took to Instagram to show off what led to the photo.
In the carousel, Carlson walked through “How We Took This Footage,” dispelling speculation that he and Mandato used AI, drones, or simply a screenshot of the TV.
“We installed cameras on the podiums above the field so they could be triggered remotely,” Carlson wrote. “It is mounted with one contact on the body and another on the lens and has safety cables on each. The screen is closed when adjusted. It is connected to a network to be sent automatically to an editor.”
This World Series photo is one of the best sports photos I’ve ever seen, but the process behind how it was captured might be even more interesting.
No, this was not done with AI or a drone.
Here’s what you need to know…
Mike Carlson and Carmen Mandato took this photo and Carlson explained the process on Instagram.
He says they go up to the podium before games to set up a series of cameras mounted in different positions – looking at home plate, the mound, etc.
But since photographers can’t sit on the podium during games (and have to take other photos as well), Carlson and Mandato install a shutter release to make it easier to take photos from a distance.
How it works is simple: When Carlson and Mandato take photos with their handheld camera in the outfield, the podium camera also takes a photo.
The parade camera is also connected to a network, so it automatically sends the photo to an editor.
This is similar to the process NBA photographers use to get those popular “spotlight effect” photos.
But instead of mounting their camera on a podium in the arena, NBA photographers use a shutter release to activate the strobe lights that most NBA arenas have installed in the rafters. Most people never notice the strobe light going off, but once you do, you’ll notice it every time.
Super interesting.
– Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 30, 2026
Carlson explained that he used a radio connected to his remote camera to control the camera and film the game, while simultaneously photographing the game with his handheld camera.
“Most importantly – COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION,” Carlson wrote. “(Mandato) is a long-time friend and I enjoyed catching up and sharing time with her more than sharing credit for these photos. Be kind to each other, in the workrooms and on the sidelines.”
Gn sports
