WNBA Star Naz Hillmon Finds Passion in Photography Off the Court

Naz Hillmon's Dual Passions: Photography and WNBA Success

Naz Hillmon, a forward for the Atlanta Dream, is making waves both on and off the basketball court. In addition to her burgeoning basketball career, where she is considered a Sixth Player of the Year candidate, Hillmon has cultivated a passion for photography, capturing her surroundings during WNBA road trips.

Hillmon's Photographic Journey

Hillmon's interest in photography began in high school, and she now carries a Sony a7 III camera, a gift from her mother, on every Dream road trip. Her boyfriend, Andrew Wells, assists by carrying her camera bag. Despite spending much of her time with her teammates and focusing on basketball, Hillmon prefers to keep her passion for photography separate, using it as an outlet to step away from the game.

Behind the Lens: Hillmon's Favorite Shots

In an interview with Andscape, Hillmon shared the stories behind some of her favorite photographs:

“I love my job. I love basketball, but I think everybody needs a moment to step away,” said Hillmon. “[Photography] gives me that moment.”

Seattle

Hillmon has always been drawn to city skylines, particularly Seattle's. "Just the different buildings, the shapes, the sizes, the contrast of like the sky in the background, depending on whether it’s sunny that day or cloudy. That’s a big thing that I’m always drawn to is the architecture."

Brooklyn, N.Y.

In Brooklyn, Hillmon focused on the lines of the bridge, using black and white to create a "moody feel" and emphasize the symmetry and shadows.

Ohio

A cherished photo features Hillmon's niece, Shyla, during the All-Star break. Hillmon captured her niece making friendship bracelets, a significant moment as her niece wouldn't pose for additional pictures.

Chicago

Hillmon photographed teammate Rhyne Howard in Chicago, showcasing a custom-made hat. The side view captured Howard's profile and the city's backdrop.

Flowers

Hillmon loves capturing the detail in nature, "I really like the detail [of this flower]. I think that’s the biggest thing when I’m taking pictures of trees or flowers or grass – being able to see the detail... Just the detail and the simplicity."

Minnesota

Being an athlete provides a unique perspective, "I definitely think [being an athlete] gives you a different perspective [as a photographer]. I think I’m able to kind of filter what an athlete would really like to see after a game, and being able to have a little bit of variety as well.”

Golfing

Hillmon says "I am awful at golfing...I’ll just say, I’ll caddie, and I’ll bring my camera, and I’ll just take pictures."

Sports Photography

Hillmon finds photographing sports challenging, noting the need for perfect timing and settings. "I actually think it’s really hard to photograph sports. Obviously with things in motion and being able to catch it at the right angle or speed, your apertures."

Minnesota (Building)

She appreciated the colors and architecture of the building stating, "I really just liked the colors of this building, but also the [stone]… I like being below or underneath the building, so it would feel more like a castle because it’s so big and built up, as well as the angle of the sky."

San Francisco

A clock tower caught Hillmon's eye while walking in San Francisco. She positioned herself in the middle of the street to capture the light, statue, and lines in the shot.

Seattle (Boat)

Taking a picture of Maya Caldwell on a boat in Seattle proved difficult, "This was a really hard picture to take, actually, because we were still moving along on our boat, and [Maya Caldwell] (pictured here) was moving as well."

Seattle, WA (Orange)

Hillmon photographed Rhyne Howard holding an orange in front of her face. "She posed herself actually in terms of [putting] this orange in front of her face."

Vancouver, BC (Ice Cream)

While in Vancouver, Hillmon photographed an ice cream with puff pastry on top, stating "I thought, “Before I eat it, it looks pretty.” So I just snapped a picture. It was also yummy. So it looks good and it tastes good.”

Seattle, WA (Loback Meat Co.)

She enjoyed the nostalgia picture of the Loback Meat Co. sign, "I feel like that’s like a nostalgia picture. Maybe because of the lighting of the sign. It just feels a little bit older to me."

Dream vs. Fever: Game 2 Live Updates

While Hillmon pursues her photographic interests, she also remains focused on her basketball career. The Atlanta Dream are currently engaged in a playoff series against the Indiana Fever. The Fever, plagued by injuries, are fighting to keep their season alive after dropping Game 1.

Game 2 Updates

The Fever and Dream faced off in Game 2 on Tuesday, September 16th, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Fever triumphed with a final score of 35 against Atlanta Dream's 29 during the first half.

• Kelsey Mitchell is the leading scorer, contributing 11 points to the Fever.
• Both Naz Hillmon and Brionna Jones from the Dream are facing foul challenges.
• The Fever demonstrated an impressive performance with a 10-2 run in the second quarter, achieving their largest lead of 11 points.

Key Players

• Allisha Gray: Averaged career highs in points (18.4), rebounds (5.3) and assists (3.5).
• Aliyah Boston: Averaged a career-high 15 points, 8.2 rebounds.
• Kelsey Mitchell: Averaged 20.2 points.

Team Information

As Hillmon continues to develop both her basketball skills and her photographic eye, she exemplifies the importance of having passions outside of professional sports.