Soccer Player Brandi Chastain. Photograph © John Todd 2010. All Rights Reserved

In the latest episode of “Advancing Your Photography,” Marc Silber sits down with acclaimed sports photographer John Todd to talk about what it takes to capture great action images in sports.

As one of the most respected photographers in the world of sports and soccer, Todd’s clients include Nike, the U.S. Soccer Federation, and the Maverick’s Big Wave Surfing Contest. He is also the team photographer for Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes and the U.S. Men and Women’s Soccer Teams.

With images that capture the spirit and drama of some of the world’s most gifted athletes, John Todd has made a career out of taking big, bold, beautiful photographs. This also makes him the perfect mentor to photographers who want to improve their game.

Watch the interview and you’ll learn all about:

1. How to Approach a Sports Shoot — Whether you’re photographing your nephew’s youth soccer game or handling a World Cup match with international superstars, John offers important advice on how you should prepare for your shoot. Watch the interview and you’ll learn what he means when he says he approaches every shoot as if it were a “globe.”

2. Simple and Clean — Hear what John has to say about what he considers to be the two most important aspects of an image that pops out and wows.

3. Visualizing the End Result — Echoing photography icon Ansel Adams, John touts the philosophy of preparedness. Hear what he has to say about “seeing with your mind’s eye” and picturing exactly what you want your photograph to look like… before you ever press a button.

To see more of John Todd’s tips and techniques on how to improve your sports photography, be sure to watch the latest episode of “Advancing Your Photography” with Marc Silber. Also, check out more of John’s amazing work over at www.JohnTodd.com.