Mia Hamm Image Scan

World Cup 1999.

Mia Hamm celebrates after scoring during the penalty shootout against China — one of those moments that still gives me chills. The Rose Bowl was packed, 90,000 strong, the air heavy with heat and anticipation. You could feel the collective breath of the crowd — and then the explosion of sound when the ball hit the back of the net.

Even in that moment, I remember wondering if any of us really knew what we were witnessing. This wasn’t just a win. It was a cultural shift — a defining moment for women’s sports, for soccer in the U.S., and for an entire generation of athletes and fans.

Lately I’ve been revisiting this frame while testing a new film scanning setup — using a macro lens and light table instead of a traditional scanner. It’s faster, but also more personal, more hands-on. Dropping those old Fujichrome 100 transparencies onto the light table, watching those rich colors glow again — it’s like opening a time capsule.

I’ve been comparing two macro lenses, the Tokina 90mm and the Nikon 55mm. Both are beautiful, but the Tokina has this crispness that makes the moment come alive again. It’s wild how a little glass and light can pull you right back to a day that changed everything.

There’s a story behind how I captured this particular angle during the PKs — I’ll share that one soon. #USWNT #1999WW