GREAT footy moments can be immortalised by a shutter firing many times faster than the blink of an eye.

For the people behind the lens, capturing those moments requires a blend of technique, planning, instinct - and sometimes a little luck.

Here AFL photographers Michael Willson and Adam Trafford select their three favourite shots of the season so far, and share the stories behind the images.

Charlie's climb, by Michael Willson

In a dark season for the Blues, Charlie Curnow has produced many highlights such as this screamer over Tom Langdon in Round 14. I could see it coming a mile away. A high ball, Langdon sitting underneath, Curnow with a full head of steam and the sit. It was set up perfectly. And Curnow delivered, taking the ball flush above his head at the apex of his climb. I had a great angle, Curnow facing me relatively front-on and a clear view of his face. The mark was compared to Alex Jesaulenko's famous grab over 'Jerker' Jenkin in the 1970 Grand Final - same teams, same action, similar spot on the MCG. I was extremely happy to have captured a comparable moment in time. - Michael Willson

Florent and Castagna collide, by Adam Trafford

This collision between Oliver Florent of the Swans and Jason Castagna of the Tigers from their round 15 match at Etihad Stadium is one of the rare moments you get a shot like this to work. Big collisions can often seem exciting in the moment, only to pull up the shots on the computer and realize that each frame just hasn't captured it well. They're often not quite sharp, particularly under lights when our shutter speed is on the lower end required for something like this. Occasionally you can get a nice one where the players are frozen in the air, legs going everywhere, and where possible a bit of sweat and grass flying around always tops it off. - Adam Trafford

Jack be nimble, by Michael Willson

This frame of Jack Higgins kicking what could be Goal of the Year in Round 19 against the Magpies is one of my favourite photos of the season. There's so many layers to the image. You have the unbelievably acrobatic scissor kick from Higgins and the desperate attempt from Darcy Moore to touch the ball. The faces in the crowd tell a story of confusion, intrigue and excitement. Travis Varcoe looks on in disbelief and finally the luckless Matt Scharenberg lays injured, just having snapped his ACL that would end his season. Instinct from Jack Higgins produced one of the moments of the season; the same instinct told me to keep firing. Even though I was nearly 100 metres away, I sensed something special was unfolding. - MW

The falcon, by Adam Trafford

People often ask if you always know if a photo is a good one as you've taken it. My answer is usually that it depends. You generally have a good idea if you've nailed something. A big mark or a goal celebration you know is going to look good if you feel like you've managed to keep it in focus. But there's always a nervousness until you put your card into the laptop and check out the final result. Every now and then you get one like this where the moment itself didn't seem like anything worthy of a shot. But on closer look on the laptop you can find a nice frame in there that you didn't expect. - AT

Fagan sings the song, by Adam Trafford

It's not often when heading down to Launceston you find yourself in the away rooms after the match. The Hawks have made their home away from home a fortress in recent years. It is difficult for any side to come home with a win, let alone the struggling Lions. So when they did just that in round 17 the atmosphere in the rooms post-match was stirring. Shooting a game can become quite a formula at times, so anything out of the ordinary like a coach joining in the circle for the team song can provide that extra bit of excitement. - AT

Legends of the navy blue, by Michael Willson

300-game milestones don't come around too often, so when they do they should be celebrated. And what better way to celebrate Kade Simpson's 300th than gathering all of the navy blue 300-gamers in one place for a historic portrait. A great initiative by the Blues and I was honoured to be asked to take the photograph. John Nicholls, Bruce Doull, Craig Bradley, Stephen Silvagni and now Simpson – legends of the game, and to say I was a little nervous would be an understatement. Like most shoots of this nature, preparation is key. I arrived very early, scoped out locations and decided on a lighting set-up that would match the mood. It was an eerie feeling being in the presence of such esteemed company in the middle of a deserted Princes Park. I was only a couple of minutes in when Big Nick announced the shoot was over. I wasn't going to argue. Fortunately I'd captured a couple of nice frames in that time! - MW

Head to Melbourne's Federation Square from August 31 to September 30 to view spectacular images taken by the AFL Photos team. You'll see images from the past and the present that capture the highs and the lows and tell the stories of our great game.