SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Jae C. Hong is a Los Angeles-based staff photojournalist for The Associated Press. Hong has spent 20 years covering local and international news, including the Olympic Games, presidential elections, the Russia-Ukraine war, and stories across Asia.Why this photo?I wanted to show how a World Cup match was being experienced in a setting away from the stadium. I had already photographed a watch party at a stadium, so I wanted something smaller and more intimate. Ye Olde King’s Head in Santa Monica felt like the right place. It is a locally famous English pub filled with souvenirs, flags and decorations.How I made this photoThe bar was dark, packed and very busy on Wednesday. I had to work around the low light and the tight space. I used a 35mm f/1.4 lens, which let me stay close to the fans. By shooting at f/1.4, I could get a cleaner background while still showing enough detail of the room. I shot at ISO 6400 so I could keep a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the reaction. I listened to the game and the room as I waited for a goal. Being at an English pub, I knew the best reaction photo would come if England scored. When Harry Kane scored against Croatia, the reaction all at once.
One Extraordinary Photo: Fans at English pub in California celebrate Harry Kane goal
Jae C. Hong was looking for a photo to illustrate one of the many ways the World Cup is being experienced by fans.
















