MIES (Switzerland) – Capturing the perfect shot often requires more than technical skill—it demands passion, patience, and a love for the game. For Dedy Loy, a sports photographer from Jakarta, Indonesia, that love has guided him from local courts to the international stage, earning him first place in the FIBA Photo Contest 2024.
A Lens on Basketball
Dedy’s journey behind the camera began in 2018, starting as a hobby that brought him to basketball courts nearly every weekend. His photography style focused on candid shots, reflecting his desire to capture pure, unfiltered emotions—those fleeting moments that reveal the human side of sport.
“One day, a friend asked me how much it would cost to photograph a game for his club. That’s when I realized this hobby could actually become a future career,” he shared. Since then, he has fully embraced photography as more than a hobby and has turned it into his job.
“I have loved basketball since I was 12 and still play today. So it was natural for me to start photographing something I know deeply,” Dedy explained. Influenced by Indonesia’s only FIBA official photographer, Ariya Kurniawan, Dedy has honed his craft, blending technical mastery with an instinct for storytelling.
Beyond capturing a single moment, Dedy believes photography preserves memories for the future. “Photos we take today might just be pictures for players or parents. But in 10 years or more, they’ll become sweet stories to share with the next generation,” he said.
Winning the FIBA Photo Contest
Dedy first learned about the FIBA Photo Contest while scrolling Instagram. Intrigued, he explored the contest further online and decided to participate.
His winning photo, “I Got It, Mom!”, tells a story of victory, joy, and family connection. Taken at the final game of a local competition, the image captures a young player leaping into the arms of his mother after his team’s hard-fought overtime win. “It was the last Aim High Winter Cup, so emotions were running high. That moment of pure happiness was everything I wanted to capture,” Dedy recalled.
From Jakarta to the House of Basketball
Winning the contest came with a cash prize that enabled Dedy to purchase a high-end 24-70mm f/2.8 RF lens—equipment he had been eyeing for months. “It really helps me capture wide scenes at the venue, giving my photos more depth,” he said.
The prize also brought Dedy to Switzerland for the FIBA Open 2025 at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies. Despite jet lag, unfamiliar food, and little sleep, he described the experience as “very awesome.” One moment stood out on the first day, when Dedy, drained from travel, still managed to photograph the main court and capture an intense moment of joy between a father and his son.
A Message for Photographers Everywhere
Reflecting on his journey, Dedy offers encouragement to fellow photographers: “Let’s keep capturing the moments on the court. Every photo tells a story, every frame preserves a memory. That’s the power of photography.”
The FIBA Photo Contest 2025 is now open, inviting photographers to capture the unbreakable bonds that turn players into a Dream Team.
***
The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
FIBA’s cultural heritage is the heart of the FIBA Foundation’s cultural and historical activities. It is one of the driving forces behind the promotion and dissemination of FIBA’s values.