I absolutely love this photo because the composition tells a story and carries a ton of tension. Barry looks like he’s about to make one of his trademark pivots, while Neil Smith is closing in with full force. You can almost feel the moment right before impact.

I could look at this photo for hours. You’re stuck in that perfect split-second wondering: did Neil finally get him… or did Barry somehow sense it — like he had eyes on the back of his helmet — and sashay out of danger at the last possible moment?

That’s what makes this shot so hypnotic. You’re frozen in the exact moment where anything could happen — and only Barry Sanders knows how the story ends.

What really blows me away is that the photographer captured this in a pre-digital era — back when timing, instinct, and pure feel mattered more than anything. Shots like this weren’t forgiving. You either nailed the moment or you didn’t.

Honestly, I think this image is far stronger than the official Upper Deck photo they used that year.

What do you see in this shot?