Sports photography is one of the most difficult types of photography, and a sports photographer has a difficult test before he gets a professional sports photo. Here are 11 tips for getting professional photos.
Sports photography is one of the most difficult types of photography. Shooting fast-moving subjects is much more difficult than shooting stationary subjects. Whether you are photographing sporting events for your children, or covering an amateur or professional sporting event. The tips in this article will help you become more confident in sports photography.
You need a strong and instinctive understanding of sports to portray it well. In baseball shooting? Watch the defense and see where they turn. They know the poll report on the mixture and move accordingly. Pay attention to whether the club is left-handed or right-handed, the same for the shooter. Know the situation and plan accordingly.
In football the same thing, watch how the teams line up, know where they are on the field, and position yourself to take advantage of it. Basketball can be very fun because it is more restrictive and somewhat predictable. Pay attention to the tendencies players display throughout the game. Observe people who appear emotional or play a certain way.
You have to learn the sport you want to photograph in order to understand its movements and be able to anticipate the next. A large part of sports photography is action-packed. You'll never get that great shot of a short-range diving sprint by simply reflexing. You have to be prepared for that game just like the player himself.
You need a strong and instinctive understanding of sports to portray it well. In baseball shooting? Watch the defense and see where they turn. They know the poll report on the mixture and move accordingly. Pay attention to whether the club is left-handed or right-handed, the same for the shooter. Know the situation and plan accordingly.
In football the same thing, watch how the teams line up, know where they are on the field, and position yourself to take advantage of it. Basketball can be very fun because it is more restrictive and somewhat predictable. Pay attention to the tendencies players display throughout the game. Observe people who appear emotional or play a certain way.
Football, hockey, tennis, golf, fighting, racing: they are all the same. Doing some research and knowing the sport will provide a huge boost to your photos. The sporty feel also allows you to highlight your shot with one frame instead of splashing and praying (that's okay, but it's fun to have a frame at exactly the moment you want it). Both shots below were by timing one exposure versus holding down the shutter release.
Pay close attention to the behavior of the participants. Are there movements or transitions that seem more dynamic and interesting than others? How long will each component of the competition last? Will you have time to reposition yourself ?
For sporting activities where the competitor has some creative control over their performance, take time to talk to them first. Ask them if they are happy for you to photograph them, and see if they'll give you a nudge about something they're going to try. Most people will be happy to help you get the shot, especially if you promise to email them a digital copy.
Experienced and skilled athletes usually look for where to move through their head and body movements. Looking for visual clues about an athlete's intentions can help you prepare for your next shots.
For equestrian photography, a horse's head can obstruct a rider's face, which is not desirable. With show jumping, the rider will usually try to keep his head slightly to one or the other side of the horse's head, to avoid contact during the jump. If they choose the other side of where you stand, you may not be able to catch the knight's face.
There are always exceptions to the rule: motorcycles and racing cars often look really good from the back.
Always try to photograph your subjects and the sun behind you. This ensures good lighting for your subjects. If you shoot in the sun, you will likely end up with subjects shaded.
However, photographing in the sun can work in your favor - giving you the opportunity to capture subjects in silhouette -
Direct sunlight creates solid, dark shadows and bright highlights. Digital cameras cannot capture detail at both ends - near black and near white.
Therefore, try to ensure that the most important part of your topic is well exposed. If the person's face is visible, expose the face to reveal facial features. Do this even if this means that the other brighter areas of the scene are too bright or the darker areas are a little dark.
In the equestrian competitions, there will be a mixture of natural backgrounds (rows of trees and distant hills) or acceptable aesthetic backgrounds that add touches, such as fences, spectators or stables. However, there will also be food vending carts, moderators in flare vests, and banners. From a purely aesthetic point of view, these are not desirable at all as wallpapers.
If you want the best results, or are hoping to sell your photos to competitors, you will have more luck with cleaner, less distorted backgrounds.
For example, with equestrian event photography, horses are known to be unpredictable and easy to scare. People who have spent their lives around horses know how to behave around them.
For the rest of us, we can either learn the hard (painful) way, for example by being hit by a horse. Or, take extra care to get out of their way, not move suddenly, and try not to influence the horse's behavior in any way.
Smaller targets - such as runners, cyclists, motorcyclists, snowboarders, skiers and snowboards - may require slightly longer lenses - 300mm and above. You can use shorter lenses, but that forces you to be closer to the action to get good shots.
If your lens or camera has image stabilization, enable it as this will help reduce noise caused by unsteady hands. However, it is important to understand that image stabilization cannot compensate for moving objects.
In sports photography, since you are shooting fast-moving subjects, choose shutter priority (TV on Canon cameras or Nikon S on camera mode dial). This allows you to control the shutter speed and tell the camera to choose a suitable aperture and ISO to complete the exposure triangle.
To capture your subject with little or no motion blur, you'll need to use a sufficient shutter speed. The rule of thumb is to make sure you select a shutter speed that is faster than 1 / focal length. Therefore, if the lens is set at a focal length of 200 mm, then you need a shutter speed of at least 1/200 s.
The most effective way to do this is to use a technique known as "panning". Once you have decided where to hit the shutter, choose your subject well before it gets there. Follow his movement with the camera, trying to keep a small space in front of him. Keep tracking your target smoothly. And when you reach your chosen point, press the shutter button, without stopping the smooth movement of the camera. Continue even after pressing the shutter. This will result in better, clearer shots, with more blurry backgrounds, which helps accentuate your subject better.
By leaving enough space in front of the subject (in the direction of his movement), the viewer is able to see where the subject is heading, even if it is just several feet from space. This emphasizes the sense of movement and results in more dynamic and aesthetically pleasing sports images.
This is highly desirable, but if the depth of field is too shallow, important parts of your subject may be out of focus. One trick here is to raise the camera's ISO setting - so the sensor becomes more sensitive to light, and the camera can choose a slightly smaller aperture. This will give more depth of field, and more focus on your topic.
Whether the competitor is performing poorly or well, there is usually a reaction. This could be during a run or a lap, where they celebrate a good jump or a fast lap, or after the round or race is over, when they realize they were too slow. Try to catch the highs and lows of the competitors.
Nobody wants to see competitors hurt, but the dramatic images that emerge when things go wrong can be truly amazing. A horse raised or collided with a fence trying to jump, or a ramp cyclist getting off his bike unscheduled: This type of sports photography shots is really popular.
Sports photography is one of the most difficult types of photography. Shooting fast-moving subjects is much more difficult than shooting stationary subjects. Whether you are photographing sporting events for your children, or covering an amateur or professional sporting event. The tips in this article will help you become more confident in sports photography.
1. Learn sports to be able to understand and predict the movement of the target
You have to learn the sport you want to photograph in order to understand its movements and be able to anticipate the next. A large part of sports photography is action-packed. You'll never get that great shot of a short-range diving sprint by simply reflexing. You have to be prepared for that game just like the player himself.You need a strong and instinctive understanding of sports to portray it well. In baseball shooting? Watch the defense and see where they turn. They know the poll report on the mixture and move accordingly. Pay attention to whether the club is left-handed or right-handed, the same for the shooter. Know the situation and plan accordingly.
In football the same thing, watch how the teams line up, know where they are on the field, and position yourself to take advantage of it. Basketball can be very fun because it is more restrictive and somewhat predictable. Pay attention to the tendencies players display throughout the game. Observe people who appear emotional or play a certain way.
You have to learn the sport you want to photograph in order to understand its movements and be able to anticipate the next. A large part of sports photography is action-packed. You'll never get that great shot of a short-range diving sprint by simply reflexing. You have to be prepared for that game just like the player himself.
You need a strong and instinctive understanding of sports to portray it well. In baseball shooting? Watch the defense and see where they turn. They know the poll report on the mixture and move accordingly. Pay attention to whether the club is left-handed or right-handed, the same for the shooter. Know the situation and plan accordingly.
In football the same thing, watch how the teams line up, know where they are on the field, and position yourself to take advantage of it. Basketball can be very fun because it is more restrictive and somewhat predictable. Pay attention to the tendencies players display throughout the game. Observe people who appear emotional or play a certain way.
Football, hockey, tennis, golf, fighting, racing: they are all the same. Doing some research and knowing the sport will provide a huge boost to your photos. The sporty feel also allows you to highlight your shot with one frame instead of splashing and praying (that's okay, but it's fun to have a frame at exactly the moment you want it). Both shots below were by timing one exposure versus holding down the shutter release.
2. Know what kind of shots are expected
Every sport is different and therefore requires a different approach to properly aim the camera. Before attempting sports photography of a sport you haven't covered before, do your homework. Attend a sporting event as a spectator or watch sports on YouTube.Pay close attention to the behavior of the participants. Are there movements or transitions that seem more dynamic and interesting than others? How long will each component of the competition last? Will you have time to reposition yourself ?
For sporting activities where the competitor has some creative control over their performance, take time to talk to them first. Ask them if they are happy for you to photograph them, and see if they'll give you a nudge about something they're going to try. Most people will be happy to help you get the shot, especially if you promise to email them a digital copy.
Experienced and skilled athletes usually look for where to move through their head and body movements. Looking for visual clues about an athlete's intentions can help you prepare for your next shots.
3. Take a position commensurate with the location and movement of the target
If the face of the person you are photographing can be seen, you must do so. You won't be able to do this in racing cars, but narrow subjects such as horses, ponies, bicycles and motorcycles may not be enough for you to fill in the frame of your photo. Therefore, it is best to try to shoot these types of subjects somewhere between the sides and in the middle between the sides and the faces.For equestrian photography, a horse's head can obstruct a rider's face, which is not desirable. With show jumping, the rider will usually try to keep his head slightly to one or the other side of the horse's head, to avoid contact during the jump. If they choose the other side of where you stand, you may not be able to catch the knight's face.
There are always exceptions to the rule: motorcycles and racing cars often look really good from the back.
4. Take a position opposite the sun
When shooting outdoors, the best light is the kind you get on a slightly cloudy day - without direct sunlight. However, you cannot control the weather - so it is important to know how to operate in any conditions.Always try to photograph your subjects and the sun behind you. This ensures good lighting for your subjects. If you shoot in the sun, you will likely end up with subjects shaded.
However, photographing in the sun can work in your favor - giving you the opportunity to capture subjects in silhouette -
Direct sunlight creates solid, dark shadows and bright highlights. Digital cameras cannot capture detail at both ends - near black and near white.
Therefore, try to ensure that the most important part of your topic is well exposed. If the person's face is visible, expose the face to reveal facial features. Do this even if this means that the other brighter areas of the scene are too bright or the darker areas are a little dark.
5. Take a photo location so that a distinctive background appears in your photos
Most sports websites offer multiple backgrounds for photography. On the sports field, you can frame some shots to include the spectators as a background, or use the field, by finding a position a little higher to shoot from, and shoot a little lower.In the equestrian competitions, there will be a mixture of natural backgrounds (rows of trees and distant hills) or acceptable aesthetic backgrounds that add touches, such as fences, spectators or stables. However, there will also be food vending carts, moderators in flare vests, and banners. From a purely aesthetic point of view, these are not desirable at all as wallpapers.
If you want the best results, or are hoping to sell your photos to competitors, you will have more luck with cleaner, less distorted backgrounds.
6. Consider safety first for you and your goal
Sports photography can be dangerous - for players and for you. Make sure you understand the risks associated with the sport you are photographing. When you are new to a particular sport, you are not likely to know all the risks - so if you have any doubts, ask an expert or person in a position of authority, where it is safe to stand and whether there are any particular hazards or risks you need to be aware of Out.For example, with equestrian event photography, horses are known to be unpredictable and easy to scare. People who have spent their lives around horses know how to behave around them.
For the rest of us, we can either learn the hard (painful) way, for example by being hit by a horse. Or, take extra care to get out of their way, not move suddenly, and try not to influence the horse's behavior in any way.
7. Use the Telephoto or Zoom lens for fast moving targets
Sports photography usually dictates that you are at a safe distance from fast-moving objects. This means you will need your longest lens. Large subjects (such as cars and horses) can often be photographed at the longest focal length of a 70-200mm lens.Smaller targets - such as runners, cyclists, motorcyclists, snowboarders, skiers and snowboards - may require slightly longer lenses - 300mm and above. You can use shorter lenses, but that forces you to be closer to the action to get good shots.
If your lens or camera has image stabilization, enable it as this will help reduce noise caused by unsteady hands. However, it is important to understand that image stabilization cannot compensate for moving objects.
In sports photography, since you are shooting fast-moving subjects, choose shutter priority (TV on Canon cameras or Nikon S on camera mode dial). This allows you to control the shutter speed and tell the camera to choose a suitable aperture and ISO to complete the exposure triangle.
To capture your subject with little or no motion blur, you'll need to use a sufficient shutter speed. The rule of thumb is to make sure you select a shutter speed that is faster than 1 / focal length. Therefore, if the lens is set at a focal length of 200 mm, then you need a shutter speed of at least 1/200 s.
8. Increase the sharpness of the target using Panning
As you found out above, the image stabilization feature cannot compensate for your subject's movement. To compensate for target movement, you need to try to keep the subject still in the binoculars.The most effective way to do this is to use a technique known as "panning". Once you have decided where to hit the shutter, choose your subject well before it gets there. Follow his movement with the camera, trying to keep a small space in front of him. Keep tracking your target smoothly. And when you reach your chosen point, press the shutter button, without stopping the smooth movement of the camera. Continue even after pressing the shutter. This will result in better, clearer shots, with more blurry backgrounds, which helps accentuate your subject better.
9. Leave space for your subject to move in
A common mistake that all photographers make from time to time is to hit the target in the middle of the scene. This is bad enough with a static subject, but the problem is compounded with a moving subject. Without room to turn the subject into, an image can feel cramped by a very narrow crop.By leaving enough space in front of the subject (in the direction of his movement), the viewer is able to see where the subject is heading, even if it is just several feet from space. This emphasizes the sense of movement and results in more dynamic and aesthetically pleasing sports images.
10. Control the depth of field for more sharpness
Of course, you'll want to focus on as much of your topic as possible. With a fast shutter speed selected, the camera may have to use the largest aperture available. This is in order to capture the maximum amount of light in the shortest period of time. A side effect of large apertures is depth-of-field fading - often everything in front and behind the subject appears blurry or out of focus. The image below demonstrates this, with the grass in the foreground and the tree in the background nicely out of focus.This is highly desirable, but if the depth of field is too shallow, important parts of your subject may be out of focus. One trick here is to raise the camera's ISO setting - so the sensor becomes more sensitive to light, and the camera can choose a slightly smaller aperture. This will give more depth of field, and more focus on your topic.
11. Look for story, drama, emotion and humor
Fast-moving targets give you less time to react to unexpected moments - so you need to develop a sixth sense about when they will happen. A misbehaving horse will likely stand up at some point, and the racing car or motorcycle that has a problem will likely roll over. Being able to anticipate moments like these will increase your chances of capturing some exciting shots.Whether the competitor is performing poorly or well, there is usually a reaction. This could be during a run or a lap, where they celebrate a good jump or a fast lap, or after the round or race is over, when they realize they were too slow. Try to catch the highs and lows of the competitors.
Nobody wants to see competitors hurt, but the dramatic images that emerge when things go wrong can be truly amazing. A horse raised or collided with a fence trying to jump, or a ramp cyclist getting off his bike unscheduled: This type of sports photography shots is really popular.
Post a Comment