Break all Rules for to Improve your Sports Photograph

[Jim Bryant]

In my 40 years of photography, most of it being a sports photographer, this is some of the most ridiculous advice I've ever seen posted on DPS. I must admit while there has been some doozies, this one takes the cake.

So, since you started sports photography only a few months with no prior experience, but reading, how do you expect a photographer, beginner, novice, amateur or pro, even start to take what you have posted seriously.

True, you make a few fine points, but most is filled with bad information that one, if one is remotely interested in shooting sports should dismiss this immediately. Here's why. Beginners, unless they are doctors, lawyers or folks with more money than common sense, cannot afford the range of lenses and pro bodies. One has to start learning the basis of sports photography even if they only have an EOS Rebel and kit lenses. Thoroughly learning your equipment, what it can and can't do for you. Secondly, shooting sports is standing along the sidelines of sporting events, not sitting on your butt, reading books in a chair. The sidelines, that's where the real learning process and experience comes from.

Sports photography is all about capturing the peak action or telling reaction, is what the sports photographer strives for. The picture you want is simple. There is peak action, then there is the story of the game, but the picture that works best is the one that incorporates both.

The keys to sports photography is paying attention, knowing the game and having the right photographic equipment and knowing how to use it.

As for equipment, I have to credit much of my excess at sports photography to using the extremely long telephoto lenses (300-600mm) to isolate my subjects. Always use your longest lens possible. You’ll get good expressions and throw the background out of focus, so that the subject really jumps out at you and the viewer.

As for the RAW vs. JPG debate………I only shoot RAW, it gives you a digital negative that will save your butt in horrible lighting conditions.

[bobby62914]

I am a sports shooter and agree with most of the first post.

I shoot RAW, even for sports. The buffer on my 40D is enough to still do 17 frames at 6.5 per second. I post-process in Adobe Camera Raw so the RAW does not slow me down considerably. I see why some would choose JPG.

I shoot some available light in burst mode but I also shoot some flash up to 1/500. I try to get some high quality shots of various players.

Visit my website for thousands of basketball photos.

[Fandancity Fotos]

I have the same problems when photographing ballroom dancers. Low light, fast moving objects (people).
I agree with most of what he article says, I have learnt that I cannot expect perfect shots everytime. I do not always know what the dancers will do next, but with a little anticipation and practice you can capture the moment. Usually there is a pose for one beat that helps or timing the shutter release on a spin ....
I have also realised that trying to get a decent picture while they are at the other end of th edancefloor is a waste of time. but when they get close, you can get some clear exciting pictures! Some motion blur can add to a picture.
I use a Canon 30D with a 24-70 f2.8 at 1/60 sec. Good enough for most lighting conditions. A slightly underexposed picture, but again, than can add atmosphere.
I will have to try the burst shutter method next time, see how it works.
A good article!

Pete

[gh patriot]

I shoot everything in RAW with a 40D and various lenses. Peak action is where its at and you only get better at anticipating when that is going to be with practice. I did a lot of beach volleyball this past summer and boy did I learn alot.

[airbrushjohn]

i agree with some of it, you definitely need fast lenses! and shooting raw is just crazy, unless you are shooting tennis or golf where you can time your shot, to get the ball in the frame! besides who has the time or money to buy huge cf cards, post production? i never shoot raw! but i don't shoot at lowest jpg either. my customers like 20X30 prints, and on medium setting on 10meg camera the posters come out great! nw depending on what sport, i usually pick my shot, if its a new sport i never shot before, i will use burst mode till i get the hang of it! example, i shot drifting last weekend, i used burst mode a good bit, but now i feel comfortable to pick my shots. but just like art and photography its all subjective! i like the article! thank you for sharing!

[Alex Bond-Smith]

Originally Posted by rpcrowe

There are two essentials for achieving really good sports photography which are obvious but which were not mentioned.

An in depth knowledge of the sport. Having a decent idea of where the action will be is necessary. Otherwise, any good sports image will be generated from luck.

A sidelines pass. You just cannot achieve great sports photography shooting from the stands.

Here are some YouTube videos with excellent sports photography information:

YouTube - Football Photography - Managing Multiple Bodies

Really agree with this.

I am mainly a landscape, wildlife and portrait photographer but did have an occassion a while back to photograph a Kite Surfing competition.

As an ex surfer and boardsailor, I could really anticipate where the action was going to be for shots in the right spot on a wave.

Got some really great shots.

[Redbone55]

Never shot sports,but would like to thank you all for the educational information in this thread

[JayPee]

It's not April Fools Day (I checked!) so there must be something else happening here...

How's this for a guess? I've been following you (Darren) on your 'other' Blogs - and I think I can spot the angle... But - I think you're taking a bit of a risk posting that drivel in "Tutorials" - but what the heck - it's YOUR site!

Either that - or Jim Bryant and I have been doing it all wrong - for years...
And I guess that's possible...
But I doubt it.

[EquineHorizons]

I'd have to say I'm a bit dumbfounded now.

So I have an Entry level. My shots don't turn out nearly as good as I like them but that's what you get from a kit lens and not buying a good lens for an entry level Alpha.

I have no good bursts. What's important in sports photography? A big allowance for shots.. a bigger burst.. maybe 8 frames per second as said. I can only manage 3 as RAW. Maybe I should be deterred from Equestrian photography but as this Post says; Sports is about breaking the rules. Still I'm a bit stupefied.

I'm breaking the rules using an entry level; and trying to achieve a bit of recognition in the field but again I'm stumped on whether I should continue on with my Alpha.

[Gary61]

G'day guys. This is actually my first post here and I'm only staring out in DSLR. I thought I was doing well with my Sony @350 18-70 & 55-200. Now I know there is a hell of a lot more that I need to know but basically because I dont know, I just do. The image was taken at the Whittlesea show this weekend with 55-200 at 100ISO f/9 1/320 at 135mm. It needs photoshopping a bit to tweak it but I'm pretty happy with it and the 100 odd others I took over the weekend. I'd be happy to receive any comments but the title of this thread is break all the rules and as I'm not sure what rules I need to be applying I'm writing my own set, probably frought with danger but thats how I'll learn.
Thanks guys.