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Sports Photography
The golfer executing his swing, a gymnast balancing on the beam and a surfer at the peak of a wave are all examples of great photographic opportunities. Sometimes, though, it can be a challenge to get just the right shot. Since the subjects do not stand still or pose for the camera, photographing sports takes special tools, techniques and creativity.
I’ve found with patience and planning you can get some super sports photographs. Here are some suggestions for getting those great shots.
Using Your Camera. Your camera provides you with several great features for sports photography. Take advantage of these items.
- Use high shutter speeds to capture the action. To get action shots take advantage of a camera’s high shutter speeds. The faster the action, the higher the shutter speed that will be needed to stop the action. As a general rule use a shutter speed faster than the speed of the moving object.
To get the stopped action in this photograph, I used a high shutter speed of 1/3200.
1/3200 f/5.6 ISO 400
 Use a high ISO. The ISO rating on film measures the film’s sensitivity to light. The higher the number, the less light you need. For sports photography, an ISO of 400 or higher is usually necessary. Be aware, though, that higher ISO films produce grainier pictures and are often not as good when cropped or enlarged.
To get this photograph, I increased the ISO to 1600.
1/320 f/4.5 ISO 1600
- Use a telephoto lens. A telephoto lens will get you closer to the action but will require even higher shutter speeds. A telephoto lens is especially helpful when you must be positioned farther away from the action.
- Use a motor drive or continuous mode on your camera. If you own a motor drive or your camera has a continuous mode use it when photographing sports! A motor drive or continuous mode allows the photographer to continue to take pictures in a fast sequence while pressing down on the shutter release. You can never anticipate when an arm is going to go in front of the face or when the expression will be just right. So instead of guessing, take several shots in a row. One of them is bound to be a winner!
Photographic Techniques. While at the sports event, try some of these ideas for getting some great sports photographs.
- Position yourself. Before the sports events, find a good spot or two for taking photographs. For example, the finish line would be an exciting spot for a photograph of a race. Also, consider your angle and what will be in the background of the photograph.
- Anticipate the action. Study and know the sport you are photographing. Be ready and anticipate when the action will happen. Patience is the key to many opportunities in sports photography.
Knowing and planning for a shot can bring success.
1/400 f/11 ISO 400
- Freeze the action. To show the precise action, use a high shutter speed to freeze the action. You will need to set your camera to a wide aperture and high ISO.
- Show speed. Instead of freezing the action, you can show speed by blurring the background, giving the feeling of action and excitement. “Panning” enables you to keep the subject in focus while blurring the background. To pan, follow the direction of a moving subject with your camera while pressing the shutter release. Panning works more effectively with a manual focus lens.
More Tips. Here are some more tips to get your best photographs throughout the sporting event.
- Direction. If the action is moving directly toward you or away from you, a slower shutter speed will take a good photograph. When an object is moving parallel to you, a fast shutter speed (1/500 or higher) is necessary.
- Distance. The closer you are to the action, the faster your shutter speed needs to be. When you are farther away, the size and the speed of the action is reduced so you can use a slower shutter speed.
With the dog only a few feet from me, I need to use a faster shutter speed to freeze the action.
1/1000 f/1.8 ISO 400
- Take advantage of the breaks in the action. During sports events, there are action breaks just before the main action – when the batter is getting ready to swing, when the race is about to start or when the ball is about to be kicked. Take advantage of those short breaks in action to take a good photograph. Most often these breaks don’t require high shutter speeds.
- Take advantage of the peaks in the action. Peaks are those seconds when in the middle of the action, it stops momentarily. A classic example is of a high jumper that is at the top of his jump but stopping in mid-air before coming down. To capture the peak, you must depress the shutter before you see the peak action. Learn to anticipate peak action.
 Don’t forget the special moments. Keep your camera handy to get the special moments at a sporting event. There are many photographic opportunities even when the action isn’t happening. The batter waiting on deck, the runner getting prepared, and the team huddle are all great photographic opportunities.
Keep alert and prepared for photographic opportunities at a sporting event and you should get some great shots.
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