Taipei Cup Hockey

Sooner or later, most photographers decide to try their hand at shooting some kind of sport. It might be your kids sporting events or your friends amateur leagues or a professional game that you shoot as a spectator from the stands. Let’s look at a few pointers for getting some better shots.

For most sports there’s going to be a lot of quick movement. Generally speaking, the faster something moves, the harder it’ll be to shoot. A number of different techniques can be applied to increase the likelihood of good results. These include

• Faster shutter speed to freeze action – 1/500, 1/1000 and faster will freeze most movement. You’ll also find it’s easier to stop movement if the subject is headign directly towards you.
• Location – Where you position yourself has an effect on what angles you can shoot. For a pro game where you’re a spectator, you won’t have much choice, but if you’re photographing your kids or friends, try and walk around looking for different angles.
• Anticipation – Knowing what is likely to happen is a big help. If you’re familiar with the sport, you’ll have a much greater chance of success than if it’s new to you. The first time I shot a hockey game was the first time I’d ever seen a hockey game (with the exception of a few seconds on TV news). However something like cricket or basketball, both of which I played when younger, is much easier for me to shoot.
• Access – Closely related to location, access can give you better shots. If you can be in the dugout or on the team bench, you’ll get shots that others won’t. Easy if your friends are in an amateur team, almost impossible if you want to shoot the World Cup.
• Burst Mode – Setting your camera to high-speed mode will allow you to shoot fast sequences of action.
• AI Servo – This drive mode on your camera can be useful in helping you continually track the focus of a moving athlete.
• Long lenses and monopods – Using a long lens allows you to get closer to the action. Couple this with a monopod for stability and you’ll be good to go.
• Shoot wide open – Choosing an aperture such as f2.8 allows you to get the action in focus without needing to worry about any distracting backgrounds.
• Custom white balance – Consider setting a custom white balance, particularly if you’re shooting indoors or under lights. This will help you achieve a consistent color in your shots. Refer to your camera’s manual to learn how to set it for your particular camera.

Next time you shoot sports, give the above a try and your shots will be stronger and more professional looking.

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