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first sports photos
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Hi all these are my first attempts at sports photography. I would like to hear any pointers or advice that you experts can offer.
What makes a good photo? how do you tell a story with a single photo?The two teams are Banbridge (my home time) and Malone rugby clubs.
I like number 3……….makes one wonder in my opinion if he made it past the other guy without much trouble
John
Like most things, it is not as easy as it looks! :D
The problem with the first one is the background – the clubhouse detracts from the feeling of a rugby pitch, and of course the answer may simply be to go to the other side of the pitch to avoid it, but then again I dont know what is on the other side that could be ‘unwanted’ as well. I have been photographing quite a bit of hockey and rugby in the last couple of months, and there is definitely a knack of learning where to position yourself. Obviously a long lens is a good starting point, but the best shots are often where you have someone running ‘at‘ the camera. This means positioning yourself behind the try-line. Yes, lots of the action may be out of range for long periods (maybe you are at the wrong try-line? :lol:) but the shots you get will be better.
Look at football matches – the photographers are camped on the goalline area for a reason!Hi Ross, thought the rugby would get a bite from you! I started off at that side of the pitch but was shooting into the sun. I spotted a photographer at the other side of the pitch with a massive lens and thought he must know what he is doing. So I decided to go over for a chat, as soon as he spotted me he moved off in the opposite direction, must be my aftershave. i guess it would help if I knew something about sport! this was my first outting and to be honest it was all about just getting past the embarassment of taking photos in public. I have a 70-200 but could probably do with a 1.4converter to get a bit closer.
thanks for the tips talk to you soon.
johnA lot of it is practice, and going through your shots afterwards, post them to boards like this one. If wvery week you learn a little more, it does’nt take too long to get nice shots. The positioning tip given above is a very good one. Also get yourself down low. I sometimes lie on my stomach on the ground to take rugby shots, just to get the nice angles. I’ve a goretex trousers and pants that I keep in the car for just this purpose.
Open up that lens! if it’s a 70-200, I guess it’s either a F4 or F2.8. Shoot wide open. That will help you loose a lot of the distraction, and in doing so, bring more emphasis on the subject your trying to shoot. If your shooting with a 1.6 crop camera, then 200 is long enough to the half way line easily enough. If all the action is at the other end, then run up and down the sideline, watching for the scums, you get a few minutes to get in position for when the scrum half passes out the ball. It has to go left or right, so you’ve a 50% chance to be on the right side. As you get to know the team plays, you’ll know what they are likely to do.
Merv.
I agree with most of what is being said here. For rugby I find being at the end of the pitch, rather than the side, gives a better shot as players will be coming towards you and you get the facial expressions that you don’t get from the side. Its very easy to get caught up in the action rather than the photograph. One of the worst rugby photos I took – suffered from camera share and blur under floodlights – was very much appreciated by rugby supporters but from a technical perspective it was absolutely woeful. Play to your audience or what you like. Other than that it’s practice and examining what works and what doesn’t.
He Guys thanks for looking and for the advice, I will be much better prepared next time out. Many thanks John.
John, I think that for the first attempt they are very good shots. You have action in all of them. The all points above are good and will help you.
I think that the background problem is increasing with the size of the pitch and specially how far the background is from the pitch.
I like the second photo because we can see the concentration of the player.Biggest warning on getting into sports photography is lighting – you’re restricted to what you’ve got in the environment – no flashes etc.
That’s why you’ll see so many sports photographers with those massive big lenses which may still only be 200/300mm. They have them to get as much light as possible. For that reason I’d say forget about using the teleconverter with your 200mm lens.With what you’ve gotten above you should be fine in normal weather/light conditions… when it gets dull or under artificial lights you might be into a bit of bother. But I have discovered that not all floodlights are equal ! Some venues are much better than others.
Talk to your local club about the photo’s as well, they’re usually crying out for someone to take team photo’s and presentation shots etc as well as pictures for the local press and their website. All good practise, and you never know what they might offer in return :)The waterproof trousers are definitely a good idea as even in dry weather the ground can be damp… If you get to the point where you want to take pictures in all weather there is a cheapo alternative to the aquatech sports shields .. The pro photographers all laughed their heads off when they saw it, but it’s kept my camera going in the worst downpours – cost ?60 on camera’s underwater, basically looks like a waterproof ziplock bag, but it works. I survived the connacht v munster game last new years eve(hurricane conditions) with it, even if in the end it was too dark to get any decent shots… like I said floodlights in various venues vary wildly.
Thanks for the advice Lahinch lass would you have a link or photo of the weather proof cover to have a look at?
John.
Hi John
kata make a fairly cheap rain cover think it costs around ?80 it comes in 2 parts a section to cover camera body and small lens and a section to cover a larger lenspaul
Thanks for that Paul I will have a look. If I am not mistaken you live quite close to me, If you would be interested in meeting up some time drop me a PM and we can arrange something.
many thanks John
Indeed it was and I had a super day, the weather was great and the atmosphere good aswell, was I talking to you, I need to put a face to the name.
regards John
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