July 20, 2020
Sports Photography 101
by © Greg A. Cooper 2020 Special thanks… Professional and Student Photographers who contributed their work “Sports photographers are like athletes. They must have the aim of a football quarterback, the reflexes of a basketball guard, and the concentration of a tennis player.” -Ken Kobré Categories of Sports Photography...
bop.nppa.org/2007 Categories of Sports Photography...
Sports Action: A peak action picture that captures the competitive spirt and collective efforts of an athletic team. OR On the field of play, of the players during the play.
bop.nppa.org/2007 © John Burgess/ The Press Democrat
Categories of Sports Photography...
Sports Action: A peak action picture that captures the competitive spirt and collective efforts of an athletic team. OR On the field of play, of the players during the play.
Sports Feature: A sports related enterprise picture that depicts the jubilation of victory or the agony of defeat. The event covered should be separate from the game action or outside the field of play.
bop.nppa.org/2007 © Greg Kahn/ Independent Tribune © Louis DeLuca/ Dallas Morning News © Thomas Fernandez 2018 Why… What is your Intent? Why… What is your Intent? • For fun © Patrick Smith/ Provo Daily Herald
Why… What is your Intent? • For fun • For game coverage
Why… What is your Intent? • For fun • For game coverage • To feature an athlete © Paul Kelly 2016 © Danny Moloshok/ ALLSPORT Why… What is your Intent? • For fun • For game coverage • To feature an athlete • Practice skills
© Jesse Peterson 2011 How...... to find? How...... to find? • Athletic Director (AD) or coaches at local schools © John Burgess/ The Press Democrat How...... to find? • Athletic Director (AD) or coaches at local schools • Sports Information Director (SID) at local universities © Mike Munden/ Columbus Dispatch How...... to find? • Athletic Director (AD) or coaches at local schools • Sports Information Director (SID) at local universities • Sports section of local newspapers © Nic Bothma/ European Pressphoto Agency How...... to find? • Athletic Director (AD) or coaches at local schools • Sports Information Director (SID) at local universities • Sports section of local newspapers • MaxPreps website
How...... to photograph? How...... to photograph? • Use a telephoto: 70-200mm f/2.8 highly recommended © Thomas Fernandez How...... to photograph? • Use a telephoto: 70-200mm f/2.8 highly recommended • Scout out location at the edges of the field, watch for clean background and good light © Brian Peterson/ The Minneapolis Star Tribune How...... to photograph? • Use a telephoto: 70-200mm f/2.8 highly recommended • Scout out location at the edges of the field, watch for clean background and good light • Wait for the action to come to you - fill the frame © James D. DeCamp/ Columbus Dispatch How...... to photograph? • Use a telephoto: 70-200mm f/2.8 highly recommended • Scout out location at the edges of the field, watch for clean background and good light • Wait for the action to come to you - fill the frame • Shoot lots of pictures! © Jessica Hill How...... to photograph? • Use a telephoto: 70-200mm f/2.8 highly recommended • Scout out location at the edges of the field, watch for clean background and good light • Wait for the action to come to you - fill the frame • Shoot lots of pictures! • CYA: Cover Your A$& - shoot any repetitive action first
Four variables of exposure…
REVIEW Four variables of exposure…
1. Illuminance: The strength of light falling on a given area 2. Shutter Speed: The measured amount of time through which light strikes the sensor (or film) 3. Aperture: The size of the opening (in the lens) through which light passes 4. ISO: A numerical rating that describes the sensitivity to light Four variables of exposure…
1. Illuminance: The strength of light falling on a given area 2. Shutter Speed: The measured amount of time through which light strikes the sensor (or film) 3. Aperture: The size of the opening (in the lens) through which light passes 4. ISO: A numerical rating that describes the sensitivity to light With these limitations, as wide open an aperture as possible How...... to photograph Volleyball? How...... to photograph Volleyball? • Short focal length lens (35-50mm) from underneath net X
https://quizlet.com/354480939/the-volleyball-court-diagram/ How...... to photograph Volleyball? • Short focal length lens (35-50mm) from underneath net • Long focal length (100-300mm) perpendicular to net X
https://quizlet.com/354480939/the-volleyball-court-diagram/ © John Burgess/ The Press Democrat How...... to photograph Volleyball? • Short focal length lens (35-50mm) from underneath net • Long focal length (100-300mm) perpendicular to net • From stands with medium telephoto (70-200mm) X
https://quizlet.com/354480939/the-volleyball-court-diagram/ © Kimberly Pitt How...... to photograph Volleyball? • Short focal length lens (35-50mm) from underneath net • Long focal length (100-300mm) perpendicular to net • From stands with medium telephoto (70-200mm) • Natural Light, high ISO, fast shutter speed (1/500th +/-) © Kent Porter/ The Press Democrat How...... to photograph Volleyball? • Short focal length lens (35-50mm) from underneath net • Long focal length (100-300mm) perpendicular to net • From stands with medium telephoto (70-200mm) • Natural Light, high ISO, fast shutter speed (1/500th +/-) • Serve, bump, spike or dive © Aaron G. Last How...... to photograph Soccer? X
X
X https://www.printyourbrackets.com/printable-soccer-field-diagram.html How...... to photograph Soccer? • Long focal length (100-300mm) © John Burgess/ The Press Democrat How...... to photograph Soccer? • Long focal length (100-300mm) • Clean background © Caitlin Miller 2011 How...... to photograph Soccer? • Long focal length (100-300mm) • Clean background • Directional light © Tom Dahlin/ Sun Newspapers How...... to photograph Soccer? • Long focal length (100-300mm) • Clean background • Directional light • Fast shutter speed (1/500th +/-) © Mike Munden/ Columbus Dispatch How...... to photograph Soccer? • Long focal length (100-300mm) • Clean background • Directional light • Fast shutter speed (1/500th +/-) • Be patient and wait for action to come to you © Victoria Linssen 2011 How...... to photograph Football? X X
X X
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_field How...... to photograph Football? • Short focal length lens (35-70mm) when action is RIGHT on you © Christian J. Harris 2011 How...... to photograph Football? • Short focal length lens (20-35mm) when action is RIGHT on you • Long focal length (100-300mm) kneeling back from field’s edge © Doral Chenoweth III/ Columbus Dispatch How...... to photograph Football? • Short focal length lens (20-35mm) when action is RIGHT on you • Long focal length (100-300mm) kneeling back from field’s edge • Avoid crossing in front of players, coaches or refs X Reserved for players & coaches X
Reserved for players & coaches X X
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_field How...... to photograph Football? • Short focal length lens (20-35mm) when action is RIGHT on you • Long focal length (100-300mm) kneeling back from field’s edge • Avoid crossing in front of players, coaches or refs • Fast shutter speed (1/500th and above) and high ISO (6400+/-) if a night game
How...... to photograph Football? • Short focal length lens (20-35mm) when action is RIGHT on you • Long focal length (100-300mm) kneeling back from field’s edge • Avoid crossing in front of players, coaches or refs • Fast shutter speed (1/500th and above) and high ISO (6400+/-) if a night game • Anticipate the action, be in front of the line of scrimmage © John Burgess/ The Press Democrat How...... to photograph Basketball? X
X
https://www.youthhoops101.com/basketball-court-template.html How...... to photograph Basketball? • Medium focal length lens (50-85mm) from underneath net on while action is on your side of the court © Jon Lake 2011 How...... to photograph Basketball? • Medium focal length lens (50-85mm) from underneath net on while action is on your side of the court • Longer focal length (100-300mm) from underneath net while action is on other side of the court © Nate Chute/ Daily Inter Lake How...... to photograph Basketball? • Medium focal length lens (50-85mm) from underneath net on while action is on your side of the court • Longer focal length (100-300mm) from underneath net while action is on other side of the court • Natural Light, high ISO, fast shutter speed © Aaron Schmidt 2011 How...... to photograph Basketball? • Medium focal length lens (50-85mm) from underneath net on while action is on your side of the court • Longer focal length (100-300mm) from underneath net while action is on other side of the court • Natural Light, high ISO, fast shutter speed • Sitting with back against wall
How...... to photograph Baseball? X X
X https://www.conceptdraw.com/How-To-Guide/colored-baseball-field-diagram How...... to photograph Baseball? • Long focal length (100-300mm) from all locations © Matt Freed/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazzete How...... to photograph Baseball? • Long focal length (100-300mm) from all locations • Fast shutter speed (1/500th and above) © Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat How...... to photograph Baseball? • Long focal length (100-300mm) from all locations • Fast shutter speed (1/500th and above) • CYA during repetitive moments like pitching and hitting © Eddie Rayburn 2011 How...... to photograph Baseball? • Long focal length (100-300mm) from all locations • Fast shutter speed (1/500th and above) • CYA during repetitive moments like pitching and hitting • Anticipate action at plates when runners on base © John Burgess/ The Press Democrat Additional tips… ...to photograph? Additional tips… ...to photograph? • Once comfortable with a 70-200mm f/2.8 try longer “fast” glass © Mike Munden/ Columbus Dispatch Additional tips… ...to photograph? • Once comfortable with a 70-200mm f/2.8 try longer “fast” glass • Be patient... wait for the action to come to you © Chris Russell/ Columbus Dispatch Additional tips… ...to photograph? • Once comfortable with a 70-200mm f/2.8 try longer “fast” glass • Be patient... wait for the action to come to you • Shoot lots of pictures! © Daniel Ochoa De Olza/ Associated Press Additional tips… ...to photograph? • Once comfortable with a 70-200mm f/2.8 try longer “fast” glass • Be patient... wait for the action to come to you • Shoot lots of pictures! • The secret to good sports photography is ANTICIPATION
A few other tips...
Luck…
How...... to research? • Knowing the sport is the key to anticipation • Photograph sports that you have played or know • Are you a fan of sports? Do know the rules, players? • If you are new to that sport, research by... • Sports organizations • University athletic websites • Sports publications • Athletes • Attending a sporting event w/o a camera • Learning the rules
Moment-based photography…
•Find competitive sports between teams •Individual sports are OK but lack interaction •Research the sport, anticipate the action © Robert Deutsch/ USA TODAY A few other tips...
Individual sports are OK but seek out Peak Action... © Megan Reidinger
© Lauren McIntire © Neal C. Lauron/ Columbus Dispatch © Brandon Watts © Daryl Peveto/ Sand Diego Union-Tribune © Alex W. Pauley A few other tips...
Don’t forget the sports features…
© Ben Avraham © Ben Avraham
© Tyler R Rocheleau © Tyler R Rocheleau
“Sports does not build character, they reveal it.”
-Heywood Brown Web resources…
maxpreps.com sportsshooter.com sislp.com rulesofsports.com espn.com si.com usatoday.com/sports sportingnews.com Sports Photography 101
by © Greg A. Cooper 2020