Blog: Ace

What makes a good sports picture?

I have to be straight up and honest here and say that I am a techno phobe - if there is such a word. And when it comes to cameras and camera technology my eyes glaze over at the very sound of words and phrases like Aperture priority and Auto Exposure bracket. You see I can sense your finger is poised over your computer to click to another page.

But I do love sports photography or pictures of individuals playing sport. And the reason is there is so much opportunity to illustrate the human personality. Obviously you can see the drama and intensity in full contact sports and boxing is brilliant for that. And when looking through main media you can see the football pictures that show the theatre and no doubt this summer we will see the Olympics in their full glory with those finish line shots in the 100 meteres where the sprinters are dipping for the line. But sometimes the best shots come not in those dramatic events but in the side shows - such as the weight lifting or the high board diving events. You can see shots that are humourous or tragic or that show the sheer emotion of taking part in a sporting event.

Now for most of us we will never get a chance to photograph the great and the good of sport but we all have the opportunity of snapping our favourite sport at one time or another. And those emotions are still there. And its how you capture them on camera.

Recently I have bought myself a Canon EOS 30D digital camera. And its brilliant. And to be absolutely honest I don't really know how to use it. But its so damn clever all I need to do is point it at the subject on the AF setting - that's Automatic setting to you and me - and the thing does the job - so long as there is enough light about. Ah and then we come to a whole new ball game - the lense.

It seems to me that it does not matter how good your camera is - within reason - you just have to invest in a decent lense for sport.  Because unless you are up close to the action - your normal lense is only going to give you a mid range shot -  and that will not show the drama you want to convey. You also need to let in loads of light into your camera and especially if you whack it onto a sports setting - fast shutter - you are really going to need a telephoto lense - you know the ones you see everywhere - great beige looking buckets attached to the camera much favoured by the photographers sitting behind the goal. But of course for most of us mortals - lenses like those are beyond our financial reach - unless you happen to have a couple of grand hidden away.

So here are my top ten tips to try and secure some great sports pics:

1. Before you buy a camera - ask a mate who knows or a professional which one to buy.

2. Stick to either Canon or Nikon for Sport.

3. Invest in a good lense - see tip 1

4. Don't be intimidated by the 200 page instruction manual that comes with your camera. There is nothing wrong in setting it onto automatic mode and snap away. At least you will know your pictures will end up sharp.

5. Don't be shy when photographing sport and people. The truth is that everyone - (except kids - don't photograph kids without permisssion - there is a whole bunch of legislation out there) likes having their picture taken and looking at the results.

6. Get close to the action. Unless you have a pro lense - you need to find a way of photographing people from not less than ten yards away. For example have you ever seen any great pictures of long distance swimmers?

7. Position yourself where the individuals will be involved in action. For example orienteerers may have to jump a brook or golfers get out of bunkers.

8. Stay low. Dramatic shots tend to be from the ground up - not always. But get yourself close to the ground and you will find that your subject can fill the screen. Don't just stand up and snap - that's dull. Or go to the top of a hill and let the runners etc run past you as you are lying down.

9. Light is your friend. The more light you have flooding into your lense - the better the pic as your shutter speed will respond. I have tried taking speedy shots in areas such as Basketball  courts and gymnasiums with sodium or fluorescent light - and they look rubbish. You need a big lense for those shots.

10. Try and find originalityin an event. Sometime it is not the athletes/competitors who make the best pictures. Sometimes it is the spectators - or the officials - or the chunky bloke coming last. Look for the humour or the conflict or the tragedy.

Sometimes you will be amazed at the kind of shots you take - and with the technology you have got at your finger tips - there is no reason you cant take pics as good as the pros. Just don't try and read the manual.

by Ace on 07:55 on 10th April 2008