Sample Sports Photos
Contents
- • Recommended cameras and lenses
- • What to do if you don’t have the right camera
- • Where to stand to get the best photo
- • What to expect
- • Safety
- • Being prepared for the best shot
- • Anticipation
- • Expressions and emotion
- • Camera settings
- • Lighting
- • Camera flash
- • ISO settings
- • Shutter
- • Aperture
- • Histograms
Recommended cameras and lenses
- Canon 7D Mark II, seven frames per second, dual card slots, weather sealed
- Nikon D500, ten frames per second, large buffer, dual card slots, weather sealed
- Canon T7i
- Canon 90D
Why Should You Set Your Drive to Multiple Frames Per Second?
Recommended Camera Settings For Canon Cameras
Aperture, ISO and Shutter
- Beginners can shoot in sports mode. However, this might not always give the best settings. If you find yourself overwhelmed and are worried about your settings, use can also you the Program and Auto modes.
- Aperture mode - set aperture to f/2.8 (if your lens will allow) and allow the camera to select shutter speed. Try to set ISO as low as possible while allowing a fast shutter speed.
- Shutter priority - Set the shutter speed to a fast setting. If possible, shoot at 1/500 for sports.
- If you have an advanced camera, and it will allow it, use the Auto ISO mode. This will allow you to set both the aperture and shutter speed modes. The camera will select the best ISO for the correct exposure.
- It is important to review your images after you shoot your first few images? How do this look? Zoom in to check focus. Check your histogram. Although you should not do this for each photo, you should do it often at the start of each job, and throughout that job as the light changes. Do you need to change your shooting mode, color balance, or any other setting? This is the most important thing that you can do to make sure that your images look good.
Check Your Histogram Often!
The left side is for the black areas in your photo. The right side shows the white areas of the photo. It is important that you know how to read a histogram. You should also use it throughout each of your photography sessions.
What is an aperture?
- Larger apertures allow more light to strike the sensor.
- Smaller apertures allow less light to strike the sensor.
- An aperture is called an f/stop.
- The smaller the number, the larger the aperture.
- The larger the number, the smaller the aperture.
- Small apertures (f/16, f/22) create more depth of field.
- Larger apertures (f/1.8, f/2.8, f/4) allow you to blur the photo background.
What are shutter speeds?
- Use fast shutter speeds to freeze action.
- Use a slow shutter speed to blur action.
- Most people believe that you should set your shutter speed to twice that of your longest focal length when you hold a camera. For example, the slowest shutter speed you should use while hand-holding a 200mm lens is 1/400 of a second. Some cameras have an internal stabilizer. You should use it if it is available. Read this article from Canon about this feature.
the exposure triangle
Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO
The higher your ISO, the more noise you will have in your image.
Drive Mode
- Set mode to Ai Servo
- Select the highest frames per second
- Learn how to set Canon 7D drive modes here.
Advanced method using manual mode at f/2.8 lens for sports under even lighting after sunset
- Set aperture to f/2.8
- Set shutter speed somewhere between 1/500 and 1/800
- Find the ISO which will allow this combination. See AUTO ISO mode at the top of this page.
- The lighting in the stands will not be as bright, so you would need to compensate for this.
What if I Don't Have a f/2.8 Lens and the Right Camera?
Do not do this for an important event. Do this once as an experiment to see if it works before doing something like a homecoming or other important event.
- Set the camera to the widest aperture
- Set the camera to a shutter speed which will blur action.
- Set the ISO to the highest setting that will not cause too much noise the image.
- If the images are one or two stops overexposed, you can fix these images in Photoshop. I would rather have underexposed images rather than perfectly exposed images that cannot be used because the photos have a motion blur.
- Check with your yearbook teacher about this method. Look at your images after they have been adjusted for tonal quality to see if you should do this again.
Lighting
The shadows on the guy's face lower the quality of the portrait. Keep your subjects in even lighting.
Lighting Tips
- Soft lighting is better than harsh lighting.
- It is generally better to take photos in the shade rather than the direct sun.
- Try not to take photos in the sunshine around the middle of the day.
- The best time to take photos is during the "Golden Hour" which occurs just before sunset.
- When taking photos outside, check your histogram to make sure your exposure is right. Adjust your shutter speed or aperture to improve your histogram.
- Available light is almost always better than light that comes from a photo flash.
- Advanced photographers can use light modifiers or flashes outside to improve photos taken in the direct sun. Do not try this unless you know what you are doing.
Show Emotion Whenever Possible!
You are not merely taking photos of athletes playing their sport. You should be telling stories and showing emotion.
The same player the next week being carried off the field by her teammate. What does this photo show?
Where SHOULD THE PHOTOGRAPHER Stand?
Do not sit in the stands. Do not sit or stand in the same spot during the entire game or match. Get close to the action, but stay safe!
Baseball and Softball
Recommended lenses: 70-200mm, 300mm, 50mm 1.8 in dugout or for 1st and 2nd bases.
- Softball is much easier to photograph than baseball due to its smaller size and quicker pace.
- You can photograph softball with a shorter lens than is what is required for baseball.
- Try to get shots of the infielders warming up between innings. You can anticipate where the ball is going.
- Some professional photographers focus on a certain spot and wait for the action to happen. Set you focus to manual after you set your focus. For example, if a runner has a lead and the pitcher keeps throwing to first base, you can focus on first base for another pick off attempt, or focus on second base in case he steals. Make sure you return the focus to automatic after this series of photos.
- Use a fast shutter speed. Get photos of right handed batters, the pitcher, balls to the infield, fly balls to the right and center fielder. Your lens might have a hard time getting close enough to some of those fielders on the baseball field.
- Make sure to get shots in the dugout. Baseball players are very superstitious. Softball players are very expressive. You will get great shots in the dugout.
- Try to use the soft light that comes into the dugout. It might be dark in the back of the dugout.
Football
Recommended lenses: 70-200mm, the "fastest, longest" lens that you have for action. Any lens will work for the crown and cheerleaders. Make sure to set your color balance.
Arrive early! Lots of things happen before the game starts!
- Stay slightly in FRONT or even with the action. Try not to stand behind the line of scrimmage.
- You should not be in the coaching box, but this will vary by school.
- Do not stand on the field during play.
- Work with a partner. One can work as the photographer, and the other can work as the safety spotter. A football player could injure a photographer and break camera equipment.
- Do not photograph a game when it is raining. No game is worth damaging expensive equipment.
- Use the widest aperture available on your lens.
- Set your shutter speed between 1/500 and 1/800 if possible. Stop action. A sports photo that has motion blur cannot be used even if it is exposed correctly.
- Keep even the line of scrimmage as if moves along the field. Do not get in the way of the players, officials, workers, players, or coaches. Watch out for other photographers.
- You can shoot from the behind the end zone once the action arrives. Watch for players diving into the end zone.
- Watch for crowd reactions!
- Anticipate action.
- Be ready to take photos at any time.
SAFETY FIRST!
Football is a dangerous sport. A 210 pound linebacker could cause serious damage to a yearbook student. It might be wise to assign a spotter.
Take photos everywhere near the field! Plenty of action is happening all around! Don't limit your photography to the football players on the field.
Other Photo Opportunities During The Game
- This is Florida. Students with school spirit will be in the stands and along the sideline. Watch for fun and great expressions!
- Get photos of the band members. They always have a great time!
- Get on the field before the game. Gets shots of the coin toss, the players coming onto the field, them warming up and whatever else you can see. Get close!
- When the other team has the ball and the action is on the other side, turn around and take photos of the cheerleaders, the crowd, the administration, teachers, whatever else you can find!
- If you have multiple photographers assign each person to a different job. When it looks likely that your team will score a touchdown, have one take photos of the action and one take photos of the administration or cheerleaders if they are nearby! Watch for great expressions! Anticipate!
- Take photos after the game, especially if you win!
Basketball
Recommended lenses: 70-200mm 2.8 or the fastest lens that you have. You could also use a 50mm on an AP-C camera.
- Set your aperture to 2.8 or the widest aperture.
- Set you shutter speed to 1/500 or faster.
- Set you ISO to a high setting that will allow that exposure but maintain limited noise.
- Gym lighting does not change. Once you have your setting locked down, you really do not need to change your exposure. Therefore, manual exposure will work.
- Color balancing is tricky in a gym. Set a manual white balance if you know how to do that. Color balance is critical in a gym. It is easy to get a terrible color cast on your photos.
- Most basketball players are right handed, so the guards normally bring the ball down on the right hand side of the court.
Soccer
Recommended lenses: 70-200mm, the "fastest, longest" lens that you have for action. Any lens will work for the crown and cheerleaders. Make sure to set your color balance.
- Shooting soccer is similar to shooting football.
- You will get your best shots of the defender, midfielder, and forward that is standing close to the sideline. You might want to shoot on both sides of the field.
- Pre-focus on someone in front of the goal, then change to manual on corner kicks. I've found if I don't do it this way I might not focus correctly on the shot. Point your camera right in front of the goal and anticipate when the ball will arrive.
- Shoot with the widest aperture available on your lens.
- Use a fast shutter speed.
Track
You can use a variety of lenses for track from extreme wide angle to a long telephoto lens. Track allows you to be creative!
Do not get in the way, but put yourself in the position to get a good shot. You can experiment with several lenses for the high jump shot. The bottom shot was taken on the curve of the track with a 200mm lens shot at 2.8. The wide aperture blurs the background. The 200mm length compresses space and makes the runners look like they are close together.
Swimming
Use a 70-200mm 2.8 or the longest lens that you have.
Be careful not to get your camera wet.
Do not fall into the pool!
- Use a fast shutter speed. You can stand anywhere around the pool to get the best shot.
- Anticipate where you will see a swimmer's face.
- Stand in the best place for the event. Make sure you can see the swimmer's face.
Weightlifting
- Long lenses are not required for weightlifting.
- You can use a variety of lenses.
- Shutter speeds do not have to be as fast as other sports.
- Photos will be taken in a small, confined area.
- Take photos from a variety of locations.
- Cover all the events and weight classes.
Caution! Safety First!
Watch out for weights that are dropped all around you. It would be easy to get hurt taking weightlifting photos.
Tennis
A telephoto lens would be ideal for tennis. Tennis is usually played in sunny conditions, so a 2.8 lens is not required. Use a shutter speed faster than 1/1000 if possible. The faster the better!
- Tennis matches consist of five singles and two doubles matches.
- The number one and two players usually play number one doubles.
- Normally the number three and four players play number two doubles.
- Make sure to take photos of singles and doubles. The doubles matches are normally played at the end of the match.
- You probably will not be able to stand on the court. However, this might not be the case if the match is not an important one, or if one team has already won the match.
- Do not go on the court unless the coach has told you it is okay. The home coach would customarily ask the visiting coach if they agree with this.
- If you do get permission to go on the court, you must stand between the courts, probably somewhat near the net posts.
Cross Country
Any lens would work at a cross country event. A long lens would be best for most shots. You could use a normal lens for the start of the race.
- Use a fast shutter speed.
- If you have a 2.8 lens, shoot individual shots at 2.8 to blur the background.
- Get to race early to find the best locations for photos.
- Get photos early in the race, then move to a second or third location. You might be able to photograph runners two or three times.
Golf
You can use a variety of lenses for this sport. You can get pretty close to the action.
- Golf is a formal game with many social rules.
- Make sure you remain quiet!
- Do not interrupt players.
- Do not interfere.
- Do not get on the green or tee box area.
- Advisers should see if they could obtain a golf cart from the course to move around the course. You need to cover the entire course.
- Do not drive a cart near or over a green.
- Do not drive a cart over a tee box.
- Observe all rules.
- Do not allow a loud cart to bother a golfer while driving, hitting, or putting.
- Take a variety of shots.
- Be very careful so that you do not get hit by a ball.
- Some of the golfers are new at their sport. They might not hit the ball straight on.
- Try to stand behind trees or a cart if necessary.
- Be extremely careful. A ball might be with from 100 yards behind you on a different hole.
- Golf is a dangerous sport for fans and photographers.
One never knows when a photo opportunity will happen. Immediately after winning a large scholarship, this decided to celebrate by taking a selfie with the presenters. This celebration occurred on the stage in front of 500 people.