The plain background, color repetition, and parallel vertical lines add visual appeal to this tip-off..
I was recently asked by an accomplished photographer for some advice about improving her sports images. Since ours is a visual art, I often rely on the use of visual models to convey the concepts I’m explaining. Included are images from a recent boys basketball game between Island Christian School (red uniforms) in Islamorada, Florida Keys, and Redland Christian Academy (blue uniforms) to illustrate the concepts presented here.
Camera settings. Most sports photography requires stop-action, tack-sharp images achieved through a combination of optimal exposure settings (shutter speed, ISO, and aperture). Low light situations typical in amateur sports are especially difficult and often require very specialized equipment. I tend to use a shutter speed of 1000-500 in daylight and switch to 250 in low light. ISO varies widely from 100 to 4000 depending on the speed of the action, the available light, camera capabilities, and the intended use of the image. A shot intended for the local newspaper, for example, can tolerate a higher ISO than one intended as a large format print, even with high quality noise-reduction software. Because my style preference uses a relatively shallow depth of field and because I do most of my shots in low light conditions without a flash, I depend on lenses with a large aperture, an f/stop of 2.8 of higher.
Hint 1: Set your shutter speed for the available lighting and your aperture for your lens. Then set the ISO for the motion or light demands of the situation. The higher the motion speed or the lower the available light will, generally speaking, indicate a need for a higher ISO.
Hint 2: Assuming a constant aperture (f/stop), as available light decreases you will need to decrease your shutter speed and increase your ISO. Be aware that as ISO increases, so will image noise, or graininess. Post-production noise-reduction software can help alleviate the unwanted effects of image noise.
Lenses. Choosing a lens is often a compromise of price, convenience, and quality. Choices are either a prime lens with a fixed focal length or a zoom lens that can be adjusted within a predetermined range. The maximum aperture is an important lens specification. A large maximum aperture provides for a faster shutter speed, a shallower depth of field (which helps separate the subject from the background) and, often, faster and more accurate auto-focus.
Hint 3: Choose your lens for the demands of the shooting situation. (Note that the maximum aperture of a lens is a fixed quality. If the maximum aperture of your lens is 4.0, for example, you will be unable to set it to a 2.8 or larger aperture.)
Angle/perspective. As creatures of habit and comfort, we often tend to repeat the same angles and perspective in our photography day after day. The absolutely simplest way to improve your photography, in my opinion, is to be aware of the background for your subjects and re-position yourself to avoid unsightly distractions. A school bus or concession stand in the background can ruin an otherwise wonderful image. Once those obstacles are out of the way, look for new angles and perspectives that will highlight what you are trying to achieve in your images. When given the choice, shooting against a plain background or against the crowd will give entirely different feels to your image.
This shot, taken from floor level mid-court, makes the players appear slightly larger and more powerful. Note the intensity in the main subject's eyes.
Hint 4: Shoot slightly upward to give an impression of greater player size and power and to add visual interest.
Hint 5: Re-position yourself for new angles. Be respectful, though, of local rules about photographer access. Even though I have a press pass that allows greater access, I am careful to ask local officials about the acceptable areas from which to shoot.
Composition. The principles of aesthetics apply to photography, even sports photography which, at first thought, would seem to defy much advanced planning. By understanding some of the basic principles, though, we can develop a sixth sense about good composition elements and incorporate them into our work. One element is the Rule of Thirds in which an image is visually divided into three equally spaced horizontal and three equally spaced vertical areas. The intersection points are called Power Points: these imaginary lines and intersection points suggest options for good composition.
Hint 6: When shooting and editing for presentation, mentally apply the Rule of Thirds. Try to place your subject or focal point off center along one of the imaginary axis lines, even if you have to crop to achieve that. Move horizons from the center of the image, for example, to the top or bottom third of the image.
Note "Rule of Thirds" axis intersections.
Presentation. Great images show both technical proficiency and an understanding of composition. The work you present represents you, your skill level, and, ultimately, your reputation. The more time you spend on the technical and artistic aspects before the event, the better your image will be. Post-production work is sometimes necessary for finishing touches, but software-produced corrections should not be the mainstay of your work. As you study and learn, the technical quality of your work will improve.
Finally, make sure that the work you are presenting meets the requirement of the shooting assignment whether that assignment is game action images for your local sports editor, commissioned work for a parent, or a keepsake for a friend.
Use of "Rule of Thirds" adds visual appeal.
Hint 7: Present only your best work. Edit out images that are not tack-sharp (ideally, to 100%), that do not show color tone fidelity to the natural shooting environment, and that are in any manner not in good taste.
Hint 8: Dynamic sports images tell a story whether it be emotion, intensity, athleticism, or the final score of the contest. Work to get those images.
Conclusion. Many sports photographers are successful because they are able to bring to their careers a combination of photographic expertise, fascination with the multi-dimensional aspects of sport, and a understanding of the minds and bodies of athletes. If you have the good fortune to possess this combination of traits or are willing to work hard to achieve them, you have a good chance for a lifetime of enjoyment with your craft whether you plan to pursue it as a hobby or profession.
Credit for these illustrative images goes to two superb athletes, the two high-point scorers for Island Christian School at the featured game.
Volleyball can be easier to shoot than soccer or football due to the relatively small size of the playing area and the predictable pattern of play. The challenge lies in the low light situation typical of most high school gymnasiums. For this type of photography, a fast f/2.8 lens works well. These fast lenses, like the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L II, are expensive but if you want crisp action shots, you really don’t have much choice. White balance can also be tricky if you don’t know the kind of lighting used, although color correction is relatively easy in modern image editting software such as Photoshop CS5.
Marathon, FL - Sports photographer Kathy Lancaster has been named for membership to SportsShooter.com, an online community of professional sports photographers and photojournalists. Lancaster is a Keys-based freelance sports photographer and award-winning writer. Her images regularly appear in The Key West Citizen, The Free Press, and other newspapers in the Keys. She is also the official sports photographer for Marathon High School athletics.
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