Sports

2022

SHOOTING

Sports photography

• Sports coverage �is an integral part �of the yearbook.
• It’s important the photos are in focus, cropped well and stop the action.
• The should also feature emotions and capture the essence of the season.

photography

TIPS

Tips for sports photos:

• Know the basic rules of the sport before shooting.
• Shoot no fewer than 200 shots.

Tips for sports photos:

• Shoot before, during and after the competition.

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• Stop the action. If the sport requires a ball, keep it in the shot.

Tips for sports photos:

• At games, shoot the scoreboard periodically to keep photos in storytelling order.
• Attend at least three competitions.

Tips for sports photos:

• Watch & wait for reactions.
• Look for one-person, two-people, three-people, small group & large group moments.

Tips for sports photos:

• Take a back-up battery and extra media card.
• Invest in 2.8 lenses for shooting night games.

settings

KNOW YOUR

Camera settings

• Understanding camera settings and available light will help photographers freeze action and take better photos.

• Ever come back from a sporting event and the photos are too dark or blurry?

Camera settings

• Three variables affect the exposure of a photograph:

• Aperture – Controls how much light reaches the film or digital sensor. Affects depth of field.
• Shutter speed – Controls how long light hits the film or digital sensor. Affects motion.
• ISO – How sensitive the film or digital sensor is to light.

Camera settings

• Aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together to create a properly exposed photo.
• The camera basics show and the Balfour curriculum go into more details. But, keep in mind:

• Higher shutter speeds stop action. (Minimum 1/250^th)
• Higher ISOs and wider apertures (low f-stop) are needed in low-light situations.

Camera settings

• For newer photographers, use a cheat sheet to help adjust ISO, aperture and shutter speeds depending on the lighting situation.

Av – Aperture Priority setting

Tv – Shutter Priority setting

M – Manual

Note, the ISO must increase as you lose light.

freeze

action

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Freezing action

Effective cropping

Isolation

Anticipate the moment

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Know the strokes and when the swimmer rises above the water, be ready to shoot.

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Use a fast shutter speed, but also keep the aperture in mind to blur the background.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Freezing action

Captures the moment

A high ISO provides enough light to have a higher shutter speed to stop the action. The photographer also anticipated to capture this dynamic moment.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Freezing action

Worm’s eye view

Captures expression

By shooting fast and from a low angle, the photographer captures the high jumper’s concentration as well as the action.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Freezing action

Leading lines

Effective cropping

Using a fast shutter speed, the photographer freezes action and shoots along the row of cheerleaders to form

a leading line into the background.

capture

emotions

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Small group

Captures expressions

Effective cropping

The photographer captures the emotional facial expressions in this reaction shot after a game winning point is scored.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Captures expressions & the moment Freezes action

The photographer smartly stays with the athlete after the play to capture this emotional moment.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Captures emotions

Freezes action

Low angle

Sometimes the best photo isn’t from the game or match. During practice, the photographer captures the intensity of wrestling by dropping down low and capturing the emotion and moment.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Leading line

Emotion

During intense moments, don’t forget to shoot the bench.

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Look for facial expressions and focus on players’ faces.

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The bench also offers an opportunity for shots of players who may not be starters.

photograph

subvarsity teams

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Freezing action

Captures the moment

Don’t forget to cover afternoon JV and freshman games, which offer a chance to shoot games earlier in the day. Here the photographer freezes action and keeps the ball in the photo.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Filling the frame

Leading line

Emotion

During intense moments, don’t forget to shoot the bench, especially in freshman and JV games.

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Look for contrast of emotion or repetition.

Off the field

before, during & after

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Emotion

Repetition

Pregame introductions and the national anthem are part of volleyball and basketball culture and traditions.

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Capture the players as they enter the court and interact with their teammates.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Framing

Emotion

Facial expressions

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Players frame their teammate as the photographer captures intense facial expressions. Cover the whole event, on and off the field, to capture shots like this.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

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Freezing action

Facial expressions

Leading lines

Attention to the sidelines and before-during-after coverage lets the photographer capture team emotion. The row of players forms a leading line.

recap

to

• Become familiar with the sport you’re covering.

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• Cover more than the game.

• Capture moments at practice, on and off the field and before & after of sporting events.

• Photograph people solely, in pairs and in small and large groups.

• Use framing and effective cropping.

• Know your settings to freeze action.
• Keep the ball in shots.
• Anticipate the moment.

• Watch for reactions and emotions.

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• Strive to take at least 200 photos.

• Attend at least three competitions, including freshman & JV sporting events.

• At games, photograph the scoreboard for storytelling help later.

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• Carry an extra battery and memory card.

© 2022 Balfour Yearbooks, Dallas, TX�Duplication or distribution of this material is�prohibited without permission.