Sports Photography - How to Learn???

lanod2407

I've started taking sports shots over the past year - field sports (rugby, hurling, soccer) and I'm really struggling with the quality of the images and high rate of discards.
I've a Canon 20D with a 70 - 200 IS L f4 lens - reasonable kit, if not exactly Champions League stuff. Have been taking photographs for years, mainly in the landscape / portrait areas, but am now leaning towards sports -may possibly be linked to the activities of the offspring right now!

Anyone know where I can get my hands on recommended books, useful web-sites, groups that get together for sports shoots or training courses?
I'm based in Limerick.

Thanks

soccerc

Get to know the sport and how the game pans out.

Take a look at the different picture requirements of local and national papers and what style they lean towards,

Then, practice, practice and practice.

It also helps of you get as close to the action and as lowdown as practical.

Paulw

I've put together some tips and tricks that I have picked up, on my website. I know some people have found it very useful.

AnimalRights

Paul's tips n tricks is a fantastic read alright.
Infact must refresh up on it b4 the Cricket on Monday!

Paulw

Actually, I must update the pages with some new images, especially from different sports. I think I've enough of a mix now, between rugby, football, show jumping, kite-surfing, and more.

Hopefully the information provided is useful to people. It was put together from information gathered through experience, talking to other photographers, browsing many websites and checking sports images printed and online.

I am not a professional photographer (I've never claimed to be), but I am someone who does a lot of sports photography, and have had my images used in the press and also used by clubs and individuals.

City-Exile

I have yet to find a decent book about sports photography.
Best thing to do is read the papers & see what works.
Then visualise how you're going to replicate that.
You wont succeed, but you'll get two levels.
Where you are & where you want to be.

Then come back here with your shots & we'll abuse the hell out of you, until you're half decent! :-D

Pshan

Have a look at some of these, they're pics from the Heineken Cup Final, what I like about them (aside from Munster winning) is that they capture the supporters as much as the players. Obviously, there's no instruction or tips on how to take them but you should get an idea on what's good. Sadly, these are not my photo's.

MartMax

have a good read on Paul's tips, they are great. i haven't done much sport photography except two horse shows, that's about it. i must too try human sports at this summer time.

i found that it's important to get used to the equipment and also expecting the unexpected to get good moments shot. not least to understand the games and the flow of events.

lanod2407

Guys, (& girls!?)

Thanks for the input - PaulW's site certainly is impressive and the tips appear to be well developed.

I'll go forth onto the pitches of the world, capture the reflected light, and .... what was the term ....... come back here to be abused to hell???

fguihen

im not into sports photography that much ( or at all) but ive read a few books on the subject, and the general concensus is that if you want perfect images you will have to be one of those people who doesnt look at price tags. spending 10K on a camera that can take as many images per second as possible, and telephoto lenses with super wide apatures. so gear wise, to get the best you will have to spend many thousands. also , sports photographers dont have time to change lens's and settings when the action gets good, so its good to have two bodies each with a different lens and setup, so you can just grab another camera for a different kind of shot.

this is beyond most of us unfortunately so using some of the tips quoted previous will certainly help you improve, but it will be exceedingly difficult ( but not impossible) to get top quality images. also, your discard rate with slower lens's and slower cameras will be exponentially higher. im not trying to put you off, im just giving you the facts so you can work with and around them to improve.

Paulw

fguihen - I'll agree and also disagree with what you've posted.

You don't have time to change lenses. Having two bodies is a major advantage, but not critical.

Having a modern, fast camera is brilliant but not necessary. You can get some very good sports photos with any SLR, once you know your camera and know the sport well. You need to anticipate the action better though.

Good glass is very critical. But, you can capture great moments with slower lenses too.

So, above all - know your kit, know your sport, and then practice, practice, practice.