I recently received a note from a reader asking me for tips on how to capture “decent” pictures of her son during his soccer games.
Why settle for “decent?” You can capture truly frameworthy sports photos if you practice a few simple techniques.
Position. I dated a soccer player in high school and actually have experience shooting many action packed games. My first recommendation is to get off the bleachers and situate yourself near the goal at the end of the field. That way you can shoot up the field, rather than from the sidelines. What’s more, the end of the field is typically where most of the hardcore action takes place. You will also get a cleaner shot with greater depth. Finally, don’t make the mistake of running up and down the field and constantly repositioning your shot. Trust me; you’ll end of tired and sweaty and won’t have a single “decent” shot to show for it. Let the action come to you.
Zoom. Regardless of the sporting event (soccer, football, basketball, etc.) you want to zoom in as much as possible. Doing so will allow you to eliminate unwanted clutter and help shorten the depth of field. You can get rid of even more background clutter by shooting from a low angle. Shooting from a lower angle also helps to avoid bright reflections from the field.
Lighting. If possible, shoot your subjects with the sun at their back, doing so helps eliminate harsh shadows. The exception to this is if your child’s game is scheduled for the early morning or late afternoon, in which case you’ll want to position yourself so the sun is illuminating your subject’s face and is at your back.
Timing. Take a minute to thumb through an issue of Sports Illustrated and you’ll see how well the magazine’s photographers skillfully anticipate the moment. Timing is everything and in order to capture that perfect score, block or hit you need to stay at least one step ahead of your subject. I would suggest trying your best to press the shutter button the moment before the action happens. If you wait to snap the shot until you see the shot unfold in your viewfinder, it’s likely that you missed it.
Related Articles:
Photography Lessons: The Rule of Thirds
Telling A Story With Your Shots
More Common Sense Tips To Capturing A Frame-Worthy Picture
Common Sense Tips To Capturing Frame-Worthy Pictures