Sports photography is a very challenging but rewarding genre of photography. It requires a quick eye, a fast shutter speed, and the ability to capture the action in the moment. Let me give a quick introduction of myself. Besides event photography, I'm doing sports photography as my career here in Dubai and I am passionate about capturing the excitement and drama of sports, and I love sharing my work with others. On this blog, I will share my tips and techniques for sports photography, as well as my favorite photos from my shoots.
If you have read my previous blogs you might know that I'm a Nikon user and grateful for the support of Nikon Middle East, which has provided me with the opportunity to pursue my passion for sports photography.
In this blog I'm gonna share with you some tips and tricks as well as my experience of being a sports photographer.
What exactly shall we shoot?
But what exactly should you shoot in sports photography and sports events? Here are a few ideas:
Action shots: These are the most iconic shots in sports photography. They capture the athlete in the middle of the action, frozen in time.
Close-up shots: These shots capture the emotion and intensity of the athlete's face. They can be very powerful and moving.
Wide-angle shots: These shots show the entire scene, including the athletes, the crowd, and the playing field. They can be used to create a sense of atmosphere and excitement.
Creative shots: These shots are less traditional, but they can be very interesting and visually appealing. They could be shots of the athlete from a unique angle, or shots of the crowd or the playing field in a new and creative way.
It is very important to know the sport . The more you know about the sport you are shooting, the better. This will help you to anticipate the action and capture the best moments.
Getting the right Gear
At a minimum, you will need a camera with a fast shutter speed (at least 1/1000 of a second), a telephoto lens (at least 200mm focal length), and a memory card with a fast write speed. You may also want to consider using a monopod or tripod for stability.
What I'm using on each shoot is very depending on the lighting situation and type of the match. I pay attention of how much distance I can have minimum and maximum from the athletes.
I’m always carrying with me a Nikon Z6II and a Nikkor Z mount lens, the 24-70mm f.2.8 which is my favorite. I also make sure to use the 70-200mm lens which always does an amazing job. I also love using the F mount 200-500mm lens which makes a huge difference in its zoom range and compression. In my next blog, I’m gonna talk about my experience using the Nikon Z8 camera and the Z mount 100-400mm lens.
Choosing a right Location
It's always important where to stand. Try different spots of the venue randomly and Try to find a location that gives you a good angle of the action. You don't want to be shooting from behind the goal or from too far away. Also it good sometimes to Choose a location with a clean background, free of distractions. Try to shoot in natural light. Never use flash and speedlights.
what camera setting shall we use?
Of course the setting you use is 100% depends on the specific sport you are shooting, the lighting conditions, and the type of photos you want to capture. Maybe you want to use a lower shutter to create a movement effect in your photo. Here is a general setting you can start with .
Shutter speed: The shutter speed controls how long the camera shutter is open. A faster shutter speed will freeze motion, while a slower shutter speed will allow more motion blur. For sports photography, you want to use a fast shutter speed to freeze the action. A good starting point is 1/500 of a second. You may need to use a faster shutter speed for faster-moving sports, such as motorsports or cycling.
Aperture: The aperture controls how much light enters the camera lens. A wider aperture (lower f-number) will let in more light, while a narrower aperture (higher f-number) will let in less light. For sports photography, you want to use a wide aperture (f/2.8 or lower) to blur the background and make the subject stand out. You may need to use a narrower aperture if you are shooting in bright sunlight or if you need to keep multiple subjects in focus.
ISO: The ISO controls the camera's sensitivity to light. A higher ISO will make the camera more sensitive to light, but it can also introduce noise into the image. For sports photography, you will likely need to use a higher ISO setting to shoot in low light conditions. However, be careful not to use too high of an ISO, to avoid noises.
Focus mode: The focus mode controls how the camera focuses on the subject. For sports photography, you want to use continuous autofocus (AF-C). This will keep the camera focused on the subject even if they are moving.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sports photography settings. Experiment with different shutter speeds, apertures, and ISOs to see what works best for you.
Burst
To burst shoot, simply hold down the shutter button on your camera. The camera will continue to take photos until you release the shutter button. The number of photos you can take in a burst will depend on your camera model and the speed of your memory card. My camera shoots up to 14FPS RAW . New generation of cameras like Nikon Z8 shoots 20 fps Raw 30fps JPEG and with Nikon Z9 top shooting speed is either 20 FPS, 30 FPS, 60 FPS, or 120 FPS. At all of these speeds, the camera's buffer is simply massive, although the 30, 60, and 120 FPS options are JPEG.
Don't forget to change your setting to hight continuous shutter release.
Here are some tips for burst shooting in sports photography:
Use a fast burst rate. Most modern cameras have a burst rate of at least 5 frames per second. However, some cameras can shoot at up to 20 frames per second or more. If you are serious about sports photography, you will want to invest in a camera with a fast burst rate.
Use a fast shutter speed. When burst shooting, it is important to use a fast shutter speed to freeze the action. A good starting point is 1/400 of a second. You may need to use a faster shutter speed for faster-moving sports.
Use a wide aperture. A wide aperture (low f-number) will let in more light and allow you to use a faster shutter speed. This is especially important when shooting in low light conditions.
Use continuous autofocus. Continuous autofocus will keep the camera focused on the subject even if they are moving. This is essential for getting sharp photos when burst shooting.
Here are some examples of when to use burst shooting in sports photography:
When the action is fast and unpredictable. For example, when shooting a football player catching a pass or a basketball player making a dunk.
When you want to capture multiple expressions on an athlete's face. For example, when shooting a tennis player hitting a serve or a golfer making a putt.
When you want to create a sense of movement and excitement. For example, when shooting a race car crossing the finish line or a crowd of fans cheering on their team.
Bursting is a powerful technique that can help you to take great sports photos. However, it is important to use it wisely. Don't just burst shoot all the time. Save it for the moments when you really need it.
With practice, you will be able to master the art of bursting and take amazing sports photos that capture the excitement and drama of the game.
Object tracking
My last tip is to learn and to practice to track different moving objects. It is very challenging yet so useful and the results will be very satisfying. This Skill involves keeping your camera focused on a moving subject, even when they are erratically changing direction or speed. This can be challenging, but it is essential for capturing sharp and dynamic photos.
Nikon cameras offer a variety of features to help you track subjects accurately, including:
Continuous autofocus (AF-C): This mode keeps the camera focused on the subject even when they are moving.
Dynamic area AF: This mode allows you to select a group of focus points that will track the subject as they move around the frame.
Subject tracking: This mode uses artificial intelligence to track the subject's face or body, even if they are partially obscured or moving quickly.
To track a subject in sports photography with a Nikon camera, follow these steps:
Set the focus mode to AF-C.
Select a dynamic area AF mode, such as 9-point or 25-point.
Position the focus points over the subject.
Half-press the shutter button to lock focus.
Keep the focus points on the subject as they move around the frame.
Press the shutter button fully to take the photo.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I am always happy to hear from my readers.
Thanks for reading!
Such a great amount of work that you’ve done is impressive! Keep it up Kim!
Perfect and useful👍😇