Action Shots
>> Friday, December 2, 2011
For the last two years, I have been working on improving my photography of sports/action. My dear friend M plays baseball with a local league, and, to my delight, I have somehow become the team photographer. I shoot the games I can make it to, edit the shots, and post the photos on Picasa for the team to see and share with their friends and families. I can't express how much fun I have doing it, largely because the guys on the team are absolutely wonderful - they are fun to spend time with, and are darn good ball players, too. Now our friend S has started playing hockey in a local league, so I've been starting to photograph some of his games, too.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78vCJUAOuF4/TnqCwhN-apI/AAAAAAAAIZI/aO-KXQT1ZNw/s640/_DSC6337.jpg)
But when I am shooting sports action I've got one "shot" at each moment. And I had better get it right.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7BP0_oV0Xy0/ToJlK031rMI/AAAAAAAAIlE/VcIYwi-NXrY/s640/_DSC6637.jpg)
I've learned what tricks I can use to up my shutter speed, where all the short-cut buttons are on my camera for changing settings quickly, and have gotten good at shooting quickly yet still getting steady shots. That said, hockey moves really really fast, and there's less light in a hockey arena than you might think, so I still have a lot of learning left to do when it comes to hockey photography.
But just capturing a sports moment is not really enough. Artistry matters in sports photos, too. It's just a different type of art, and requires a lot of practice to be able to get it right without much time. I have to be constantly be looking for that right moment, even when there isn't much action on the field or rink. You never know when that poignant, funny, or classic sports moment might happen.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-12ahHjkZ0do/TkhgRaWIWgI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/nLsxU5USMvA/s640/_DSC4031.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yqiWuHKX7HU/Tm1BdPQUGyI/AAAAAAAAIKo/PdTIIVa5v6Q/s640/_DSC5920.jpg)
4 comments:
Wow, these are great! I have thought before, esp. when looking at amazing sports photos in the NY Times that my husband shows me, that these folks must think FAST.
When you mentioned hockey, I immediately thought "Whaaaaaa?" I spend the first 75% of any hockey game I attend (there's been, what, 5?) trying to see the puck. JUST SEE it. That sport is SO CRAZY FAST, I'm SUPER impressed that you're even trying to shoot it. And it's not bright?!? Wow.
Great point re: shooting different stuff flexes different muscles and expands your understanding.
Nice work! =)
Looks like you have an eye for sports photography, too. Must be the artist in you!
Thank you both. Biobabbler, you made me laugh out loud with your comment about trying to see the puck. And make me feel a little better about some of my lousy blurry hockey shots.
Thank you both. Biobabbler, you made me laugh out loud with your comment about trying to see the puck. And make me feel a little better about some of my lousy blurry hockey shots.
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