The quick eye of sport photography.
Sports photography is a challenging yet exhilarating field that demands specific skills and attributes from photographers. I love this form of photography, the excitement it brings and the challenges. The primary requirement is a telephoto lens with a long focal length, enabling you to capture dynamic moments even from a distance. Patience and some understanding of the sport your photographing is the key to anticipating what’s going to happen to get the shot. Sport photography can really increase anxiety because if you miss the shot, you miss the shot!!
My camera of choice is a DSLR Canon EOS 90D with the canon 70-200mm f2.8 plus a 1.4x extender. Yes there are bigger lenses but they are heavy and cumbersome and yes there are better camera bodies but I really love the 90D and for now gives me rewarding results.
Fast autofocus and burst mode capabilities are essential technical features, ensuring rapid and precise focusing during high-speed action. Fast shutter speed to freeze the action is essential and adapating to changing light conditions is a must. One minute your shooting with an ISO of 100 and then a big cloud comes over and your switiching to 400 very quickly!
Sport photography is what sparked my interest in photography. I love sitting at the footy watching 4 quarters through by viewfinder, capturing the game. Or on the beach shooting incredible surfers in big waves. Endurance events in the region are great fun to capture, to see the sheer grit and determination these athletes have and to capture those moments is quite impressive. And finally the stand-up freeride jetski industry. These guys and girls are incredible, throwing huge flips and rolls with a machine that weighs more then 100kg is really something. This sport is not well known in WA but later this year I will be travelling to Queensland to photograph SCX - an annual, international freeride jetski event. Can’t wait!
Photography with a camera and lens or even a drone can really give you breath taking results if you really think about your settings, lighting and the sport your capturing. In essence, sports photography requires a blend of technical camera skills, situational awareness, and a genuine love for the sport to consistently capture compelling and dynamic images.
