Learning Sports Photography

[beivied]

Hi I have been doing amateur uw photography and want to start learning sports photography.


I currently have a Canon 7D, and a spare 40D. Lenses I have a canon mount Sigma 18-200mm f3.5/5.6, Canon 100mm f2.8L, Canon 50mm f1.8.

I wish to learn with my current setup first before any further investment (broke!!!). 😅

How do you guys usually start? Is it generally ok to camp at where people usually exercise to take photos? If i ask for permission and promise to send the photos to the people exercising or playing some sport, will it help?

Thanks!

 

[one eye jack]

Hi I have been doing amateur uw photography and want to start learning sports photography.


I currently have a Canon 7D, and a spare 40D. Lenses I have a canon mount Sigma 18-200mm f3.5/5.6, Canon 100mm f2.8L, Canon 50mm f1.8.

I wish to learn with my current setup first before any further investment (broke!!!). ��

How do you guys usually start? Is it generally ok to camp at where people usually exercise to take photos? If i ask for permission and promise to send the photos to the people exercising or playing some sport, will it help?




Thanks!

Don't be daft this is Singapore. Being a lady I think you can get away poking a long lens between
people's legs. Don't get me wrong it's football ,hockey or such sports.:bsmilie:

You can start with your 200mm zoom for a start but you need to be closer to the action at the sidelines at least. The thing is some sports are private like badminton,tennis,golf etc. unless it's a national tournament like ladies golf championship where public is allowed to watch so easy to access you get the picture or you can sneak in hit and run.

There are places where you don't need to pay like stadiums for football training in the mornings
and evenings. There may be school athletics too at the tracks. Community centres for basketball
and for hockey at Delta sports complex and badminton if you are daring.

Skate boarding at your neighbourhood playground or parklinks that have such facility.The one at orchard is pretty obvious.

Sea sports you can try with 200mm like water skiing ( kallang river? ) or dragon boat if you are close enough. Check online for local sports activities and plan ahead.

Now the basics, to prevent camera shake shutter speed need to be at least double the focal length of the lens used. Example at 200mm you need 1/400th second or faster. So be prepared to up ISO sensitivity to freeze action.Read online and watch youtube videos for tips and techniques. It takes patience, anticipation and knowledge of a particular sport to do well. Also not being afraid of sun and inclement weather. Good luck.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2...phy-pro-techniques-and-the-settings-they-use/

http://www.digital-photo-secrets.co...t-moving-sports-without-blurring-the-subject/

http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/8-tips-for-taking-sports-photos-like-a-pro--photo-296

http://www.photographymad.com/pages...ra-settings-for-action-and-sports-photography

http://www.phototechnique.com/how-to/how-to-shoot-action-and-sports-photography/

 

[Foxshade]

Your zoom lens aperture is a bit small. Get a f/2.8 fixed aperture.

My first and only sports try out so far was at Lumpinee stadium Bangkok, with 70-200mm f/2.8. Open wide, and kick the ISO high up. The lighting and color cast is far from ideal, but it's fun shooting.

Might not get a killer pic like some sifu here, but just enjoy the shooting activity. Your reflex will improve greatly after you managed to time yourself properly with the action. Hopefully the result will too after some try run.

 

[rhino123]

Hi I have been doing amateur uw photography and want to start learning sports photography.


I currently have a Canon 7D, and a spare 40D. Lenses I have a canon mount Sigma 18-200mm f3.5/5.6, Canon 100mm f2.8L, Canon 50mm f1.8.

I wish to learn with my current setup first before any further investment (broke!!!). ��

How do you guys usually start? Is it generally ok to camp at where people usually exercise to take photos? If i ask for permission and promise to send the photos to the people exercising or playing some sport, will it help?

Thanks!

What type of sports photography are you into? Indoor wise, a large aperture might be better or you would have to push your ISO up pretty high to achieve the necessary shutter speed. If you are shooting at open sports and in good lighting, then your setup is good enough (I would use the 18-200mm though).

Secondly... I normally don't care and continue shooting at people doing exercises until being told off, then I walk away.

 

[beivied]

Don't be daft this is Singapore. Being a lady I think you can get away poking a long lens between
people's legs. Don't get me wrong it's football ,hockey or such sports.:bsmilie:

You can start with your 200mm zoom for a start but you need to be closer to the action at the sidelines at least. The thing is some sports are private like badminton,tennis,golf etc. unless it's a national tournament like ladies golf championship where public is allowed to watch so easy to access you get the picture or you can sneak in hit and run.

There are places where you don't need to pay like stadiums for football training in the mornings
and evenings. There may be school athletics too at the tracks. Community centres for basketball
and for hockey at Delta sports complex and badminton if you are daring.

Skate boarding at your neighbourhood playground or parklinks that have such facility.The one at orchard is pretty obvious.

Sea sports you can try with 200mm like water skiing ( kallang river? ) or dragon boat if you are close enough. Check online for local sports activities and plan ahead.

Now the basics, to prevent camera shake shutter speed need to be at least double the focal length of the lens used. Example at 200mm you need 1/400th second or faster. So be prepared to up ISO sensitivity to freeze action.Read online and watch youtube videos for tips and techniques. It takes patience, anticipation and knowledge of a particular sport to do well. Also not being afraid of sun and inclement weather. Good luck.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/07/24/shoot-sharper-sports-photography-pro-techniques-and-the-settings-they-use/

http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/306/how-to-take-photos-of-fast-moving-sports-without-blurring-the-subject/

http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/8-tips-for-taking-sports-photos-like-a-pro--photo-296

http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/the-perfect-camera-settings-for-action-and-sports-photography

http://www.phototechnique.com/how-to/how-to-shoot-action-and-sports-photography/

Thanks!! I am not a long hair big eye lady leh, so i guess i get away with less things 😅

I tried at bedok reservoir, the slightest focus i can get on the dragonboat is when it is coming back to the jetty. So seasports might be a tad tough for 200mm

Skateboarding sounds great, thanks!

And thanks for the links ^_^

 

[beivied]

Your zoom lens aperture is a bit small. Get a f/2.8 fixed aperture.

My first and only sports try out so far was at Lumpinee stadium Bangkok, with 70-200mm f/2.8. Open wide, and kick the ISO high up. The lighting and color cast is far from ideal, but it's fun shooting.

Might not get a killer pic like some sifu here, but just enjoy the shooting activity. Your reflex will improve greatly after you managed to time yourself properly with the action. Hopefully the result will too after some try run.

Nice pic! I was hoping to play around with my current setup more before i actually acquire another expensive lens 😆 also i wanna see if sports photography is really for me.

I got my 100mm f2.8L for underwater macro and also using it to learn land macro. It seem quite useable for taking photos of joggers too

 

[beivied]

What type of sports photography are you into? Indoor wise, a large aperture might be better or you would have to push your ISO up pretty high to achieve the necessary shutter speed. If you are shooting at open sports and in good lighting, then your setup is good enough (I would use the 18-200mm though).

Secondly... I normally don't care and continue shooting at people doing exercises until being told off, then I walk away.

Mmm maybe like cycling, running, badminton, football etc? Not so much into cars or planes (i notice the amount of automobiles photos in the forum)

The gripe i would have on the 18-200mm is that it is shaky at full extension. I can hear the lens vibrating at 200mm when i shoot.

 

[beivied]

Sorry for the odd dde stuff. Its emoticons which the forum doesnt recognise :sweat:

 

[rhino123]

Mmm maybe like cycling, running, badminton, football etc? Not so much into cars or planes (i notice the amount of automobiles photos in the forum)

The gripe i would have on the 18-200mm is that it is shaky at full extension. I can hear the lens vibrating at 200mm when i shoot.

The vibration might be due to the os. My 17-70mm made quite an audible noise too.

Anyway, I would advise against upgrading or getting any new gears at the moment, just play with what you already have and see what is lacking... like... noisy pics, due to ISO having been tuned up too high, then looked into getting an external flash or getting a lens with a wider aperture, or AF is not locking on fast enough, then looked into upgrading lens or what.

No point upgrading immediately and in the end found that the lens is not what you need.

If possible, always rent a lens first before purchase, so as to fully test that lens.

 

[beivied]

The vibration might be due to the os. My 17-70mm made quite an audible noise too.

Anyway, I would advise against upgrading or getting any new gears at the moment, just play with what you already have and see what is lacking... like... noisy pics, due to ISO having been tuned up too high, then looked into getting an external flash or getting a lens with a wider aperture, or AF is not locking on fast enough, then looked into upgrading lens or what.

No point upgrading immediately and in the end found that the lens is not what you need.

If possible, always rent a lens first before purchase, so as to fully test that lens.

Thanks rhino123!
Yep wanna try my hands on existing setup first. Looking for more opportunities to shoot. My friends play badminton so they are going to be my "models", hehehe. Looking for sports events that i can try my hands on without being an event photographer. Unfortunately i am running half marathon on 2nd march so i am missing on the opportunity for many sports events on that day.

I found there is a gymnastic championship at Bishan Sports hall until 7 March, there is a duathlon on 16 March, triathlon on 13 Apr, , and OCBC cycle on 29 and 30 March.

Any sports events that you guys know?

I am actually keen on shooting water polo (because of the action, not the guys, haha) but didnt see any events open to public.

 

[Actururss]

Nice Kick Boxing.
Amazing splashing of sweat.
:sweat: