Sports – Page 2 – Learn to shoot like a pro

The Right Camera Settings for Great Action Shots

February 24, 2017April 11, 20172 Comments

It’s essential that you get yourself set up for success before the action starts in sports photography. Before the starting whistle blows and the game begins, get your camera set up with the right settings so you can shoot like a pro!

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Check your shutter speed and set it to the appropriate speed. Remember this depends on what you are shooting and how fast the subject is moving.

Set your camera to the lowest possible ISO setting for the amount of light you have to work with. If you are shooting outdoors, use ISO 100 or 200. If you are in low light, use higher ISO numbers. It’s important to note that the higher the ISO, the more “noise” or graininess a photo will have. It’s important to find the right balance between noise and blurriness when finding the right ISO setting for your event.

Adjust your aperture. The aperture is the opening of a lens that light passes through and it is calibrated in f/stops. It can be a little bit confusing when you first start off. The lower the f/stop means that the larger the opening in the lens and the higher the f/stop, the smaller the opening. A larger aperture (meaning a lower f/stop) will help you increase your shutter speed and give you a shallower depth of field to help isolate players from the background. This will also help you have a fast enough shutter speed to stop the action.

Try burst or continuous shooting mode. Continuous shooting mode can take multiple shots at a time and can be best for certain types of fast-moving sports. However, remember that your memory card will fill up faster with burst mode so be sure yours has enough capacity or you will have to delete shots at half time or time outs.

If you are shooting an indoor event, you will need to adjust your white balance setting. The preset daylight white balance setting will usually work for outdoor lighting. Because indoor lighting is artificial, you may want to set up a custom white balance or it can impact your camera settings and change the colors of your shot.

You also need to turn your flash off! This is key! Flash photography can distract the players. If you have a slow lens that requires flash, you may want to invest in a faster lens or rent one from DC Sports Photography Academy.

Remember, above all, that sports photography is something that requires consistent practice. Get your settings correct and remember that with each game, you will improve more and more.

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5 Tips For Taking Great Action Photos

February 16, 2017February 15, 2017Leave a comment

Have you ever tried to snap a photo of your child running and it came out blurry? Or you wanted to get a great candid photo but your subjects were moving too quickly? Photographing action is necessary for sports photography but it can be a handy skill no matter what you choose to photograph. Although it may seem impossible to get that perfect action shot at first, we promise that it’s easier than you think! Follow these five tips to start taking fantastic action photos, follow these five tips.

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Use a faster shutter speed

A fast shutter speed is one of the most important things to capture action shots. The right shutter speed will depend on how fast your subject is moving. We recommend choosing a shutter speed of 1/400 for indoor motion and 1/1000 for outdoor action and taking some test shots before the action begins to see how sharp your images are. If you notice any blurriness, increase your shutter speed.

2. Find the right vantage point

Vantage point is key for a great action shot. You don’t just want to have a clear view, you also want to have the best vantage point. Consider the different angles of your subjects and how you can best see their reactions and movements.

3. Learn to pan

Panning refers to moving the camera along with the object you are trying to capture. Don’t wait for someone to run past you to catch their photo. Instead turn toward the subject and follow it as it moves past you. This increases your chances of capturing a sharper image. Ensure you have a steady stance and keep your feet firmly planted. Then twist from the waist to follow the movement. When the moment is right, fully press the shutter button.

4. Pay attention to lighting

Lighting can make a big difference in any photo but it can really make a difference in an action photo if you are not paying attention to it. Increasing your ISO can help you in these situations. Raising the ISO can help you to see more light when you shoot at a higher shutter speed. Be careful to test this as if your ISO is too high, the images could appear grainy.

5. Always keep shooting

The one thing you don’t want to miss is the action! Keep your eyes on the action and don’t stop to look at the photos you have already taken. You can do that once the game is over and the action has finished. You could miss a crucial moment and the more shots you take, the more likely you are to capture that perfect action shot.

These five tips will help you improve your action photography skills which can lead to fantastic sports photography or a truly beautiful photo of your child in motion. Whatever your photography goals are, it’s time to practice! Let us know what was the best tip for you and tag us @DCSportsPhotographyAcademy in your Instagram photos so we can see your amazing action shots!

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Georgetown vs Providence Women’s Basketball

February 9, 2017February 9, 2017Leave a comment

Last week Georgetown Women’s basketball took on Providence Women’s basketball and DC Sports Photography Academy was there to capture it! Our student Rajani had experience with photographing still life portraits, social events and parties but he wanted to enhance his skills and build a sports photography portfolio.

One of the areas we focused on during this game was the art of keeping up with the speed of the game. It can be tricky in sports photography to stay on top of all of the action. It is key to keep people in focus and compose the shot properly.

Over the course of this game, Rajani was able to keep up with the fast-paced and captured some incredible photos!

The Hoyas also scored a win, defeating their opponent 72-70 in overtime! Nothing like an overtime game to help you learn how to manage the fast pace of sports photography.

Take a look at the amazing photos our student took below!

Want to be a sports photography pro too? We have packages and prices for all skill levels available!