Mar. 2003
President's
Message
Article - "Understanding Tripods "
Sports Photography
- Luc Dequick
Sport is a synonym for action. Therefore, the speed of the reaction and the thinking of the photographer are as important as the location. In addition to this, one has to reflect well in advance about the subject that will be photographed and adjust oneself to the smallest alteration. One also has to have full disposal and control of reliable equipment. Only then the world to sports photography lies before you.
Think about the needed ingredients of the photo; movement, speed and action, although they aren’t guarantees of success.
To have a good sports photograph, the right lighting, the sharpness of a picture, the content and informative values are matters of major concern. So the picture that expresses originality (e.g., where famous sports are shot from an unusual angle) will certainly attract someone’s attention and will be remembered.
However, to get a good sports picture as an amateur photographer, one has to overcome several obstacles :
_ The more important the event, the more difficult it will be to get an accreditation as an amateur. Fortunately, it is not necessary in sports photography to have a champion in the picture. Therefore, you can turn to local and regional events, where you, as an amateur (provided that you honour the regulations), will practically never be refused. You also avoid standing with dozens in the right position to have a chance of success. And what’s more important, is that the chances of identical images of your colleagues will be avoided. After all, it is wrong to suppose that the photographic result is proportional to the importance of the event. An old proverb says that one has to think twice before speaking—the same would be said for photographing. Sports pictures are usually uninteresting because the sport photographer’s legs and material have done all the work, but not his head. What am I going to photograph? In which way ? These are very important questions. After all is said and done, your work will be evaluated by people who look at the content and quality and whether your picture satisfies them or not. Often the solution is inspired by the moment when the photographer can and should react immediately.
_ A sports photographer often has to contend with the weight he has to carry by means of cameras, lenses, and rolls of film, to be prepared for all kinds of situations. Necessity and possibility frequently place him in a dilemma. As sport is a synonym of action and variation of scenery, one has to show some consideration for mobility and flexibility in order to put equipment together. On one hand, the knowledge of the branch of sports that will be photographed is important, but on the other hand the foreknowledge and the conditions of the field where one will photograph is also important. If you neither know the competition rules nor the rules of the game, you will have to count on a full measure of luck. Good knowledge of the regulations allows you to prepare yourself better, mentally and physically, so that you can react optimally to unexpected situations. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is useful to explore the field in advance. This gives you insight in the interesting photographic locations available and the connected light conditions. Always keep in mind that the orientation of the light during the day changes because of the fact that the sun moves. With wrong choices, you might miss the picture or take a bad one. The watchfulness and the practice of the photographer, just as the quality of his equipment, could be a solution in this case, like the technical options and his savoir-faire. Herewith, the knowledge and control over your equipment are very important because with lack of this, you can lose crucial seconds. Consider that a sports event isn’t a practice ground. Try out your camera in advance and make sure that you control the operation of it before every excursion. The choice of the film is, of course, of capital importance for the succeeding of the picture. Stay faithful to the type and sensitivity of the film that your are common with. Too much changing of film type doesn’t only have optical inconvenience, but can also cause involuntary mistakes. The photographer who makes the right choices at the right moment, not only has good knowledge of the work, but also a certain form of sixth sense. Most of the time, the best photographers feel the moment and are better placed than the others.
_ There also exists a remedy for the “frustrations” when the chance of shooting interesting images is minimal. Try always to be alert and to have the courage to use your eyes so that you can look for interesting moments that could take place. Dare to use the continuous mode of your camera so you can record the moment. In spite of all the efforts, you can have bad luck at “the moment.” Think of a cloud that appears in front of the sun, a fan or a colleague who suddenly appears in your image, or the pushing of the crowd. You can practically eliminate this by recognizing the dangers so you can take the required preparations.
To conclude, one can say that an amateur sports photographer, in spite of all the difficulties, the efforts and the possible frustrations, goes photographing for the sake of the pleasure and satisfaction in the realised shots.