Sports Photography

This type of photography will usually require a high end camera which allows for shutter speed adjustment. This is due to the need to take photos very quickly to capture action shots. The high quality sensors on DSLRs allow for quick shutter speed but also impressive quality. Sports photography can cover fast paced action such as boxing or mountain biking, but also slower paced sports such as golf and snooker. This makes sports photography very flexible and allows the photographer to choose the style of photo that they wish to take. Sports photography will typically end up in magazines or websites dedicated to either photography or the specific sport that the photo captures. Many techniques can be used when taking sports photos. These include a long exposure time- this can be used to show speed and therefore intensify the action, increasing the ISO- this can be used in low light conditions and it helps to improve the clarity of the image. A tripod is usually necessary for sports photography as it allows for steady and clear images however some photographers may choose to take handheld photos due to the fast paced effect it gives the photographs. Location is particularly important when taking sports photography. This is due to the need to capture clear but exciting images and you may need to compete with other photographers who are looking to find the ideal place to take their photograph. Timing is also very important, if the image is taken before the action takes place it is no longer a sports photograph. However if the image is taken too late, the action is lost and the moment is missed. This type of photography will usually require a high end camera which allows for shutter speed adjustment. This is due to the need to take photos very quickly to capture action shots. The high quality sensors on DSLRs allow for quick shutter speed but also impressive quality. Sports photography can cover fast paced action such as boxing or mountain biking, but also slower paced sports such as golf and snooker. This makes sports photography very flexible and allows the photographer to choose the style of photo that they wish to take. Sports photography will typically end up in magazines or websites dedicated to either photography or the specific sport that the photo captures. Many techniques can be used when taking sports photos. These include a long exposure time- this can be used to show speed and therefore intensify the action, increasing the ISO- this can be used in low light conditions and it helps to improve the clarity of the image. A tripod is usually necessary for sports photography as it allows for steady and clear images however some photographers may choose to take handheld photos due to the fast paced effect it gives the photographs. In order to help sports photographers, some camera's have a “burst” or “sport” mode. These modes allow the camera to take lots of photographs very quickly and it is ideal for capturing the perfect moment. However although these modes are useful, they can often result in a reduction of quality in the photograph.

Sports photography requires patience and a good eye for capturing high quality action shots however it can be undertaken by almost any amateur photographer.

I have tried sports photography and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I particularly like the challenge of capturing motion in a still photograph. I also enjoy sports photography as the photos are often action packed and exciting to look at.