Your kids are involved in sports and you want to take some memorable shots of them in action. With the proliferation of higher and higher quality digital cameras, it’s getting easier to take great photos of your children playing sports. Even the most simple point and shoots are capable of catching some spectacular photos. Here are some quick and easy tips to make sure you end up with keepsakes instead of throwaways.
Read your manual. The most important aspect of shooting kids’ sporting events is knowing what your camera can do. Is your camera fully automatic or does it have manual settings? Does your camera have a zoom and a flash? Pay particular attention to the sections on optimal light conditions, shooting distances, and speed settings for action shots.
Pay attention to lighting. If your camera is manual, you will use different settings for outdoor photography, if the games are being played on a field, vs. indoor photography, if the games are being played in a court etc. Generally it is best to shoot with a lighting source at your back, giving you photos where your children’s faces are lit up as opposed to in shadow. If the game is in a lower light setting, consider bringing a tripod so you can catch longer exposure shots. It is usually best to set the shutter speed to the fastest possible setting, so you can catch those quick moments. This may be more difficult in low light settings, where you might have to use a flash. When using a flash to light up your photos, try to be as close to the action as possible, since the flash can only light up so much distance in front of you. Just make sure that you are not in the way of game play, referees or coaches and that your flash isn’t distracting players.
Position yourself. Before the game starts, check out different angles on the competition area. See if any vantage point offers an interesting background to your shots. Instead of taking pictures from the stands, shoot from the opposite side and catch the crowd in the background. Catch a photo from behind the goal line as your child’s team tries to score. Play with height. Try some photos taken with the camera low to the ground or from high up in the stands. Think outside the box and don’t be afraid to change positions during the game to catch different interesting shots.
Tell a story. Catch the team warming up, in a huddle, talking with the coach, as well as during the game. Think distance: stepping back from the action and taking some atmosphere photos, capturing the field, the stands, maybe some interesting lighting on the field. Then zoom in close. Capture your child’s hands on the ball, high fives after a goal, a smile after a good pass. The play between close in and wide angle shots can add visual interest to your photo album and help you capture the whole atmosphere of the game as well as the action.
Consider not only the center of your picture, but the edges as well. This can add another whole dimension to your photos. Capture your child taking a shot on goal, with the goalie in the edge of the photo ready to block it. Take a photo of the action of the field, with the ref at the edge watching closely. Even small details like a cone, sideline, or goal post can help frame your picture nicely and help tell that story.
Catch the moment. This can be difficult, so the best strategy is to take lots of photos. The great thing about digital cameras is you can take tons of photos and go through afterward to select out the best ones. Try a few of these different techniques during the game:
1. Follow the ball. Keeping your lense on the ball can get you some good shots of passing, shooting, and more.
2. Focus on where the action is going to be. If your child is taking a penalty shot, have your camera focused on the ball and ready to shoot as they run up to it. Focus on the intended recipient of a pass before they get the ball. Focus on the goal right before the shot. This can help make sure when the action happens, your photo will be in focus and timed perfectly.
3. While you want to be following the action in the game, make sure to pay attention to your peripherals as well. Children on the sidelines hugging each other after a goal, a coach congratulating a player, the ref picking his nose, etc. You get the idea. Some great moments can happen away from the center of the action.
All these tips can help you capture some great footage of your child’s sporting event. Remember the important aspects of focus, timing and lighting. Once you have that down, thinking outside the box will garner you some interesting shots. Most importantly, cheer on your children and enjoy the day.
Margaret Sullivan is a former rower and currently works as a graphic designer at ChalkTalkSPORTS and writes for the ChalkTalk blog.
ChalkTalkSPORTS is the leading online retailer for non-licensed sports gifts and apparel. With an emphasis on team sports the ChalkTalkSPORTS website offers personalized sport-themed gifts, coaches gifts, over 400 t-shirts, sport room decor, jewelry and hundreds of other great gifts for your sport.
Visit The ChalkTalkSPORTS website at http://www.ChalkTalkSPORTS.com
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