RitzBitz

Greetings Fellow Photographers!
Have you caught Spring Fever yet? I sure have! And with spring sports getting underway, I thought this would be a great time to talk about shooting sports and action photos. So hang up those winter coats and grab your camera,,,, the game is about to start!

Know the Rules:
When photographing sports games, it is best to zoom in as much as possible to helpisolate thesubject and shorten the depth of field. This also throws the background out of focus a bit, like you see in many professional sports photos. Also, try shooting from a low angle to clean up any clutter in the background (like the opponents fans) and avoid bright reflections from the field. If possible, shoot your subjects with the sun at their back, which provides even light and eliminates hard shadows. However, if the game is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, youll want to have the light in their face instead of behind them.

Anticipate the Moment:
Great moments in sports are always accomplished with the perfect combination of skill, knowledge, and timing. Sports photography uses those same skills. In order to capture that perfect moment of sports glory, you need to anticipate the moment and stay one step ahead of the game mentally. In other words, take the picture before you think you should. If you see the moment in your camera, youve missed it. But if you press the button just before the peak of the action happens, youve likely captured it.

Go for the Glory:
Watch how things are unfolding on the field, think to yourself, What is the best thing that can happen in this situation? and prepare for that moment. Position yourself to capture the best possible result before it happens, so if and when it does happen, you are ready. Get in position and be ready to pull the trigger, and you will end up with the perfect sports shot. Finally, if that moment actually does happen, there will likely be celebrating on the field immediately after, so be sure to keep shooting until the celebration is finished

Here are a few more tips for the two most popular spring sports:

Baseball:
Position yourself down the first base line, just past the bag. This gives you the perfect angle for both batting and running-to-first shots. When your subject is in the field on defense, stay focused on him or her the entire time. Things happen too fast to pick up your camera and take the shot, so you have to be ready. Also, many of the best baseball shots have little to do with the game and more to do with the childs antics on the field (especially when he/she thinks no one is watching him/her!).

Soccer:
Position yourself at the end of the field (near the net) and shoot up the field, rather than from the sidelines. This gives you a cleaner shot with less clutter, and a greater depth in the shot. Dont chase the action up and down the field; wait for it to come to you. And remember, think ahead: If he/she scores, whats he/she going to do immediately after?

Thats all for now! Whether its a professional sports game or a pickup game at the park, a good sports photo truly captures raw human emotion. So next time you head out to the ball game, buy your peanuts outside the park to save a few bucks, and most importantly, bring your camera!