Introduction to Sports Photography CHAS SUMSER PHOTOGRAPHY

Introduction to Sports Photography CHAS SUMSER PHOTOGRAPHY

Purpose Purpose To help you understand the basics of sports photography To help you use your camera more effectively

Who Am I? I am a full-time photographer Chas Sumser Photography (est. January 1, 2016) Semi-Professional since 2012 Current Connections Viva Loudoun (2012-17) Sports Photography Victor O Neill Studios (2015-) Sports and Candid Photography Loudoun Ballet Performing Arts Company (Official Photographer) Morven Park (Official Sports Photographer and Photography Partner) Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI)

Fundamentals UNDERSTANDING SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

What Makes a Great Photograph? 1. Subject is clearly identified Isolate subject 2. Subject is emphasized Fill the frame Blur the background 3. Image is simplified and/or tells a story Crop creatively Eliminate distracting elements

Getting Started Development as a sports photographer is about practice Put in the actual time on the field to gain practical application and repetition Shoot a lot over long periods of time as often as possible At first, shoot in sunlight whenever possible You need to have a good technical understanding of your equipment Master your equipment, whatever it is Generally, you don t have time to mess with your camera settings and controls You re always learning Continually pair hands on practice with technical growth

Study Sports Photography Off the Field Sports photography books and magazines YouTube videos Workshops Sports photography groups online Networking Observe the work of sports photographers in professional publications Get to know others and ask questions The more information you can process about the subject the better Prepare you for your days on the field and in the gym

Access No clear formula Volunteering to shoot for a team can be a good entry Always make sure you have permission to photograph Never post a photograph of a child without express permission Youth sports are easier to access Shoot family and friends with permission Added bonus of shooting in sunlight High School sports are restrictive and should be However, you can often gain access through coaches and athletic directors Most pro sports require association with a news organization If you re willing to work for free some will help you gain access Some sports are easier to access than others For example, cross country

My Gear Big Lens, Fast Shutter, High ISO Camera Nikon D5 Nikon D600, Nikon D610 Lenses 70-200mm, f2.8 24-70mm, f2.8 300mm, f2.8 Monopod Weather Gear Two Camera Harness Extra batteries Extra data cards Flash NOT

Shoot with what you have There are cameras and lenses that are made to capture action and deal with a variety of lighting conditions more efficiently than others They are traditionally a lot more costly You can still go out and capture great photos Don t wait until you have the ability to purchase expensive equipment It s not the gear, it s the vision Shoot with what you have!

Zoom Lens Comparison 70-200mm f/2.8 $2,600 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 $500 70-200mm f/4 $1,400

Rule of Thumb 400mm 200mm

Rule of Thumb Rule of Thumb: For every 100mm of lens you get 10 yards of reach

Settings Format = RAW or JPEG Mode = Aperture priority or manual Aperture = Maximum for current zoom Blurs distracting background Need as much light as possible for fast shutter speed Shutter speed >= 500 To freeze action ISO = High enough to capture available light and maintain minimum shutter speed WB = Automatic Consider custom white balance Can be corrected later if shooting in RAW Flash = Never Most venues will not allow it for high school sports

Sports I Have Covered 1. Basketball 2. Cheer 3. Cross Country 4. Dance 5. Equestrian 6. Field Hockey 7. Football 8. Golf 9. Gymnastics 10. Ice Hockey Very accessible, always in sunlight Challenging to Great get good shots backgrounds. No faces, but crowds, cheer, band, etc. Can be dangerous! 11. Lacrosse 12. Marching Band 13. Softball/Baseball 14. Soccer 15. Swimming 16. Tennis 17. Track and Field 18. Ultimate Frisbee 19. Volleyball 20. Wrestling Great to shoot! Tough conditions indoors, better outdoors Fence can be a challenge Very accessible. Like football, but easier

Gymnastics Baseball Tennis Cheer Football Basketball Golf Equestrian Cross Country Swimming Field Hockey Ice Hockey Softball Dance Track Lacrosse Marching Band Volleyball Soccer Wrestling Frisbee

Before the Game Subjects Warm-Ups Coach Instruction Coin Toss Introductions National Anthem Tips Depending on the sport, may be the best opportunity to capture faces and eyes Be discreet when moving during Anthem Capture photos of players who may not see much action

During the Game Subjects Action Intensity Reaction Cheerleaders Band Players, coaches Crowds and Fans Tips Always follow the ball Shoot in continuous mode Anticipate what s going to happen Shoot a lot*

After the Game Subjects Emotion Celebration Team Meeting Tips Don t be in a hurry to leave Look for both sides of the competition Emotions increase as a season progresses

Overall Tips Know the Sport Every sport has challenges and nuance Understand the lighting High school stadium and gym lighting is always a challenge Arrive early to test your settings Be prepared Format memory cards in camera prior to every game Hustle Work with coaches, referees and AD s Understand limitations in each arena Follow the ball Do not interfere with the run of play Find the face Sometimes tough to do, but always enhances your work Be creative Look for unusual angles Look for special moments

Finishing Up

Have your own web site When you capture outstanding photos why not display them to encourage yourself And to invite feedback This will also make the impression on the teams/schools you will be trying to access that you take the craft seriously Display images in a professional manner Eventually, you want the schools, players, and parents to have easy access to the images

NEXT at the Ashburn Library Sports photography from the sidelines Wednesday, July 26, Ashburn Library Learn how to photograph youth sports

Coming This Fall Coffee & Camera Six-session workshop with small group (limited to six participants) Topics covered include: Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, Composition, Post-Processing Workshop ends with student portfolio review Session Dates September 9 October 16 October 23 November 27 Sign up tonight or at www.sumserphotography.com/workshops Sports Photography Intensive Three-session workshop with small group (limited to six participants) Includes field trip to high school football scrimmage Workshop ends with student portfolio review Session Date TBD (late August)