Gear Up For Summer: Sports

Love life on the sidelines? Prefer getting covered in mud to staying home in the dry? Lost count of the long lenses on your wishlist? You're more than likely a sports photographer at heart: here are our pointers for getting your photos onto the podium...

Gear Up

Whatever sport you're shooting, we're pretty sure your subject will be going fast. You'll need a monopod to get the speed and maneuverability that your subject demands: turning up to the sidelines with a tripod might raise the eyebrow of a seasoned sports professional.

Of course, a long lens is essential: try to opt for something in the 100-400mm region. If you can swing for a long prime lens, so much the better: you'll be able to create pin-sharp action portraits that perfectly capture the drama unfolding before you. A wide-angle or fish-eye lens will also aid your creativity and enable you to shoot the whole of the field in a single frame.

Fast, efficient memory cards will enable you to speedily get your photos online or emailed off to their subjects: if your camera's Wifi or NFC-ready then you'll be able to get sharing from the sidelines even before the final whistle's blown.

And a waterproof camera bag is another must-purchase, especially if you're planning on loitering out in the open on the touchline for the duration of a match. Bring something to sit on as well: trust us, you'll be glad of it at halftime...

Frame it up

Just because you're not shooting a landscape doesn't mean you don't need to think about traditional photographic rules. If you're shooting something like snowboarding, where your subjects will move through the frame in a similar way each time, frame up first and try a couple of practice shots before the big moment. Place your subject on the points where the “rule of thirds” lines intersect and you're guaranteed great composition. Take things to the next level by ensuring they're moving into the “space” created in your shot - so, if you place them on the right hand side of your photo, have them facing towards the space on the left. Trust us, it works!

Fast and furious

A fast shutter speed is essential if you're going to freeze the action in focus: make use of all the technology packed into your camera and let it do the thinking for you, so that all you need to do is raise your camera and press the shutter to secure your shot. You probably have a Sports Mode or similar tucked away in your camera's semi-automatic settings: experiment and see if you get the effect you're looking for.

Get creative

Some of the greatest sports photographers in the world keep their work fresh by introducing new techniques inspired by other disciplines. American photographer Vincent Laforet was commissioned to cover the 2008 Beijing Olympics for Newsweek magazine, but he decided to take a different tack to the usual sports photos you'd see everywhere: using a tilt shift lens, an expensive bit of kit usually used in architecture photography to straighten vertical lines, Vincent shot some stunning scenes of tracks, courses and arenas - and used the lens's blurring effect to make them look miniscule. Perhaps you could take a leaf out of his book?

It's all about the eyes

Remember that you're still shooting pictures of people, so the basics matter: get your focus locked onto the sportsperson's eyes and you'll be able to capture all the emotion of the scene before you. Try using wide apertures to blur out the background and keep your viewer focused on the subject.

It's over when it's over

The greatest challenge faced by sports photographers is the speed that the game can change: if you take your eye off the ball for a second, you could miss a truly fantastic shot. That's why you'll rarely (if ever) see sports professionals reviewing their shots while in the field - they always wait until the end of the race to check through what they've captured. Keep your eyes on the prize and you'll be more likely to capture that medal-winning shot.

And of course, once you've got a picture worthy of a perfect 10, be sure to share it with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram: can't wait to see what you come up with!