Best Camera Settings for Sports Photography

Sports Photography with Amanda Inscore

Recommended Gear

Canon 1DX Mark II and Canon 5D Mark III

Lenses: 70-200 f/2.8 and 100-400 f/4.5-5.6

400 f/2.8 and 600 f/4 are great lenses, but can get very heavy to carry all day

Monopod to help steady your camera if needed.

“If you think you need to upgrade your camera for better images, upgrade your lens first.”

Tips for Capturing the Moment

• Keep your camera trained on the athletes.
• Look for good moments, good faces. Go for the storytelling moments.
• Be able to think on your feet.
• Shoot tight and crop tighter.
• Even with helmets on, the eyes are very expressive.
• Learn the game to stay ahead of the action.
• Every once in a while, step back and stop following the crowd. Go out on a limb and be at the opposite end of the field to capture that possible interception.
• Didn’t get THE winning shot of the goal? Capture the celebrations of the players.

“Don’t stop when the whistle blows. Catch the reactions the players.”

Lighting and Settings

• Learn to shoot in manual. Most events have consistent lighting throughout. Set it and forget it.
• Shoot in RAW mode.
• Outdoors in bright sunlight - Golf, Tennis, Baseball

- If you HAVE to shoot into the sun, try to create a silhouette, crop tight to get the sun out of the picture, or just blow out the sky.

- f/2.8 or f/4 - you want a shallow depth of field

- ISO at 100-200

• Outdoors at night - Football

- High ISO and fast shutter speed.

- Shutter at 640 (bump up to 800-1000 if blurry), f/2.8, 3200 ISO

- Check your histogram periodically, the camera registers changes in light more than our eyes perceive.

• Indoors- Basketball, Hockey

- Old halogen-style gymnasium lights are being replaced with brighter LED lights. Much easier, no change in white-balance needed.

- High ISO, fast shutter speed

Be Courteous and Aware

• Contact the Athletic Director or Sports Information Director to get approval to be on the court/field.
• Walk BEHIND other photographers when moving along the sidelines.
• Want a different perspective? Wait until a time out to change position.
• Stay seated at a tennis match.
• Don’t snap a photo during a golfer’s backswing.
• Stay focused on the players with the ball, but pay attention to those that are headed in your direction! If a player is coming at you, MOVE out of the way!

“If you find yourself in a rut, go to a conference. You’ll not only learn, but also become inspired.”

Finding Amanda

www.news-press.com

Instagram @thenewspress and @newspresssports

(personal) @ainscore