Sports photography is a highly-specialised and expensive field, but armed with a few basics – and a degree of patience – most photographers can capture a magic moment without breaking the bank balance.

The surfer tries to stay near the breaking part of the wave, rather than well out in front of it.

Equipment choice

The best sports photographers also use the best equipment — for example, ultralong lenses that come with an ultra-big price tag.
But I’ve been able to take the occasional good action shot using my digital SLR which came with a 300mm lens (all up, the cost was $1300 for camera, 35mm lens and the 300mm lens – it didn’t break my bank!).
Here’s a few basic tips to get you started. They won’t make you into an instant pro, but hopefully they’ll help improve your sports photography:

Non-SLR cameras these days have a large zoom capacity, so play around with different zoom settings to determine how you’ll get the best results.
If you’re using a long lens, a tripod or monopod will help provide sharper images. But if you don’t have one, try resting the camera on a fixed base — for example, the playing field’s fence.

Position, position, position

Position yourself where you'll catch the best of the action. For cricket, a spot in line with the batsman and bowler is best, rather than an across-field shot.

The best piece of advice for sports photography is to know the sport you are shooting. It’s all about position, position, position — that is, getting close to the action.
For example, in athletics, the focus is the finish line, while for cricket, the preferred position is in line with the bowler and batsman, instead of a cross-field shot.
If it’s surfing, you’ll notice that the surfer tries to stay near the breaking part of the wave, rather than well out in front of it.
The football codes are different, with action all over the playing area. Rather than trying to follow all the play and running up and down the sideline, you can focus on a certain spot on the playing arena.

A good tip is to try to shoot as the players are moving towards or away from you, rather than having to pan across the field.

In games involving a ball, remember that the ball is the focal point of the action, so, as all sportsmen and women are told, keep your eyes (and camera) on the ball!

If you’re not familiar with the sport you intend to photograph, take some time to check out the game and where you think you’ll be able to get closest to the action.

Choose the correct setting

Positioning yourself is vital. This shot was taken at a fun run and the photographer based himself at the finish line. The result was this great shot of highly-ranked Australian triathlete Josh McHugh (right) and his training partner Adam Horder holding hands as they crossed the finish line -- they wanted to be declared joint winners!

Most digital cameras come with a sports mode which increases the shutter speed, so experiment with that and see what results you get.
I’ve used a point-and-shoot digital camera to good effect by leaving it on auto and holding the shutter continuously for a quite a few seconds. Not every frame was perfect, but some good results were achieved.

If you’re at an event being covered by your local newspaper or a professional photographer, watch how he or she works; where they’re situating themselves, what they’re focusing on, and so on.

Don’t turn your camera off

Don’t turn off once the game is over – some of the more graphic shots are taken when players are celebrating a win, or commiserating their loss.

And finally (and importatly), don’t just turn up and start taking shots.

stick around after the game has finished and catch the joy of the winning players.

Ask permission from the ground officials, especially if it’s junior sport.
Find out where you can locate yourself without obstructing the fans’ view. The last thing you want is abuse from an irate fan!

To learn more about sports photography you may like to check this book out from our affiliate site.

Digital Sports Photography: Take Winning Shots Every Time

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