Sporting the Right Lens for Action Photography

Sporting the Right Lens for Action Photography

 

Thank you to Steve Chesler for these great tips on how to find the right lens for action photography- and the amazing photos! 

To be honest, photographing children playing sports might be one of the most difficult tasks out there. There’s not much between capturing the perfect action picture and shooting a blurry, out-of-focus frame. Luckily, by having the right tools and mindset, any parent can score the next shot for the mantle.

First, you have to be familiar with the sport you’re photographing. This might sound silly at first, but in order to know where the action is headed, you need to know where the play is going to end up. If you’re not already familiar with your child’s sport, do some preliminary research or talk to people who play the sport first so you can be one step ahead of the game.

 

I also tend to use a fast shutter speed on a versatile lens, such as the Sigma 18-300mm f3.5-6.3, to minimize any shaking from a handheld camera. You’ll want to be able to zoom all the way to 300mm if you’re using this lens, but the stronger the zoom, the more careful you need to be – any camera movement will be detected in the picture. If you set the camera for a fast shutter speed, you’ll have a better chance of getting that perfect shot even if you have an unsteady hand.

Another option is to use a monopod or tripod to stabilize your camera. If you don’t have the ability to use a stabilizer on the sidelines of the field or stage, make your own using your body. Support the bottom of your lens with your left hand palm up and your left elbow tucked inside and against your body.

Be sure to use the continuous focus mode on your camera (C for Nikon and Servo for Canon) to keep the focus consistent no matter the level of zoom. This is especially important for capturing quick action shots, since you’ll likely have to zoom in and out to catch an entire play from start to finish.

Finally, to make your photos more interesting right off the bat, try changing your perspective. Instead of shooting head on, try getting low or laying on the ground to capture your sports superstar higher in relation to the horizon in the background. This will give your photo a distraction-free, dynamic look that will stand out. Also try using the Aperture Priority mode on your camera with the F-Stop set to the widest setting for a high shutter speed and a softer background.

With all this new information, you may ask, “What about the gear? What should I use?” Like most shooting scenarios, the lens is pretty important and for parents who want to shoot children’s sports, I suggest the Sigma 18-300mm 3.5-6.3 lens. It’s a versatile lens that can capture your children’s sports games as well as be used for family pictures and vacations. It is a nice all-in-one lens that is budget-friendly and is available in mounts for major camera brands like Nikon and Canon. Go to www.sigmaphoto.com for more info.

How do you find the right lens for action photography?