Sports photography can be challenging, rewarding, lucrative and dangerous.

I’ve been hit twice by hockey pucks and run over by basketball players. But, more importantly, I got the shot. 😉

This was an outdoor lacrosse game so I went to manual mode to set aperture and shutter speed, but left the ISO in automatic so the camera could increase it as the sun set.

Shots were done at f/2 @ 1250/sec.

There are also parents and others student photographers there shooting as well. One thing I do to make sure I get different shots to simply to not stand where everyone else standing. And taking risks is especially true with sports photography. The higher the risk (e.g. taking a puck to the groin), the higher the potential of a better shot.

While observing other photographers there, I noticed a couple things. Parents always shoot from the seats in bleachers, and student photographers are always standing on the sidelines.

Tip 1: 

Don’t do what everyone else is doing. If everyone is standing, lay on the ground and shoot. If everyone is crouching, stand on a latter/step/camera case/friend. And keep moving around the field. Lock in your settings and keep moving. Set a timer on your phone or something and make it a point to move 3-4 times per game period.

Tip 2:

Behind-the-scenes. What’s going on behind you in the bleachers? What’s happening in the parking lot? What would happen if you stood on the other side of the field or behind the net? What’s the story here?

Tip 3:

Take risks. Risk your face. Risk your camera. How do you expect to get the shot no one else gets, if you aren’t willing to do what everyone else isn’t? Really push yourself here. GET CLOSER. Let the referee yell at you. Being told “hey camera guy, you can’t stand there.”  is typically the worst that’ll happen. So get in, get the shot, and move.

There you have it. Now don’t let me see you posting the same stuff as another photographer. Your shooting and editing styles are you own. Keep shooting. Keep mixing it up. Try new things. Challenge yourself and take risks to get the shots!

Respectfully,

~Adam