New technology makes it possible for parents to use high quality digital SLR cameras and get more professional-looking action photographs at their children's high school football games. However, stadium lighting combined with fast, unpredictable action make football photography difficult. Follow these guidelines to get the best possible photographs at the next high school football game.
Instructions
Setting Up
1. Take your position on the sidelines, but stay out of the coach's box on the field. Avoid the center of each sideline where the players stay. Shoot from the far sides of the field and in the end zone. Even long lenses will not get the best photos from the stands.
2. Set the digital ISO to 400. Meter light on players halfway across the football field. Adjust the aperture to the lowest setting available, preferably 2.8. Set the shutter speed until the light meter is as close to zero as possible. Do not go below a shutter seed of 250 (or 1/250th of a second).
3. Attach the external flash unit and secure by twisting the base tight. Use fresh batteries for the fastest refresh rate. Turn the unit on and allow it to warm up. Set the flash to the highest shutter speed it allows (which is usually 250). Match your shutter speed on your camera to the speed set by the flash.
4. Aim the flash directly forward, not up or slanted. You may use a diffuser over the flash for softer light. Take a few test shots to make sure the flash image is not over- or underexposed.
5. Set the camera to automatic or continuous focus. Game action moves very fast and amateur photographers have a hard time focusing quickly enough. Continuous focus is a setting in which the camera automatically refocus to the center of the frame every time you move the camera. This is handy in sports when you are following a player down the field; the camera is constantly refocusing the photo for you.
6. As you take photos, the camera may have to wait for the flash to warm up before it will take another photo. If the flash has trouble warming up and a play is happening, power the flash off and quickly adjust the shutter speed lower to correctly expose the photos. Turn the flash back on for the next photo.
7. Increase the digital ISO as necessary to maintain the high shutter speed. Always use the lowest ISO possible, but be aware you may increase it to let in more light.
Following Game Action
8. Focus on the football huddle as they prepare for the play. Keep the ball in the viewfinder and follow it back to the quarterback.
9. Continue following the ball with the viewfinder. Snap photos or zoom closer or further away as action happens. Try to anticipate plays as you learn how each team works best.
10. If you lose the ball, focus on the fast movement on the field. This is likely where the next tackle will happen.
11. Instead of focusing on the ball, focus on the player most likely to receive the pass. Keep the non-viewfinder eye open to see the whole field as you keep the targeted player in the frame. Be prepared to readjust the photo quickly if the pass changes direction or the quarterback is sacked.
12. Hold down the shutter button as you photograph a play. Following the action while holding down the shutter will let your camera take frames as quickly as it can, capturing a series of action photos.
Panning to Show Movement
13. Focus on the quarterback, or player who receives the pass. Maintain the focus by holding down the shutter as the player runs down the field.
14. Move the camera parallel to the player the same speed the player moves. This will keep the player in focus and show blur in the background as he runs.
15. Review the photos in the LCD monitor of the camera. If the background of the panned photo does not show the amount of blur you were hoping for, lower the shutter speed and adjust the aperture for the right exposure. A lower shutter speed will blur more.
Tags: shutter speed, down shutter, ball focus, down field, high school