Digital Sports PhotographyModern digital cameras make it possible for just about anyone to take excellent action shots – in conjunction with practice, of course. So if you’re a sports fan or have kids who play sports, why not pick up your camera and give digital sports photography a shot? And if you don’t have one already, there are now digital cameras available that allow you to change lenses and that are capable of taking pro-quality pictures.

What Makes For Good Digital Sports Photography?

Although digital cameras have improved a great deal since they first came out (see, for example, the Olympus Pen E-PM1), good equipment is not sufficient all by itself for taking good action shots. There are things that you as the photographer must do for your sports pictures to be as good as they can be:

  • Be Prepared – Consider in advance what kind of shots you want. For example, are you looking to capture a batter’s swing from start to finish? You should anticipate when the action you want to shoot will happen and make sure you’re ready to go when the moment comes.
  • Know The Game – If you are not already familiar with the game you want to take pictures of, take some time before hand to familiarize yourself with the rules, the objectives, the players, the teams, and the positions. This will greatly improve your chance of catching the best moments.
  • Know Your Camera – While modern digital cameras are often of the point-and-shoot variety, even these have different settings designed for different lighting situations, types of scenes, and so forth. In addition, if you opt for a higher quality camera, it would benefit you to learn how to use your manual settings properly. Interestingly, some cameras actually have a “sports photography” setting. Also, your camera may be equipped with “burst mode”, which will allow you to take a short sequence of shots in rapid succession.
  • Account For The Lag – It is also important to remember that many digital cameras have at least some shutter lag. This is the amount of time between when you press the button and the picture is actually taken. Be aware of whether or not your camera has shutter lag, and if so, how long it is. Take this into account when snapping your shots.
  • Learn Some Technique – A technique commonly used by professional sports photographers is called panning. By panning the camera and following the motion of a moving subject, you can make the subject appear to “freeze” in motion. A steady hand and even rate of pan is a must. This can produce some very nice pictures.
  • Consider Using Video – Many digital cameras also allow you to take short clips of video footage. Although the resolution of video tends not to be quite as good as the resolution of still shots, when the action is intense, this may allow you to capture sequences you probably couldn’t otherwise. You can then use post-processing to extract still shots of the scenes you want from the video.
  • Have Different Lenses – As mentioned above, some modern digital cameras such as the Pen Mini and DSLRs give you the option of mounting different camera lenses. Professional sports photographers will often use a telephoto to get right up close to individual athletes, which allows you to see the exertion and emotion on their faces. These can be powerful shots.

All in all, it is more possible than ever for you to take great action shots. Modern digital cameras are faster, higher quality, and loaded with more features than ever before. With a little practice and willingness to educate yourself and experiment, you are capable of some really first rate digital photography.