Sports photography. Sports photographer. How to Photograph Sports: Shooting

Are you going to learn how to shoot sporting events better and create spectacular shots? Sports photography gives you many opportunities to capture dramatic and powerful images that will stay with you for a lifetime. No other medium provides you with so much heart-pounding action, so much rich color, and so many unique shooting opportunities.

By following these 8 tips, you can dramatically improve your photography that will make all your friends jealous. The key, beyond these eight tips, is to keep shooting! Practice makes perfect, ensuring you have a steady hand and are ready when the big game comes around.

1. Be prepared to use high ISOs

Are you planning to take the perfect shot, but the lighting leaves much to be desired? Trying to stop motion in a small league game and need a faster shutter speed? Increasing your camera's ISO will allow you to shoot at faster shutter speeds, giving you a better chance of getting your perfect shot.

Professional sports photographers use a shutter speed of around 1/1000 of a second to freeze action. During the day it's easy. However, at night, you may need to have a larger aperture than your lens is capable of. As compromise solution, increase the ISO (what used to be called film speed) on your camera. This will allow the device to detect more light.

So how high do you need the values? If you are shooting with the latest and best cameras, such as the Nikon D700 or Canon 5d Mark II, you can use ISO values ​​all the way up to the maximum level (3200 ISO) and your images will still look good. In the past, higher ISO settings meant more noise in photos. However, with the latest systems Photos look great at any setting.

With that said, I usually shoot at 1600 ISO. This is the sweet spot between ISO 800 and ISO 3200 and allows me to photograph sporting events at much faster shutter speeds.

Depending on your camera's capabilities, you might also want to try using Auto ISO to let your camera automatically select the best ISO value for you. This feature has one unique feature: the automatic system does not change ISO in full increments, for example from 400 ISO to 800 ISO, but instead it can change the value from 200 ISO to 210 ISO. Take note of this setting if you're just getting started with ISO settings to improve your night photography.

2. Try something new

All sports footage should not look the same. A few years ago, photographers from a small American magazine decided to try something new to cover football matches. Instead of shooting at eye level, they lay as low to the ground in the end zone as they could with a wide-angle lens. What did this do to their images? This provided them with a new angle to help tell the story. Who were these people, you ask? Sports Illustrated Photographers. Now everyone does it.

When shooting, be original and try something different. At every event I cover, I try to find as many new approaches as possible. I primarily work as a professional motorsports photographer, shooting mostly NASCAR, but every event has a different situation. This allows me to try new backgrounds, new angles, new shooting positions.

You don't have to shoot professional sports to try something new. Even when I was photographing football games in high school, I was always looking for new angles and ideas.

By trying to create something different, you allow your creativity to blossom and create something that no one has shot before. In the picture below, I was photographing through the windshield of a race car and caught the driver getting ready to take to the track.

3. Be aware of your surroundings

This may sound like nonsense, but be aware of your surroundings. Whether it's a stadium full of cheering fans or a picnic on the hood of a pickup truck (English: "tailgating") next to the stadium, the environment provides you with unique opportunities capture the spirit of the game without filming the action itself.

Before the match begins, tailgating is a great place to capture real fans before the game.

Before a basketball game starts, the referees' side is also a good place to take shots that reflect the team's spirit.

Even after the game has started, be aware of your surroundings. If you have a wide angle lens like 10.5mm or 14mm, get as high as you can and take a photo general view stadium filled with cheering fans.

4. Prepare a gear strap or camera bag

Ever wondered why sports photographers carry so much equipment with them? This is because we want to flex our muscles while we walk.

Jokes aside, when you are on the sidelines or in the thick of things, it will be hard to run somewhere to your bag and change equipment. Many sports photographers use one of three items to carry equipment when working on the sideline: a fanny pack, a harness system, or a camera vest.

Photo vests were cool a few years ago (I had one), but they're impractical now given the number of lenses you need to carry around in the area quick access. I prefer to use good system waist belts. In this system I have 6 holsters that can be used at any given time, ranging from large lens holsters to one dedicated specifically for flash.

This system allows me to quickly change lenses and keep all my memory cards in one safe place. On the sidelines, this allows me to remain ready for action with a set of lenses, and since each holster has protective coating, also ensures the safety of equipment during rain when filming sports events on outdoors.

Some companies offer special bags for sports photographers.
The key to choosing a good system is to find one that is comfortable for you and suits your specific needs. Visit your local photo store, try different options, and see what works best.

5. Long glasses will go far

Capturing the perfect shot in sports comes down to relatively few things. One of the most important points is glass. Sports photography, unlike any other type of photography, sometimes requires the largest and most expensive equipment available on the market. This will allow you to shoot from anywhere in and around the stadium, including the American football end zone, creating beautiful images.

I say all this for one simple reason. As we mentioned earlier, cameras can now do wonders with high ISO settings. This allows people to use slower sports lenses such as f/4.
When you're looking for a good glass for sports photography, consider the following factors:

• Get 300mm or 400mm telephoto lenses if you can afford them. If not, take 70-200 mm.
• Choose lenses with an aperture number of f/2.8 or f/4. Try to pick one up and avoid f/5.6 like the plague.
• Typically, the larger and heavier the lens, the better it is.
• Make sure the lens has a tripod socket.
• Look for lenses that have stood the test of time: this is the reason why Nikon and Canon rarely change their lens lineup.

Buying good glass is not the same as buying a new carcass. Good glass will last you at least 10 years with proper care and maintenance.

6. Let's go without the "chimp", please.

Every sports photographer suffers from “chimping”. If you're not familiar with the term, it's definition will clear everything up.

Essentially, champing is when you check each frame on the LCD immediately after shooting. Why is this bad? This distracts you from the action because... All your attention is focused on the camera. This is bad for two reasons: (1) you may get injured, and (2) you may miss a good shot.

When you do this, you take your eyes off the field and the action. If you're filming a football game, you could easily get knocked down on the sideline while your attention is elsewhere.

There is a time and place for viewing your photos. During sporting events, there is no second chance after the shutter clicks. Move on to the next game.

7. Use a slow shutter speed

Long exposure? I used to use 1/1000th of a second to capture the action and stop it...

When trying to create something new and interesting, you can sometimes try different shutter speeds. If you're shooting baseball and want to capture the hit in perfect silhouette, I don't suggest you shoot at 1/60th of a second. But if you want a shot with a cool blurred background, this works great.

Many professional photographers from Getty Images and Reuters use this technique to add energy to their images and create luxurious-looking clean backgrounds. Shooting at 1/100 or 1/80 of a second will allow the player to be in focus while the background is very, very effectively blurred.

8. Avoid using flash

When filming professional or student competitions, flash photography is strictly prohibited. Flash can distract players and drive coaches crazy. There are a few exceptions, including basketball and indoor sporting events, but on-camera flashes generally cannot be used.

For indoor events, schools usually have very powerful strobes (or strobes) mounted on the beams of the hall to ensure the ideal amount of light hits the playing field. These flashes can be synced to your camera using Pocket Wizard.

When you're shooting outdoors, such as football or baseball, you should never use flash on your camera. This is why ISO settings are so important.
If you are photographing a local event, or a lower level event such as a high school football tournament, flash is usually acceptable. I always check with the coaches or school athletic director first to make sure the flashes won't interfere with anyone.

Many sanctioning bodies have specific rules for photographers, so before photographing an event, make sure you read them so you know what is and isn't allowed.

Sports photography is a hobby or profession for the most hardcore fans. Capturing the movement, dynamics and highlights of a sporting event, be it a football or hockey match, rugby, running or tennis, is not as easy as it might seem at first. If you've ever noticed photographers at a football stadium, their equipment can inspire both envy and amazement - huge lenses that require their own tripod, lots of accessories and continuous tracking of every movement.

But before you advance to the Premier League of photographers, you need to learn and best way- These are small matches and events where you can practice shooting.

What will you need?

In order to film sporting events, of course you will need a camera. A DSLR is, of course, good, but modern mirrorless cameras are sometimes faster in burst shooting. This, of course, comes from not having to constantly raise the mirror. Therefore, the fps value of mirrorless cameras is always higher. The main need, however, is the ability to manually set the shutter speed. Because you will need to shoot quickly and get clear, sharp photos.

Upon arrival at the competition site, do not forget to ask whether it is possible to film. It’s best to always stock up on resolution, and then move on to filming.

The lens must have focal length at least 200mm

The focal length of your lens is of fundamental importance. Since you can't shoot from right in the middle of the action, right on the field, you'll need a telephoto lens. Yes, that’s why professional photographers around stadiums have such huge lenses. In this case, the more the better. But the optimal length is exactly 200mm. You will be able to enlarge the image sufficiently, isolate the subject from the surroundings and, of course, if necessary, shoot anything - from a portrait to a group composition.

Optimal options for Nikon cameras- this is Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR II DX or Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S Nikkor.

More or less professional photographers It’s not customary to remind people about this, but it’s always worth noting that in photography it’s extremely rare that the automatic mode comes to the rescue, and it’s not without reason that we’re offered a lot manual settings. To understand how and what works, the first thing you need to do is read the instructions for the camera. Then you will be able to understand each indicator separately, and will not be at all intimidated by the concepts of ISO, aperture (or aperture), white balance, etc. So forget about automatic modes, even if they are called Sports or Action. We will need manual mode.

Use a fast shutter speed

This is a mandatory rule that should not be forgotten at all. You'll be shooting fast, fast action, so it makes sense that we'd need a fast shutter speed to get clarity and avoid shadows and blurry frames. Minimum 1/500 sec. will be enough to capture a moving object; if you set the shutter speed longer, all the associated risks will appear.

Use Aperture Priority Mode

First, let's look at the classic shooting modes that the average DSLR or mirrorless camera offers us. In addition to automatic and manual, there are also modes such as Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority.

Aperture is a value denoted as A or AV, measured in f/, or steps, and means how much light is allowed through the aperture directly onto the sensor. If you set the settings to aperture priority, the camera will automatically set the shutter speed. This is an ideal mode for shooting on a sunny day, and it is used by many professionals in sports photography. But what exactly needs to be done in order to set the aperture correctly? We need to set a high value, that is, the number should be the opposite, lower. For example, f/2.8 or f/4. This way, maximum light will hit the matrix, and for correct exposure The camera will automatically set a short shutter speed.

Don't forget about ISO

It is clear that shutter speed and aperture are important, but the third important exposure value is ISO or light sensitivity. When we shoot in semi-automatic modes, be it aperture priority or shutter priority, we have to set the ISO manually. To do this, we take into account the location and weather conditions, and even time. For example, in sunny daytime ISO 400 is sufficient, but if the sky is overcast, ISO should be set in the range of 800-1200. You can learn more about this meaning, of course, from the instructions.

If aperture priority mode is not available, choose shutter priority mode

Why is a comfortable low angle important? It gives the frame more drama, creates an additional mood, in addition, you can not only shoot a player against the grass, you can shoot the stands, the sky or spotlights, which also allows you to get interesting angles. This technique is often used by professionals, and this is exactly what you need to learn from them right away.

You will need a tripod to stabilize and balance your camera when you are shooting from different angles and angles, especially from low heights. Therefore, make sure that minimum height The tripod was convenient.

The Cullmann Concept One 628M OT38 tripod is convenient because its minimum working height is only 27 cm, while the maximum is 189 cm. The combination of price and quality will leave no doubt that it is ideal for shooting sports events.

The Fujifilm X-T20 is a great camera for sports photography, with all the available settings and an impressive 14fps, it makes a great companion for sporting events. In addition, the camera is equipped with long-time focusing, shoots in RAW format and has 4K video capabilities.

1. In order to get a good shot, study the rules of the competition and learn to understand them.
2. Choosing the right position is the key to getting a great photo.
3. Shooting in shutter priority mode is the basic rule. We also recommend trying wired shooting.
4. Use different autofocus modes depending on the result you want.
5. Always be ready to shoot so you don't miss the moment.

Camera Nikon D100
Lens 80-400mm F4.5-5.6D
Aperture Auto
Shutter speed 1/1000

You will need:

Telescopic lens
If you are photographing children playing football or filming any sporting events, a camera with a 300mm lens focal length will be enough for you. Lenses equipped with a system are best suited for these purposes.

Tripod
It will be needed to avoid the effect of blurring the image from hand shake when using lenses with large .

1. First of all, study the rules of the competition well and learn to understand them.

Before you start photographing sports, you need to study the rules, learn to understand the game and the movements of athletes. Otherwise, you won't know what moment of the game is interesting to shoot and when you can expect it.

If the rules and course of the game are known to you, then you will understand that, for example, in football it follows a tense game in the penalty area, and in volleyball it follows the confrontation of players at the net. Then you will learn to anticipate when critical situations may arise and brace yourself in anticipation of key moments. And you won't miss them.

Camera Nikon D100

Aperture F8
Shutter speed 1/125

The photo above captures one of the key moments in such a popular game in many countries around the world as baseball. It was the knowledge of the mechanism of the game, its rules, that made it possible to capture this moment.

2. The key to a great photo is choosing the right position.

When shooting sports, the position you choose is extremely important. It can be said that if you can't take photos from a good location, you won't be able to take good photos. The choice of this place is different for various types competitions, but there is a basic rule - try to film from a position from which the athletes’ faces are visible. You can watch the competition from different angles later on video.

For example, in football, photographers shoot goals from the side of the goal because this gives them the opportunity to capture the athlete's facial expression. In the photo below, the boy takes a penalty, and due to the fact that the camera is located in front and to the right, it was possible to photograph his face at the moment of hitting the ball.

Camera Nikon D100
AF 80-400mm F4.5-5.6D VR Lens
Aperture Auto
Shutter speed 1/500

3. Shooting in shutter priority mode is the basic rule. We also recommend trying wired shooting.

Most often, when photographing sporting events, the “ ” exposure mode is selected. After all, it often takes less than 1/250s. And sometimes, for example, when photographing tennis, in order to “stop the ball”, a shutter time of 1/500-1/1000 is needed.

When shooting outdoors in clear weather, especially when using fast lens, you can shoot using the value, but in cloudy and rainy weather it is better to use higher values. When shooting in a gym or other room, you will often have to use sensitivity values ​​around 800-1600 ISO units(Photo below).

Camera Nikon D100
Lens AF-S 80-200mm F2.8D
Aperture F2.8
Shutter speed Auto

Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with longer values ​​(called " "). When using a fast shutter speed, such as in the photo below, both the person and the background freeze and do not move (shutter speed - 1/250). On the other hand, when “shooting with tracking”, the background is blurred, which adds a sense of dynamics (exposure time – 1/30).

Camera Nikon D100
AF 80-400mm F4.5-5.6D VR Lens
Aperture Auto
Shutter speed 1/250

When “shooting with a line”, make sure that the camera on a tripod moves only in the plane of movement of the main subject. Focus on your subject and take pictures while moving the camera as they move. You may have to experiment with the optimal ratio of values ​​– – so as not to “overexpose the frame”, effectively blur the background, but at the same time maintain sufficient sharpness on the main object.

Camera Nikon D100
AF 80-400mm F4.5-5.6D VR Lens
Aperture Auto
Shutter speed 1/30

4. Use different autofocus modes depending on the result you want.

When photographing football, volleyball, track and field events, and other sports where the distance between the photographer and the subject changes frequently, it is best to switch to continuous-servo AF mode (C). Single-servo AF (S) mode sets focus on the subject and locks at that distance, while continuous-servo AF allows the focusing mechanism to move with the subject, keeping it in focus. This allows you to focus solely on capturing the right moment.

I would like to draw your attention to one point: focus not on the ball, but on the people. By watching the players through the camera lens, you can capture the moment of receiving the ball, or the moment of impact (photo below).

Camera Nikon D100
AF 80-400mm F4.5-5.6D VR Lens
Aperture Auto
Shutter speed 1/250

With both continuous-servo AF and single-servo AF, the trick is to keep both eyes open. With one you look through the viewfinder, with the other you look over the camera at the scene of events. This way you won't miss anything important.

5. Always be ready to shoot so you don't miss the moment.

In sports it is very difficult not to miss the decisive moment. For example, in ball games (photo below), it is important that the ball is in the center of the frame, but it is incredibly difficult to follow it with the camera.

Camera Nikon D100
Lens AF-S 80-200mm F2.8D
Aperture F2.8
Shutter speed Auto
Light sensitivity ISO 1600

There is a short time between the moment you press the button and the click. And when incredible precision in shooting timing is required, trigger times can be very difficult to account for.

A good example is the photo below. The photographer pressed the button when the player sent the ball, but in the photo the ball had already left his hand. If you press the shutter button after the moment when the player, swinging, puts his hand behind his head, you will no longer be able to take a photo with the ball in the frame.

Camera Nikon D100
Lens AF 24-120mm F3.5-5.6D
Aperture Auto
Shutter speed 1/1000

In running competitions and other competitions at high speeds, it is convenient to use burst shooting. When sprinters are turning a corner, or when playing a scoring combination, use burst shooting and then select best shots. It's also good to take a series of shots when your favorite footballer ends up with the ball.

But in games like tennis, with its lightning-fast shots, even continuous shooting will do little to keep the ball in frame. It's a matter of tenths of a second. If you miss that one moment when you need to click the shutter, you miss the decisive moment. Everything is decided in an instant, so it’s better to practice in advance the ability to accurately choose the moment to shoot.

If you are involved in photographing sports events, then know that only through numerous trials and errors can you learn how to do nice photos. This is what makes this type of photography so exciting.

Photography: Nikon Support Center. Kuramochi Norii

This lesson will be the first of three on sports photography and sports photography in general. In it we will touch on the very basics, which will be useful, first of all, to beginners and amateur photographers taking their first steps in sports photography. The second part will be focused on developing the experience of amateur photographers who have mastered the basics of sports photography, and finally, in the third lesson we will collect information for those who decide to prepare a portfolio with sports photographs.

Just a few weeks ago Nikon announced the cancellation of production compact cameras premium. In other words, smartphones, thanks to advanced software, compact size and quite good quality images have turned digital point-and-shoot cameras into a little in demand and gradually dying out type of photographic equipment. Sports photography is perhaps one of the few photography genres in which smartphones cannot yet replace cameras, and probably never will. After all, to get any satisfactory results from photographing sporting events, you cannot do without specialized photographic equipment.

Sports photographers tend to own top-of-the-line equipment, because taking great sports photography is much easier when you use a high-quality camera and optics. However, a cool DSLR does not make an amateur photographer a pro, and in this lesson we will talk about learning the basics of sports photography, and not about how much and what kind of photographic equipment you have.

I took my first sports photographs on a Nikon D3300 (read Nikon D3300 review) with Nikon lens 55-200mm f/4-5.6. Looking back at those first images, I'm glad that I focused on capturing the moment rather than making every pixel perfect. All you need to start shooting sports is a DSLR or mirrorless camera with an interchangeable lens that has at least a 200mm focal length (or full-frame equivalent).

NIKON D3300 @ 200mm, ISO 3200, 1/640, f/5.6

Sports Photography: How to Prepare for a Shoot

Most people start photographing sports because they got involved with the school or college newspaper, or because their child signed up for a sports program. sports section. At such moments, beginners are filled with enthusiasm and inspiration, with the help of which they hope to create spectacular sports photographs. But everything is not as simple as it seems. Before you begin sports photography, you need to carefully prepare.

The first thing a beginner needs to do is master his camera and! There's nothing more frustrating than looking back at your photos and seeing that they're all blurry, out of focus, or over/underexposed. It is extremely important to know exactly what works in your camera before you decide to start shooting. Learn how the camera works in automatic modes, focus and white balance settings, exposure control methods, and other key features of your camera.

Having sorted out your photographic equipment, you can move on to the second stage of preparation - establishing contact with the competition organizers. The rule of good form is to obtain consent for photography from the organizers of sports competitions, regardless of their level and status. In most cases, you, of course, can take photographs without the consent of the organizers, but having secured their consent, you will have access to the most convenient and advantageous shooting points. The larger the sporting event, the more important it is for successful photography to have good contact with its organizers.

Finally, it is advisable for you to understand the rules and intricacies of the sport you are going to film. The better you know the game, the more impressive your photos will be.

How to Photograph Sports: Shooting

So, you have prepared for the shoot, and you feel confident and completely ready to do great photos. AND practical advice below will help you with this.

• Keep an eye on the field (ring, track, etc.) as long as the athletes remain on it - at any moment an event can occur that can give you an unforgettable shot.
• Respect athletes, coaches, support and service personnel. Their work is more important than your photos!
• Refrain from unsportsmanlike behavior (I hope this is obvious).
• Be attentive to what is happening around you. You don't want to get injured because your head was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
• Do not use on-camera flash. Built-in and external flash don't use it either. This is very distracting to others.

NIKON D810 @ 24mm, ISO 2500, 1/500, f/2.8

One of the most common questions new photographers have is something like, “What camera settings should I use for sports photography?” There can be many answers to this question, so below are the settings that we think are suitable for shooting most sports events.

Excerpt: try not to use shutter speeds longer than 1/1000 sec. When shooting in a dimly lit room, maintaining this shutter speed will be difficult. On a sunny day, outdoors, you can use even faster shutter speeds.

Diaphragm: Open apertures (smaller f-numbers) are generally good for sports photography as they allow more light to reach the camera sensor and also help blur the background of the image. The best option would be an aperture ranging from f/2.8 to f/5.6.

ISO: Start with your camera's base ISO (probably ISO 100) and gradually change it until you achieve the correct exposure. Try to avoid settings above ISO 6400.

Another tip: don't get distracted while shooting. As tempting as it may be to only check the photos you've taken on your camera's LCD, try not to do this. After all, while you are looking at the camera's LCD monitor, you may miss an interesting shot.

Sports Photography: After the Shoot

When you return home after shooting, download the resulting photos to your computer and evaluate them (read about how to choose a computer for a photographer). Whatever your purpose in shooting sports, you should always analyze your work to gain experience. Did all the photos turn out the way you wanted? What went wrong with some? What can be improved? Which techniques would you repeat and which would you give up the next time you shoot?

When viewing photos on a monitor, you may notice details that you couldn't see on the camera's LCD. Here are a few things you should pay attention to (and options for fixing them):

• Are there blurs in the photos? Next time try using a faster shutter speed.
• Did you capture something other than the climax of the action? Try to react faster and learn to anticipate the actions of the subject you are shooting.
• Too expressionless photos? Try changing the point and/or shooting angle.
• Are your subjects out of focus? Try using the continuous autofocus mode or equivalent available on your camera.

NIKON D4S @ 420mm, ISO 900, 1/1250, f/5.0

So, if you are happy with the results of your sports photography, then you have achieved your goal, congratulations! Keep filming and hone your skills! Try to take as many photographs as possible that would please you not only with quality, but also with emotional richness!

If you are disappointed with the result, then do not lose heart, and under no circumstances give up sports photography. Just next time pay more attention to those moments that make your photos look bad to you.

Sports Photography: Conclusion

Sports photography is an amazing genre that allows you to take spectacular and unique photographs with a little experience and a little patience. We hope you found useful information in the first part of the lesson. Stay tuned to our website so you don't miss the second part of the sports photography lesson.

And as a bonus, we invite you to watch a video on sports photography:

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Love sports. There is little point in wanting to enter this field if your only reason is financial. An enthusiastic sports photographer will have a much easier time capturing the real essence of sports action because your natural instincts will help you learn to recognize vital important points worthy of filming.

Get ready to be ambitious. Sports photography is a competitive endeavor, and you must have both excellent photography and communication skills to work with people who can help you find a comfortable position to capture the best shots.

• Improve your photography skills. If you are a beginner, take a course that will teach you as many technical elements as possible and special technicians. If you can find classes that specialize in sports photography, that will be much better. Read wikiHow's articles on photographing sports to help you learn how to focus.
• Improve your ability to communicate with people. Often the best places to watch the action in professional sports are those with ideal viewing seats or VIP boxes. If you want to get there, you should be very professional, unobtrusive and polite to the people around you.

Train your sports photography skills by photographing amateur games in any sport. From hockey to football, from swimming to horse riding, try out as many sports as possible to broaden your skills and give them a thorough try.

• Start with simple type sports and move further along your path to more challenging sporting events. For example, it is easier to start with a sport with small movements than with one where there are high speeds and fast displacements. Let's say it's easier to capture a rower in the frame than a goalkeeper.

Make sure you are using the proper equipment. Invest in quality cameras and lenses. Many sports require fast telephoto lenses (so you can zoom in) with fast autofocus (mechanism). A wide aperture is important for highlighting the subject and defocusing the surrounding space, quickly responding to movement, and having a fast shutter speed allows you to “freeze” the action.

Create a portfolio of your most best photos across a range of sports. Consider laying out both a printed portfolio copy and one online versions. Always choose the best and discard everything else, even what you personally like (you can look at the latter after work!) Show your talent in the best possible light. Try showing the following:

• Your motion capture prowess
• Your ability to catch speed
• It's worth pointing out your knack for recognizing a moment, such as the agony on a goalkeeper's face when he misses a goal, or the pain on a cyclist's face contorted by a fallen bicycle, or the great delight of a swimmer when he touches the wall and wins.
• Your skill in using backgrounds or other elements to convey an overall feel
• Your art of reflecting the mood of the crowd.

Apply for photography jobs to a relevant newspaper, local magazine, website, etc. and identify your special interest in sports photography.

• It will take some time for your photography work to turn into your dream occupation. If you have to run around as an assistant, be grateful for the experience and advice. With patience and your skills, you will manage.
• Read the WikiHow article on how to become a professional photographer.