Sports photography is one of the areas where it is most difficult to capture clear and high-quality images. This field, which attracts the attention of many people who are passionate about photography today, has become very popular lately. So, how can amateurs who want to enter the adrenaline-filled world of sports photography get the best shots? World-famous sports photographer Samo Vidic, Canon ambassador, shares everything you need to know about sports photography for photography enthusiasts.
It is known by many professional photographers today that sports photography is one of the most challenging areas to capture moving and dynamic images clearly. In particular, it is necessary to master some tricks in order to photograph extreme athletes and their performances impressively and in high quality. Samo Vidic gives advice to achieve near-perfect shots of extreme and dynamic athletes while they are on the move in the city.
Good Preparation Before Shooting Saves Lives
According to Vidic's advice, the first step is to make good preparations before pressing the shutter button with the camera. Especially before shooting fast and unpredictable sports such as parkour, meeting with the athletes and examining the location provides a great advantage during the shooting. Vidic underlines that the best photo angle can only be discovered thanks to this preparation. If the athletes demonstrate their skills, especially in a location within the city, the shooting location can be very crowded and there may be great difficulties in completing the shooting. Therefore, equipment such as the right lens, charged batteries and spare memory cards need to be prepared in advance.
The Best Frames Are Captured with Natural Light
Samo Vidic captures his best shots in natural daylight. It is of great importance for beginners to work quickly and efficiently so that they can benefit from natural light sufficiently.
The Most Important Point in Extreme Sports is Safety
No matter how impressive the aim is to take photographs, Samo Vidic says, "The safety of athletes and photographers comes first" and recommends that variables such as weather and traffic be checked in advance in sports performed in open areas such as parkour and in the city.
Durable and Versatile Lenses Give Good Results
Since photographers can also get hit in extreme sports, the lenses they use must be durable. When photographing dynamic sports, it is recommended to choose wide-angle lenses such as the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM . Samo Vidic sees the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L Is II USM as an ideal option for long-distance shooting. He even states that such lenses allow focusing on the details of the photo and separating the athlete from the background.
The Secret to Clear Dynamic Images: High Shooting Speed
In order to capture the speed of extreme athletes and capture their full performance, it is necessary to shoot with a high shutter speed. Vidic notes that he took photographs of Storror with the Canon EOS M50 in a Canon campaign. According to Samo Vidic, the minimum speed required for a good and clear image is 1/1000 sec. or more.
Pay Attention to Depth for Taking Photos in Crowded Places
When photographing extreme athletes in the city, the subject needs to be separated. Especially in crowded cities, achieving a shallower depth of field is important for photo quality. For example, shallow depth of field is easily captured by choosing a lens with 2.8 aperture.
Create Your Own Style with Practice
In his advice, the famous photographer especially emphasizes that those who are new to photography should constantly practice. Recommending people to take photos at all lighting levels, from a variety of different angles and perspectives, Vidic also recommends Canon's new mirrorless cameras for beginners.
