Sports Photography: Decisions, Decisions…

An emphasis of this sports photography course will be recognition of the many decisions that must be made for each event photographed, and the implications, good and bad, of each of these decisions. Gymnastics is one of my favorite sports to photograph (for reasons that will become more clear within my course). When I photograph floor exercises, my favorite lens is my oldest lens—a Canon 200mm f/1.8. The very wide aperture provides a great deal of flexibility with my settings (the wider my aperture, the lower my ISO and/or higher my shutter speed), but it’s the stunning quality of the photos that drives my preference. Two ‘risks’ come along with this great potential. First, shooting at f/2 provides a relatively narrow depth of field. This can make for wonderful separation of subject from background, but only if focus is spot-on. Second, the 200mm fixed focal range makes for relatively tight framing of my subject and an increased likelihood of cutting off body parts I don’t want to cut off. Here are two images with a Canon 1DX camera body and 200 f/1.8 lens. They represent the good and the bad.

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– BPSOP Instuctor: Russ Isabella

Russ Teaches: Sports Photography

“I just wanted to thank you for another wonderful class. I have to confess that each week when I read the new assignment, my first reaction was mild panic and a deep certainty that I would not be able to produce anything worthwhile that fit within the parameters you had set. But before I knew it, the ideas started to flow, and I quickly became obsessed (no, that isn’t too strong a word!) with exploring the possibilities. I can honestly say that the photos I produced in response to your assignments are among my favorites. Thanks for bringing out a creative side I didn’t know I had!”

Barbara Geiger
Understanding Color

“Thank you so very much for this course! It’s allowed me to take the blinders off and present my images for what I want them to be without being a slave to the “reality” of the camera. I would also add that in conjunction with your printing course, this has been the most useful course I’ve ever taken. Your notes are more than comprehensive and your comments and critiques are direct, clear, and always directed to the improvement of the art.”

Bill
After the click

” I want to thank you for this class and for your patience and availability to answer all of my questions. I have learned very much through this class. I have used LR in the past, but mostly for editing images. I now have a better grasp in the organization of my images, an even better understanding of editing images, and an understanding of the value of presets. I still have a lot to learn, but this has put me on the road to be able to improve my photography. Again, thank you! ”

Dale Yates
Lightroom Quickstart

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