Action Photography Guide

f/8 and be there!*
Great photos are not captured from the couch! All the camera gear in the world is useless until you get outside and give it a go! Whether simply armed with a smartphone in your pocket or with a backpack full of fancy lenses, being in the right place at the right time is often the key to great photography. This applies as much to sports photography as it does to wildlife or landscape photography.

*Photographer jargon i.e. it’s more important to take the opportunity for a picture rather than being too concerned about using the best technique…

Athletes and modelling talent.
Whilst most people on the trails will be riding with friends and family, aka their own ‘modelling talent’, if you’re a budding photographer and have no one to shoot, then just ask. The idea of going up to someone you've never met before and asking to take photos of them can be daunting, but you'll never know if you don't ask. Most of the time, athletes are always on the lookout on different ways they can promote themselves. A great way to start is by having a conversation with the athlete, proposing something like, "I'll take some photos of you, and in return, you can tag me on social media for exposure.” This is a great way to build a rapport with an athlete but also a good way to build upon your own portfolio.

Make a plan.
Come up with a rough idea of how you want your shoot to go. Where do you want to shoot? Who do you want to shoot? Is there a backdrop you want to incorporate into the shot? What lighting are you looking for? Making a plan takes a lot of the guesswork and potential stress out of the process while working towards a joint goal with your talent.

A photographer wears many hats.
You're the creative director, head of logistics, human relations, the list goes on…. The art of the best photographers in the world isn't how they can use a camera but the way they are able to balance and manipulate all the factors of a photoshoot to try and get the best results possible. 

Leading Lines.
Guide the eye through the image, often towards the main subject or focal point. These lines can be anything from roads, rivers, fences, or even the edges of buildings. The key is that they naturally draw attention in a specific direction, creating a sense of depth and perspective.

Centring.
The subject at the centre of the composition creates a balanced image that naturally draws attention. This technique is particularly effective for symmetry, portraits, and minimalist scenes. However, it can feel static if used too frequently.

When it comes to settings, these are all dependent on the light you’re working with. Whether using a smartphone or the latest DSLR you’ll be trying to balance the exposure triangle to get the best result possible. The exposure triangle consists of three factors - shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.

Shutter Speed.
This is the length of time your camera's shutter is open, allowing light to hit the camera sensor and expose the image. The longer the shutter is open the more light is being exposed to the shutter, and vice versa. A fast shutter speed (e.g. 1/1000 of a second) effectively freezes fast-moving subjects in their tracks, preserving sharpness and detail. This method is used a lot in action sports or wildlife photography as the moments we want to capture are very brief. Another method that is also commonly used is using a slow shutter speed (e.g. 1/80 of a second). This is done with the goal of creating motion blur in an image to convey the movement.

A fun technique to play with at a slow shutter speed is panning. This technique combines a slow shutter speed with camera motion to create a sense of speed around a moving object. It’s a way to keep your subject in focus while blurring your background. This is also an easy technique to try with a smartphone camera using burst mode.

Breathe and take your time!
In action sports, things move quickly, and it can be overwhelming to capture the shot you want. However, achieving the right composition and angle takes time and patience.

Burst Mode.
If you can, use your camera's burst mode (often referred to as high-speed continuous shooting) to reduce the risk of missing the perfect moment when your subject is in the ideal position. The offset of this as you may have a few more shots to sort through but it is better than missing the shot.

What's the story behind the photo?
Focus on trying to tell the story of the experience rather than focusing on a single hero shot. The best photos are normally the ones you don't expect and the more candid moments often that tell a deeper story. Keep an open mind.

The LCD screen is probably lying to you!
When you're on location, everything might look perfect on the camera's LCD screen, with all those megapixels compressed into that tiny display. However, once you get home and view the images on a larger screen, they might be out of focus, too bright or dark, or lack sharpness. While editing can help, it can only do so much to fix these issues. That's why it's crucial to get as many fundamentals right in-camera as possible.

Be nice and be safe.
In action sports photography there is normally an element of danger involved and the key is to find the perfect balance of getting the most of your subject while not pushing them in a direction where they are going to hurt themselves. Likewise, don’t risk life and limb by putting yourself in a dangerous situation just for a photograph.

Say “g’day’!
From my experience, photographers might not always seem the most approachable at events or out in the field. This is often because they're focused on getting their own shots. However, most photographers are usually up for a chat and love to talk shop, especially since we often work alone.