Tips & Tricks: Five Simple Tips to Capture Great Photos at the US Open 2009
Jay Kinghorn, an Olympus Visionary, is a renowned photographer and digital imaging consultant. He lectures and teaches photo students around the world, utilizing his personal experiences as an avid sport and adventure photographer.
1) Tell Me a Story
When writing a story, you set the scene for the reader by providing an overview, describing the action that’s taking place, and highlighting details that flesh out the story for the reader. You can do the same through your images. Start with an expansive shot of the tennis center; next focus on action shots of the players; finally, focus on key details like hands gripping the racket, the line judge or the fans in their seats.
Tips:
- For expansive overviews, set the mode dial on the top-right of the camera to the mountain icon.
- For tight action, set the mode dial to the sports mode indicated with an icon of a person running.
- For details, keep the mode dial on sports mode.
2) Focus and Recompose
Even though your camera focuses on the center of the frame, you rarely want to leave your subject there. Instead, use the focus and recompose method to move your subject out of the center and into an interesting composition.
To do this, point the camera toward your subject, or the point you’d like in sharp focus. Depress the shutter button halfway. A small circle will appear in the viewfinder just below the shutter-speed and aperture readout. You will also hear an audible beep indicating that the camera is focused and ready to go.
Reposition your camera to include only the elements you want to be in your photo.
3) Try the Rule of Thirds
When you begin moving your subject out of the center, your photos become more dynamic and more artistic. To take this concept one step farther, you can begin using the rule of thirds.
If you draw imaginary lines dividing a photo in thirds both vertically and horizontally, the four points where those lines intersect are the most active, interesting spots to place your subject.
Tip:
- See how many ways you can divide the photo into the one-third and two-third distribution.
4) Anticipate The Action
Shooting fast-moving sports is challenging. One way to improve your odds is to anticipate where the action will take place. Take a moment to watch the ebb and flow of the match and make a note of key areas of the court where players return to repeatedly. For example, you know that serves always occur at the baseline.
With this information, you can pre-focus on the area of the baseline you know the player will serve from. This way, both you and the camera are ready when the action takes place.
5) Increase the ISO
As the sunlight wanes in the afternoon, there won’t be sufficient light for your camera to freeze the action on the court. When this happens, you’ll need to increase the camera’s ISO to make it more sensitive to light.
On the back of your camera, press the button in the Super Control Panel labeled ISO (The downward pointing arrow). Use the left and right arrows to select a new ISO then press OK. An ISO of 400 is good for the late afternoon and an ISO of 800 is ideal for shooting at night.
