Karin Lau Photography

Introduction

Experienced sports photographers are always ready for the jubilation images like this of the Chicago White Sox going wild after winning the 2005 American League Championship Series. Canon 1D MKII, 400mm f2.8 lens with 1.4X extender, ISO 1600, 1/1000 at f4. © Ben Chen

Experienced sports photographers are always ready for the jubilation images like this of the Chicago White Sox going wild after winning the 2005 American League Championship Series. Canon 1D MKII, 400mm f2.8 lens with 1.4X extender, ISO 1600, 1/1000 at f4. © Ben Chen

Few other pursuits or activities bond people together—or pit them against each other—as much as sport, whether at the local Little League level or in major international competition. Sports can draw out the best in people, and at times also the worst. So the range of action on the field, and emotion on and off of it, is huge. Regardless of the level of competition, at any sporting event we are likely to be treated to displays of camaraderie, team spirit, heroics, jubilation, and dejection. The games we play at all levels are an important part of our communities—local, national, and international.

Most of us are familiar with the words "the thrill of victory; the agony of defeat" and the majority of sports fans have indelible images of sporting moments those words describe. Often as not, those unforgettable slices of time in sports history—especially if at a major event—have been documented by a key person in the world of sports: the sports photographer. Essentially,

Dejection and dismay show as UC Santa Barbara soccer players react to losing after an overtime penalty kick by the Indiana Hoosiers. Canon 1D, 400mm f2.8 lens, ISO 640, 1/3200 at f2.8. © Ben Chen

professional sports photographers are photojournalists whose prime role is to make pictures that capture the key or defining moments of any event. Additionally, these photographers strive to convey the intense emotion of the contest—in victory or defeat. Top sports photographers, those who consistently produce great images of action, emotion, and of sports people are a combination of many professions and talents. They are technically proficient artists, storytellers, empathetic, and, to a large extent, psychologists who can identify with and understand the psyche and nature of those involved with sports. How else could they get the access and have the interpersonal and technical

The big grin says it all as this Little Leaguer heads for the dugout after crossing home plate. Capturing special moments like this is the key to shooting youth sports. Canon EOS 3, ISO 400 Fujicolor, 100-400mm f4.5/5.6 lens, maximum aperture. © Diane Kulpinski

In the summer of 1961, all eyes were on Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris as the dynamic duo from the New York Yankees closed in on Babe Ruth's home run record. Bob Gomel was assigned to document the historic moment and used a 70mm, 50 frames per second, camera built by legendary inventor Charlie Hulcher, fitted with a 2000mm f10 Astro Berlin lens. Although this iconic shot of Mickey Mantle was not "the" one, it has stood the test of time. © Bob Gomel

In the summer of 1961, all eyes were on Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris as the dynamic duo from the New York Yankees closed in on Babe Ruth's home run record. Bob Gomel was assigned to document the historic moment and used a 70mm, 50 frames per second, camera built by legendary inventor Charlie Hulcher, fitted with a 2000mm f10 Astro Berlin lens. Although this iconic shot of Mickey Mantle was not "the" one, it has stood the test of time. © Bob Gomel skills to get the cooperation of elite sportsmen and -women and so make great images? There is more to being a great sports photographer than merely being on the spot and clicking a shutter.

Most photographers have tried their hand at shooting sports, and those who have will appreciate that it's not as easy as it might look. If you love sports, photographing them will add a new dimension to your involvement whether as a _

participant, supporter, or a parent whose children play sport. Even if you do not aspire to reach the ^ top echelon of sports photographers, we hope this book will help you make the pictures you want U

and also encourage you to take your sports c photography to higher levels. i

The range of sports that people play is vast,

Strength, speed, and determination are personified as wheelchair athletes power down the straight. A low angle and panning enhance the shot. Canon 1N, 400mm f2.8, Fuji 800 film, 1/60 at f8 © Duane Hart

too vast for them all to be included in this publication. However, the examples of the sports featured here and the insights of the photographers whose pictures capture their essence should provide food for thought and inspiration. Not all sports involve teams and spectators. Many are individual sports, such as surfing or climbing, where the participants pit their skills against waves or mountainous terrain and other elements of nature. They are £ sports, nonetheless, and photographing them p- requires many of the skills associated with shooting ^ the games played on fields or courts with defined o boundaries and strict rules. There is no getting ° away from the fact that the top pros use the best o equipment available. For most amateurs, the cost E of that equipment is prohibitive. However, as

Walter Iooss, one of the truly great sports i— photographers, emphatically points out, the camera ^ is only a tool between the mind and the eye. Great pictures come from great vision. So, whether you

This classic image of surfers outracing a huge wave at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, during the annual Eddie Akau Memorial Big Wave contest was made with a 600mm f4 lens. Nikon F100 on a tripod, ISO 100 film, 1/500 at f5.6. © Mark A. Johnson

Jubilation and pride come to the fore as wheelchair athlete Jeff Adams of Canada celebrates victory at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. Nikon FE2, Ektachrome 100, 80-200mm f2.8 lens, 1/1000 at f5.6. © Peter Skinner

Jubilation and pride come to the fore as wheelchair athlete Jeff Adams of Canada celebrates victory at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. Nikon FE2, Ektachrome 100, 80-200mm f2.8 lens, 1/1000 at f5.6. © Peter Skinner are using a simple point-and-shoot camera, either film or digital, or a more sophisticated single-lens reflex camera with a range of lenses, don't be discouraged from trying to make the pictures that you can visualize in your mind's eye.

Being able to consistently make good photographs—sports or any other kind—takes practice, practice, and more practice. So, if your initial efforts are not what you hoped for, don't be discouraged. Keep in mind that to a large extent, sports photographers are like their subjects. They have to be well-trained, expert in their craft, have the right attitude, and have that innate sense of timing to make it happen at the right moment. Luck can play its part, but invariably good luck favors the well-prepared person, athlete and photographer alike.

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