Football Match Photography

[FordacusMaximus]

Hi

I have decided to take my new Canon 500D to a mates match tonight as training for me to get to know my camera and how it works etc.

This is the first time i have taken pictures of sporting events so what tips can you give me with regards to Shutter Speeds, ISOs, apetures etc?

I'll be taking both lenses 17-55 and 75-300 and my tripod.

Cheers

 

[FordacusMaximus]

Just been thinking that I wont be able to use a tripod because that means that I will only be able to take a photo in a fixed area of the pitch.

Should I use the wide lens with the tripod and capture a large area of the pitch and then crop it to the photo area I want on the computer afterwards?

 

[Xenon54]

I'm not a sports tog, so don't take my word on it, but at a guess:

75-300 lens, try and zoom in tightish for action shoots, AF in servo mode on back button (ask if you don't know what this means), shutter at least 1/500th preferably more, wider apertures to isolate your subject(s) from the background, have lots of fun.

Also, read this, same principles apply, try and get the ball and face clearly in the shot and position yourself where you'll maximise the chances of seeing some good action, eg covering the box from behind and to the side of the goal so an attacker is running/shooting roughly in your direction. How to photograph football.

HTH,
Will

 

[FordacusMaximus]

Thanks for this.

Would you use a tripod for stability or just use hold the camera?

 

[Xenon54]

Thanks for this.

Would you use a tripod for stability or just use hold the camera?

As far as I'm aware, with shutter speeds faster than 1/500th then the only reason to use a mono/tripod is if the lens too heavy to hand hold for long periods of time, eg with the big white super-teles.

 

[Damnations Fury]

Thanks for this.

Would you use a tripod for stability or just use hold the camera?

Personally if the light is good enough, which you'll prefer anyway get the shutter speed high enough, I wouldn't be overly worried about a tri-pod because as you said unless you are going to stay in one area, it may proove more of a hinderance.

Others may have a different opinion though, and at the end of the if you can carry it, no harm in tkaing it just in case.