Sports Photography: How to Capture Action and Emotion [Paperback]

At one time or another, a serious photographer will be asked to take pictures of a young relative at a sports event, or of some local team. There will also be times when a photographer will attend a major sports event and have the urge to capture the event on film or digital media. The photographer may realize that sports photography may be just different enough from his regular fare to warrant some additional study. This fast-reading book is aimed at filling that gap.

After a general introduction, the book starts out with a consideration of necessary equipment, including a comparison of digital media and film, and then goes on to a brief discussion of light and exposure. Thereafter the book is mostly concerned about the content of sports photographs. The author points out such considerations as selecting the best position, capturing the peak action, and the importance of the direction and speed of the action. There are discussions of the most important aspects of photographing specific sports, like cycling, ice skating and surfing. These discussions are necessarily brief but usually provide good tips for the inexperienced sports photographer. The book also has sections that deal with the emotions of sport, the aesthetics and moods of sport, getting access and working with sports groups, and self assignments. After discussing the possibility of making money photographing sports, there is an examination of the careers of several sports photographers.

All of the pictures in the book, taken by top-flight sports photographers, are excellent, and the writing is simple and clear. Indeed, I suspect it may be too simple for anyone but the neophyte sports photographer. Experienced photographers are more likely to benefit from studying the pictures in the book, but that can be done as easily with a subscription to a magazine like Sports Illustrated.

I thought that there were technical issues relating to sports photography that the book scanted. For example, many sports photographers shoot JPEG's not just because they can quickly be sent to an editor, but because it means that they can shoot a larger number of pictures without pausing. Similarly, while the author advises using fast lenses for reduced depth of field, there is less mention of the fact that sports photographers usually need to shoot at the faster shutter speeds that the larger apertures allow.

Although it's certainly not required, there is no mention of post processing in the book. I was also startled that the author spent substantial space telling readers that it was okay to shoot with film. While I would never discourage a person with a film camera from shooting sports, I would find it very difficult to encourage any one to buy a film camera. I recognize that probably represents my own predisposition, but certainly, no arguments were made for the advantages of film.

For the individual who knows nothing about sports photography, but does understand how to use a camera, this book may prove useful. For those who have already started to take sports pictures this book will be less useful.

Being an instructor of Photography, I am constantly on the lookout for a book which can help teach my students the "softer art" of picture making. Whether you're a novice nature photographer or a seasoned professional photojournalist, capturing emotion, drama, and a sense of spirit in a photograph, is something every serious photographer strives to achieve in their work. It is this ability that is at the core of a photographer's success, and yet, it is the most difficult aspect to teach. When a master of this craft creates an easy to understand, comprehensive guide, on how to accomplish this, it is worth taking notice! This book, Sports Photography - How to Capture Action and Emotion, by Peter Skinner, is a shining example of a master photographer realizing and sharing this gift with others.

Starting out with a general overview of the concepts behind Sports Photography, Mr. Skinner takes the reader on a quick narrative journey through many past successful images that he and other great photographers have shared with us over the years. The photography in this book, contributed by Mr. Skinner himself, as well as many other top professionals, is absolutely stunning! Although this book concentrates more on composition and capturing "peak" moments, and less on the fundamentals, like exposure, Mr. Skinner did include the advanced "tricks of the trade" all of us should know, like sunny 16 rule, use of a grey card for proper exposure, and other helpful bits of knowledge usually reserved for the more advanced photographer.

It's knowing and applying these subtle tricks that help us all create better images.

I also appreciated the author's emphasis on the use of film cameras and digital point and shoot technology. Not everyone can afford to purchase a new digital SLR system. If all you have is a point and shoot camera, that's great! This book will show you how to get the most out of your equipment, whatever you use - understand the limitations of your equipment and make your weakness your strength. Whatever system you have will work fine, as long as you are out there creating images! Yes, "going digital" does offer a huge leap forward in taking an idea from the mind to the wall, but film cameras (especially used SLRs) do offer a great, and an initially less expensive, way to explore photography and learn about proper exposure, composition, and all the other aspects you'll need to know to be a success.

After a broad look at what it takes to be a successful sports photographer, Mr. Skinner then begins to break down many of the sports we, as aspiring photographers, will likely be covering like football, basketball, and baseball, as well as cycling, hockey, golf, etc.... With each discipline, the author not only explains specific techniques for capturing great shots, but also the individuals you'll need to know and contact in your sport of choice. Knowing the right people and what to say can be essential in creating great images, and setting yourself apart in a competitive field. Mr. Skinner obviously understands this and has done a wonderful job in pointing out the important people to contact in many of our favorite sporting events.

It is this type of experiential knowledge that puts this book on top against other similar photography books.

To most of my students, photography is just a fun hobby. Most of them come to me to learn the fundamentals of exposure and the ideals of "proper" composition. However, to some, the idea of making a living as a photographer is a goal they wish to both explore and achieve. Through this book, Mr. Skinner offers the reader many ideas to help make that a reality. He presents several money making concepts that most motivated individuals can accomplish. You can tell right away, he has the reader's best interests at heart. This book reads less like a "how to" collection, and more like a conversation with someone who has "been there, done that, done it successfully, and genuinely hopes to show you how to be a success as well."

If you are looking to get into photography as a hobby or a career, or are seeking a fresh new way of looking at capturing images, or just desire to create more powerful photographs, this book is definitely for you. Filled with fresh ideas, top notch photography, and a clear easy to follow format, this book should help take your images to the next level. So, go make room for this book on your self now, no photographer should be without it!

I am a teacher with a side business in photography. I am my school's official photographer. For my situation, as a semi-professional photographer who is frequently faced with shooting a sport with which I am not intimately familiar, this was an excellent reference. It would also be great for a parent who is into photography and wants to get great shots of their kids' games.

The best part of this book was its detailed discussion of "peak action" - the moment when the One Great Shot happens. It goes sport-by-sport to talk about how to predict and capture peak action - technical camera details, mental aspects, where to stand to get the best shot, and how to get coaches and officials to let you stand there.

The book also included a brief discussion of when to get a release and how to market your photos. Although neither was dealt with in detail, it provided a framework for further research into these two topics.