Like most things in life, there are rules/guidelines/instructions (in Japanese of course).
I have been studying sports photography for a while. Getting some great advice from this site, other sites, and from some real, money making pros.
I think I am finally getting to the point to where I am actually satisfied with a third of my images during post. Before, it was way less than that.
Here are some "guidelines" for sport photography.
Guidelines are just that. To help guide. However, I have been experimenting with other things with sports using the 'rule of thirds', and 'minimalism', and 'motion' just off the top of my head.
I find the three most important things are in sports are basically
the face, the ball, and the action. Everything else is relative to your eye.
Some Basic Guidelines for Sports Photography
1) Rule of 6= Don't include the whole team in any one picture frame. It looks too cluttered. Use no more than 6 players from the team to get your point across that there actually is a team.
2) Action shots should include facial expressions and the ball. Opposing teams are good to get in the shot, but make sure to get the main player comped before the secondary player.
3)Focus all your shots to be tack sharp. Anything less is not a good picture.
4)Comp your frame to have all of the players limbs in the frame. Try not to cut limbs off.
5) A player running twords you is a better picture than a player running away from you.
6) Keep your bg soft, and don't include ANY advertisement. Banners of the teams are ok, but Nike, or Burger King is distracting unless you are going after a ad shot. Also, recon your venue. Find the bg you like best and use it. A blank wall is better than a parking lot.
7)Crop tightly.
8) Anticipate your shots. Especially on a long lens. Know your sport, put the lens where on a part of the playing area where you think the most plays will be, and let the action come to you.
9) Wide lens shots are great for full team shots, full stadium shots, fan shots, fields shots.
10) There is more to sports than the competition. Look for stuff before, during, and after any game. The lone ball, the hash mark, the tossed baseball cap, the deranged fan, the drunk owner.
11) I mentioned this, but I can not stress enough but KNOW YOUR SPORT. Anyone can shoot a sporting event, but if you don't know when to anticipate the action, then why are you there. If it is a new sport to you, start watching ESPN and go to that sporting event. Ask questions to people that does know the sport. Baseball is different photographically than football. Baseball you are limited to where you can stand, football you can roam up and down the field.
12) Find out who the stars are, or the impact players are before the game. These people will be more in demand from editors, and/or they will be the players that make the great plays.
13)Know your peramaters with the sport. Youth sports usually has no problems of where you can be to take pictures. But, when you get into college, and pro sports, there are guidelines to be aware of to not interfere with the coaching staff and the players.
14)Bring a flash with you, but ask first if you can use the flash. Sometimes coaches don't like flashes to be used, e.g. the fast lens.
15)Bring extra everything with you, you will need it.
16) Avoid fence lines going through your players image if possible.
Nice pix by the way.
Good luck.
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