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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Photographing martial arts. Any tips?
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 06/09/2011 11:11:32 AM · #1
I was asked to photograph a Taekwondo tournament this weekend. I've never shot this sort of event before, but I know others have. Any tips? Would a 50mm 1.8 be a good choice for this? For some events I find it is either too much telephoto, or not enough.
 06/09/2011 11:39:37 AM · #2
A long time ago I shot some tournaments my family attended. Usually they are in fairly dimly lit gymnaiums, so it depends on the venue. I would shoot without flash using a Sony 707 and had pretty good success, so I'm thinking with you shooting the 50D and any of your lenses would be ok with the ISO bumped up.

One thing I found that since I was shooting the same people and same routines that I got better because I knew what was coming next and could plan my position. The first tournament was tough because I wasn't familiar with their katas or weapons routines.

Good luck and have fun.
 06/09/2011 12:12:43 PM · #3
There was a thread about photographing studio martial arts stuff, you may also find that kgeary has some ideas/suggestions for you (he's who asked for the other thread).

Message edited by author 2011-06-09 12:13:01.
 06/09/2011 12:50:08 PM · #4
Thanks. I'll give that prior thread a read.
 06/09/2011 03:08:41 PM · #5
I've done a few Judo shots.

I would say the areas you need to think about are as follows

1) The lighting is usually awful - no natural light, low levels and strong colourcast. Flash can be alll but useless because of high roofs or distances involved, so it tends to be fast apertures and/or bumping iso
2) You cannot always get close to the mat - even if you can (and I could) they move about a fair bit so a Zoom is more use - but often slower aperture which points back to issue '1'
3) Knowing the sport - obviously the more you know it the more chance you have of capturing something worthwhile. This is obviously a general truth of any subject but in martial arts it can be a particular pain to get clear unobscured views of faces etc because they can (and do ) keep moving around which leads to loads of shots of peoples backs.

Take along a mix of kit and see what you can get - but most of all try to enjoy yourself :- )
 06/09/2011 03:12:51 PM · #6
don't get too close!
 06/09/2011 03:37:23 PM · #7
Kreese: Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Class: NO, SENSEI!
Kreese: Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Class: NO, SENSEI!
Kreese: Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Class: NO, SENSEI!
06/09/2011 03:54:55 PM · #8
This is my youngest son at a tournament, he won Texas State Champion that year for weapons. I knew his routine like clockwork and was using the Sony 707 which had a decent shutter lag, no flash. This was one of the better lighted venues that I shot in.

06/09/2011 03:55:36 PM · #9
Originally posted by Spork99:
Kreese: Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Class: NO, SENSEI!
Kreese: Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Class: NO, SENSEI!
Kreese: Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?
Class: NO, SENSEI!


sweep the leg
 06/09/2011 04:03:01 PM · #10
Some of those guys are so fast, it's all about timing. I used to fire my shutter when the back foot left the floor and catch the shot on opponent's head. Now if you can use you continuous mode, then you should be OK. I'm sure you have a fast lens to use. If you shoot at f/2.8 and use spectators in the stands for background, would look very cool.
 06/09/2011 04:14:20 PM · #11
Originally posted by caba:
Some of those guys are so fast, it's all about timing. I used to fire my shutter when the back foot left the floor and catch the shot on opponent's head. Now if you can use you continuous mode, then you should be OK. I'm sure you have a fast lens to use. If you shoot at f/2.8 and use spectators in the stands for background, would look very cool.

What people have said -- lighting will be terrible, so high ISO, fast shutter and wide aperture are the way to go ... you (usually) want to freeze the action and and blur the background. The only thing I can add is that you might want to pre-focus on a spot and wait for them to move into that zone, or be far enough back that you can manually focus far enough away that you don't need to change it. The action in a tournament setting will almost certainly be too fast for auto-focus ... some of my "practice shots" ...
06/09/2011 05:03:06 PM · #12
Ok, this is unrelated to the photo technique conversation. But it's a somewhat funny video of Allen Ginsberg doing Tai Chi and being unable to concentrate for all the internal conversations in his head.
//youtube.com/watch?v=H1R8sU4Brys
 06/09/2011 05:31:09 PM · #13
Sorry no idea about your camera but here I'm sharing my setting as guideline:

Aperture
single person f2.8 spot and continuous focusing always to eyes.
2 opponents f4-f5.6
preferred lens 70-200 VR set to active

Shutter Speed
60-125 if no action (during pulse)
200-320 when subject at fast action

ISO
Max 2000-2500

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