Sports Photography - A Defining Start

Sports | Duration: 4 weeks | Session: 12 November - 13 December 2008

Have you ever noticed how the sports images in your local newspaper, favorite sports publication, or team website always look so consistently sharp and well composed? Do you wish you could improve your own skills in the very challenging genre of photography? Whether your interests are simply to capture better sports-related images of your family, to improve upon your existing skills in the subject or to build a solid foundation for continuing studies in this fun and exciting subject, join professional sports photographer Shawn M. Knox as he leads you through this 4-week online photography course covering the fundamentals you need to know in order to begin, or improve, your sports photography.

View from Above

Designed for Beginning through Intermediate skill levels
Equipment and Camera Settings Considerations
Photographing Sports Action
Composition Considerations
How to Make Images in Poor Conditions
See the Bigger Picture – It’s Not Just About the Action!

Toolbox Needs

Digital SLR or Film-based SLR capable of manual settings
Working knowledge of aperture and shutter speed, as well as basic camera and exposure techniques
Ability to upload your images for assignments (digital capture or scanner)
Wide-angle to telephoto lens or lenses (longer lenses--200mm and above--will be very helpful but not required for this course)
Monopod (optional, but very useful)
Off-camera flash (optional)
Motivation to attend, or at least "stage", a sporting-type event

Shawn_headshot_tci

Shawn Knox (view profile)

Course Outline

Week 1: Equipment Basics: Knowing Your Kit and Using it Effectively.
Understanding your equipment and using your tools to work around potential limitations. Harmonizing ISO, shutter and aperture to create the best possible image. Exposure and focusing modes in sports photography.

Week 2: Compositional Considerations for Sports Photography
Stopping the action and intentionally blurring the action for effect. Selecting the best orientation for your subject. Basic sports composition and cropping.

Week 3: Creating Good Images In Less Than Ideal Lighting Conditions
Flash versus higher ISO in poor lighting. Utilizing the advantages of RAW format in tricky lighting conditions. Adapting your shooting style to lighting limitations.

Week 4: Breaking the Limits By Seeing the Bigger Picture
Moving past the action on the field. Seeing sports photography as a whole. Breaking down an event into smaller units of interest.