Photographing a Sunday League Cup Final

[Steve56]

Hi all,

I'm looking to get some advice. I'm photographing a Football Match (Soccer for our American Cousins) and it is the equivalent of a Sunday League Cup Final. (Meaning it is not an actual professional team with a football ground etc)

I've never done sports photography and I'm wanting to get some tips/advice for how to go about it.

I'm using the following equipment :

Canon 1000D
Sigma 70-300mm Zoom lens
Canon 18-55mm (Standard lens)
Canon 50mm

Tripod
Remote Shutter Release

I'll be responsible for in-game shots and shots of the team before/after kick-off.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[KmH]

Uh, what time of day? So we get some kind of an idea what kind of light you will have to work with.

 

[Steve56]

Uh, what time of day? So we get some kind of an idea what kind of light you will have to work with.

This should be around late morning to midday. I need to get there for 10.00am, take some shots of players, grounds etc before kick off.

Kick off should be at 11.30 - 12.00pm. I'll also be responsible for photographing the cup presentation as well.

Just a newbie question also...is it advisable to use flash? I get this image of me photographing a player rushing toward goal and then the flash from my camera distracts him and ends up missing the goal. lol

 

[tirediron]

Given the size of a football pitch, you're going to need your longest glass, and even that is going to be challenged. Be prepared to do a LOT of running. I would set up in shutter priority at at least 1/500, and more like 1/750+ if you can get it to ensure that you (1) freeze motion, and (2) eliminate any lens shake. Keep your camera set on it's highest burst rate, use your largest cards (have lots of them with you) and watch the game through your camera's viewfinder. Follow the ball, anticipate the player's moves and be ready to capture them. Don't worry about the tripod, remote release, etc, you're not going to have time for those. The before and after shots should be pretty straight forward group shots. Try and take advantage of the ambient light and use your pop-up flash on manual (ideally with a diffuser) just to provide some fill light for the presentation.

Edit: I didn't realize you had a flash; yes, definitely have that for the group shots, pre/post game shooting, but I wouldn't bother with it during the game. Not because you might distract a player, but rather because the distances will often be too great and the cycle time could easily prevent you from getting the money shot.

 

[Steve56]

Given the size of a football pitch, you're going to need your longest glass, and even that is going to be challenged. Be prepared to do a LOT of running. I would set up in shutter priority at at least 1/500, and more like 1/750+ if you can get it to ensure that you (1) freeze motion, and (2) eliminate any lens shake. Keep your camera set on it's highest burst rate, use your largest cards (have lots of them with you) and watch the game through your camera's viewfinder. Follow the ball, anticipate the player's moves and be ready to capture them. Don't worry about the tripod, remote release, etc, you're not going to have time for those. The before and after shots should be pretty straight forward group shots. Try and take advantage of the ambient light and use your pop-up flash on manual (ideally with a diffuser) just to provide some fill light for the presentation.

Edit: I didn't realize you had a flash; yes, definitely have that for the group shots, pre/post game shooting, but I wouldn't bother with it during the game. Not because you might distract a player, but rather because the distances will often be too great and the cycle time could easily prevent you from getting the money shot.

I don't think we'll be using a full-length pitch but I know what you mean in terms of running. Thanks for the shutter speed recommendations. I wasn't entirely sure what an adequate speed would be.

When I say flash, I did mean just the built in flash on the camera. I don't have a separate flash unit unfortunately.

Thanks for the advice

 

[imagemaker46]

Use the back zone and shoot up the field, don't start chasing the players or the ball, everything moves too fast, you have enough time in the match to work both sides of the field, the oncoming players of one team in the first half and the other team in the second half. Corner kicks move to the same side as the kick in, and concentrate on the goal keeper as a point to watch. For the most part it is a vertical sport unless you want to shoot loose, and if this is your first sports event you will be shooting loose, it is a natural habit, until you feel comfortable shooting with a longer lens. Don't panic or even worry about missing anything, you can't cover it all, so don't even try, relax and enjoy it. Hand hold the gear, no tripod, no monopod. Shutter speeds as fast as you can get, and f stops 6.3 at the most, you'll be wanting some separation from the background. That time of day, if it's nice enough that the light cluds are there perfect, bright sun will get you those harsh shadows, although I'll take the sun. Good luck and have fun.

 

[dots]

Use the back zone and shoot up the field, don't start chasing the players or the ball, everything moves too fast, you have enough time in the match to work both sides of the field, the oncoming players of one team in the first half and the other team in the second half. Corner kicks move to the same side as the kick in, and concentrate on the goal keeper as a point to watch. For the most part it is a vertical sport unless you want to shoot loose, and if this is your first sports event you will be shooting loose, it is a natural habit, until you feel comfortable shooting with a longer lens. Don't panic or even worry about missing anything, you can't cover it all, so don't even try, relax and enjoy it. Hand hold the gear, no tripod, no monopod. Shutter speeds as fast as you can get, and f stops 6.3 at the most, you'll be wanting some separation from the background. That time of day, if it's nice enough that the light cluds are there perfect, bright sun will get you those harsh shadows, although I'll take the sun. Good luck and have fun.

Brilliant gen!

 

[KmH]

I sure hope you don't have to do this this Sunday, and wil have the chance to shoot a few practice games before the final.

Shooting action field sports is one of the most demanding genres in photography.

Mount that 70-300 lens on the camera. I recommend you use it for the team shots too (at 300 mm).