|
|
|
Sports photography
Summary: Sports action photographs can be difficult to capture. Read how a "real" parent/photographer took some steps to give him the chance to succeed.
Sports action photography can be a bit unnerving for
amateur photographers. Read on to see how a parent/photographer took
action to give him the best chances of success along the sidelines.  | | This photo of Jack Delehanty trading high-fives with professional player Brandon Phillips will be treasured for a lifetime. Photo by Rick Delehanty |
Standing along the  | | A "multimedia man", Rick Delehanty uses a small video camera as his Nikon digital SLR hangs around his neck. Photo by Michael E. Keating |
third base line at Great American
Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, camera in hand, Rick Delehanty was
living the dream of many aspiring photographers. With his Nikon D100 digital camera and a brand new Nikkor VR 70-200mm lens Delehanty zoomed in on his favorite player in a Reds jersey.
There were no images of Ken Griffey, Jr., Adam Dunn
or even rookie pitching sensation Homer Bailey in his camera’s
viewfinder. Instead, Delehanty snapped photos of his pre-teen son,
Jack, in an authentic game jersey as he high-fived Brandon Phillips
during a CIncinnati Reds promotion that allows area kids to run on to
the field to stand next to players prior to the game.
Delehanty is like thousands of other parents who
stand on the sidelines of sporting events from youth leagues to high
school snapping pictures of their daughters and sons. However,
Delehanty has taken calculated steps to shooting quality images. First,
he took a photography class to better understand basic photography and
second, he invested in a digital SLR camera and high quality lenses.
Photo passion emerges
In the mid 1980’s Delehanty fed a serious interest
in photography with college classes and learned the basics of
photography and black-and-white printing. Nature photos and pictures of
family and friends were his interest, but still not his passion.
With the birth of his first son, Jack, in l997, he
took that interest to a new level. With a new Minolta film camera
he continued to take photos and built a darkroom for film developing
and printing.
Soon, he would leave film behind with the purchase of a Nikon 990 digital camera. His next step was a Canon D10 digital SLR and finally a Nikon D100 and a full range of quality autofocus lenses on par with most professional photographers.
Return on investment
“I use to stress about the cost (of the lenses), but
I've enjoyed the photos. As soon as my second son, Ben, was born, I
pulled the trigger on three new Nikkor lenses. Cost me a boatload
(of money), but they're only kids once,” explained Delehanty.
The manufacturer’s list price of those lenses and
the digital camera equipment is several thousand dollars. While the
price is steep, several consumer level photo blogs, including and forum
at photo.net, find non-professional consumers spending at least
1500-2000 dollars annually on digital camera gear.
Delehanty’s purchase, while seemingly extravagant, is not out of the
norm for someone who is passionate about photos. He also shops for
bargains online and follows vendors and manufacturer’s promotional
coupons with discount codes as new products are introduced.  | | Using a longer telephoto lens, the expression and intensity on the face of Jack Delehanty is a classic. The telephoto allowed the photographer to capture the moment from a distance, thus avoiding a photo subject reacting to the camera and/or the photographer. Photo by Rick Delehanty |
His camera bag now includes...  | | A little different angle, provides context and a sense of place. Photo by Rick Delehanty |
- D 100 Nikon digital camera
- 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
- 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
- 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
“Friends and family really enjoy the photo's
I take and some will ask if I can snap a shot of their kids during a
game,” explained Delehanty. “I sometimes e-mail them photos of
individuals or events. My wife, Colleen, also really enjoys the
results, but I'm sure she thinks the equipment may be a little
excessive.”
Embracing the digital world
In addition to the new lenses , he also purchased a Mac Book laptop for image processing. Delehanty uses Adobe Photoshop for imaging processing and hosts a password protected online gallery of his images for sharing with family and friends.
Delehanty recently purchased a digital photo frame
that allows him to upload multiple digital photos to an LCD display
that looks like a conventional picture frame. The self-contained
device can display photos in a slideshow or a single image.  | | This detail shot from behind speaks to the equipment worn by the young Delehanty. Photo by Rick Delehanty |
Delehanty, as always, was again content to be on the
sidelines as his second son, Ben, was born. He, with the doctor’s
encouragement, continued chronicling his family’s life in photos. He
shot photos of the birth and posted photos online from the hospital
delivery room.
|
|
Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
• more tips & tricks
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
• read Michael's answer
• submit a question
Submit your photos for review and display in our online gallery.
• visit the gallery
• submit your photos
 Michael E. Keating is an award winning portrait photographer...
 more...
|
|
