Shooting Techniques for Outdoor Sports Photography With Short Focus Lenses

Short focus lenses have a short focal length and a wide field of view, allowing them to capture more environmental information. They are commonly used in outdoor photography. In outdoor sports photography, short focus lenses can go beyond the perspective of conventional lenses, capturing the grandeur of the sports scene and delivering a unique visual impact.

In outdoor sports photography, you can try some practical shooting techniques using short-focus lenses:

1.Boldly approach the main body of the movement

Approaching the subject boldly is a crucial principle for photographing sports with a short-focus lens. To make the subject stand out and the distortion impactful, you must get very close to the athlete to fully utilize the advantages of short focus lenses, such as exaggerated perspective and strong visual impact, allowing you to take photos with a greater sense of presence and power. The so-called "visual impact" largely comes from this sense of pressure created by the close proximity to the subject.

2.Use a low-angle upward shot

Lowering the camera angle and shooting from a low angle upwards can make the subject appear taller and more imposing, enhancing the dynamism of the movement.  It also allows the sky to be used as a background, simplifying the image. Low-angle shots are more effective at capturing the impact of actions such as athletes jumping or leaping, highlighting their jumping height and power.

Short focus lenses can be used to shoot from a low angle upwards

3.Using foreground and background in composition

Short focus lenses offer a wide field of view, making it easy to include a large amount of the surrounding environment in the shot, which can easily lead to cluttered images. When shooting, you can use foreground elements such as rocks, branches, tents, or track fences to create a "natural frame," guiding the viewer's attention to the athletes while integrating the foreground, subject, and background to give the image more depth and dimension.

In addition, because short focus lenses capture a wide variety of elements in the frame, the background must be carefully selected to make it an integral part of the story rather than an obstruction. You can choose some clean and uniform backgrounds, such as the sky, lake, or snow, to highlight the subject.

4.Use lighting effectively when shooting

In the morning or evening (after sunrise and before sunset), when the light is softer, you can use front lighting to clearly show the details and colors of the moving subject, making the photos more textured and atmospheric. For example, when photographing outdoor athletes jogging by a lake in the morning, front lighting can make the colors of the person's clothes and facial expressions clearly visible, while also illuminating the lake surface and creating a fresh atmosphere.

When creative photography is required, using side lighting or backlighting can outline the subject's contours clearly, creating dramatic lighting effects and enhancing depth and dimensionality. For example, when photographing mountain climbers, the backlighting of the evening sun can create a stark contrast between the climber's silhouette and the sky, highlighting their outline and conveying an image of determination.

Proper use of light is very important when shooting with a short focus lens

5.Choose the right moment for shooting

Every sport has its key moments, such as the moment a goal is scored in a football match or the moment a runner crosses the finish line in a track and field event. It's crucial to maintain high concentration before these key moments arrive to ensure you don't miss the exciting action.

For fast-paced sports like skiing and skateboarding, it's essential to anticipate the athlete's movements and trajectory, compose the shot in advance, and press the shutter button at the right moment to capture the perfect shot. For example, when photographing a skier performing a flip in the air, you should be ready as they are about to jump and press the shutter button at the highest point of their jump.

6.Capturing atmosphere in low-light environments

Some short focus lenses perform well in low-light conditions, making them suitable for shooting at dusk or night. They can utilize natural or artificial light to create different atmospheres, such as shooting night marathons, early morning rock climbing, or camping and hiking under the starry sky, adding a sense of atmosphere to sports scenes.

For example, when shooting night cycling, a short focus lens allows the cyclist's headlights to become the light source. By focusing the lens on the cyclist, ensuring the headlights are not overexposed, and simultaneously capturing the surrounding streetlights and night scenery, a more atmospheric image can be created.

Short focus lenses can capture atmosphere in low-light environments

7.Maintain interaction with the environment

The wide field of view of short focus lenses allows them to capture more of the scene, often including both the athlete and the magnificent natural scenery or specific competition environment. This means the resulting photographs not only record the athlete's actions but also convey an atmosphere and emotion, telling a story in the process.

In conclusion, using certain shooting techniques in outdoor sports photography can allow short focus lenses to play a greater role and create unforgettable and creative outdoor sports masterpieces.