Winter Sports Action Photography Tips

Skiing and snowboarding are incredibly photogenic sports, but they're fraught with gotchas: extreme weather that can harm both you and your camera, difficult lighting (only for the inexperienced), and of course participants who could be zooming right at you at the speed of a fast car. But good planning, the right equipment, developing a sense of timing and knowing where to stand (or crouch) can all help you overcome these problems so you can capture some serious winter action.

Low-flying boarder: Even a snowboard jump that's only a few inches off the ground will look impressively airborne if you shoot from a low angle with a wide-angle lens.

It's cold out there Let's talk about the weather: It will be cold. Dress appropriately. Wear layers, and an outer jacket that has flaps and vents that can open and close so you can regulate airflow and control your body temperature. Keep in mind that dressing for photographing skiing may be similar to, but not exactly the same as, dressing to ski (or to snowboard). Unlike skiers, who are active and warm up naturally that way, you may find yourself staying in one place for a relatively long time, and may need more warmth. A handwarmer couldn't hurt.

Bring the right camera gear Snow, when it melts, is wet. So, make sure your camera is sealed against it. (See Bob Atkins' excellent article about using your camera gear in the winter). Consider buying a rain/snow cover for your camera such as the Kata DGC Series E-702 Elements Cover.

To capture skiers and snowboarders, a DSLR is a must. Compact cameras may take longer to focus, have slow reaction times, and their tiny buttons may be impossible to operate if you're wearing gloves. For a lens, bring two: a wide angle lens and a midrange tele zoom, in the 70-200mm (35mm equivalent) range. You won't need a tripod--it's going to be bright out there, and a tripod can get in the way. Mobility is key. And bring the highest-capacity memory card possible--you'd hate to have to change cards in the middle of all that snow and cold.

Read on about Exposing for snow, Get in position, Find a cooperative partner, here:
http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=academy_new&article=021907
and
Warm up--carefully!
When you're done, be sure to follow Bob Atkins' guidelines for re-entering a warm indoor climate with cold camera gear in his Winter Photography Tips article. You don't want sudden condensation to ruin your gear.
See you on the slopes!

credits: Mason Resnick, the Editor-in-Chief of the AIRC - Adorama Imaging Resource Center.

http://www.ct-graphics.com/recreation-sports/waiting-skiers-2661.html
http://www.ct-graphics.com/miscellaneous/page5.html


Photography lovers who liked this also liked:
landscapes america art
landscapes america canvas prints
landscapes america framed prints
landscapes america acrylic prints
landscapes america prints
landscapes america posters
landscapes america greeting cards
landscapes america photos

landscapes us art
landscapes us canvas prints
landscapes us framed prints
landscapes us acrylic prints
landscapes us prints
landscapes us posters
landscapes us greeting cards
landscapes us photos

landscapes southwest art
landscapes southwest canvas prints
landscapes southwest framed prints
landscapes southwest acrylic prints
landscapes southwest prints
landscapes southwest posters
landscapes southwest greeting cards
landscapes southwest photos