Manual of Sports Photography by Cristiano Pugno

Author:Cristiano Pugno
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Babelcube Inc.
Published: 2015-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

Gymnastics

Gymnastics in all its variations: rhythmic, artistic, aerobic, etc.

The only thing they have in common is the fact that they take place indoors in a gym and usually during the winter.

And all the gyms, with rare exceptions, are small and poorly lit. This becomes a problem because it forces us to use a higher ISO, although modern DSLRs with full frame sensors adapt without problem above 6400 ISO.

We begin with the logistics. Check the timetable first and the location of the gym, which is usually lost in the suburbs. Get there a little in advance. If it's not a high level event there shouldn't be any problems with passes. If you demonstrate that you are photographing for an organization, you can enter at the edge of the area reserved for the athletes.

Standard Recommendation: Remember to make them give you the list of competitors, otherwise you will have unusable photos. The flash is completely forbidden, so leave it in your gear bag; maybe you can pull it out at the awards ceremony.

Go find a comfortable position, preferably with a background as neutral as possible or with a banner about the event. Find some place to sit down because it will be a long job. I have done events that took eight hours, and I can assure you that without a monopod it’s tough on your arms.

The classic lens to shoot with is the 70-200mm telephoto, with the aperture set to f2.8, the shutter speed 1/300 second and up (depending on the situation), and the ISO adjusted accordingly.

Just remember: Better a noisy than a blurred photo.

A noisy photo has the possibility of being improved later, but a blurred shot has only one destination — the trash, either virtual or real.

If you want to experiment with blur creatively, do it during the practice sessions so as not to ruin the competition photos you'll need for the client.

Try to understand the gymnastic exercise so that you can photograph the important moments like the peak of a jump, the suspension, the dismount or exit, and the entry.

Photos of the athlete's back are not acceptable; you must get the athlete's face.

As in ballet, you might take a gorgeous photo, but if it shows the athlete in a faulty exercise position, it won't do. To understand what to photograph, ask for help from the current athletes, from former athletes, or from judges, until you a have a few of the basics. This is generally a very specialized sport and usually those who start photographing these types of events will make it a point to know the sport and its athletes well; it is the foundation for good results in this type of photography.

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