Soccer (I)
2009 Holiday Special Part 8

Today, we look at one of Singaporean's favourite sports: Soccer! All the photos here are taken during the recent Asian Youth Games (AYG). Prior to the AYG, I have already shot some soccer matches before and Soccer was the first sports event i shot. From these many soccer shoots, it was where I first have learned a few important things that a sports photographer should know.

Like I stress in many of my previous post, knowing the sports is important. It allows you to anticipate how the players is going to react under certain conditions. Also, it allows you to make "more informed" decisions such as what are good shooting angles and what settings / equipment should you use. Just like you know a header might happen upon a free kick and you can prepare for the shot.

Knowing where to position yourself is also an important part. You learn this thru advice, your own experience and also thru the eyes of others by looking at their photos. Every possible shooting position will definitely have its pros and cons. For soccer, corner position are usually favoured, you can shoot winger action, you can shoot keeper action (above). The compromise? your opposite flank.

Another thing is to be alert during the shoot. It may be common sense but you really need the extra alertness. Usually, I would not advice photographers to review the photo during the match itself as you may miss important moments when you are looking at your LCD screen. But if you are rushing for time (the press always dun have time), then you have to compromise. If possible, try to keep you eyes on the players on the field and not on your LCDs.

One last advice to give to any budding sports photographer is that please dun save on your shutter. Bursting away is a necessity in sports most of the time (but don't overdo it als0) A frame before and a frame after can make a big difference. Just burst away when you see the action! Anw, no "fun photos" for today as I will be talking about soccer again tmr! But not about the action~ Dun get it? Just wait for the next post!