Help starting out in action photography?
Ok, first off I have the basic Nikon D40 starter kit. I would like to do some Action Sports photography (bmx, skateboarding ect) as a hobby and maybe some freelancing in the future. Id like to be a photographer for a magazine company such as Transworld or Dig BMX, but I dont even know where to start besides the park or street taking pictures of locals working on my skills and what not. A photographer talked at my schools career day my senior year and he said that photography schools arent really needed so I dont know how I feel about schooling. I need all the tips and hints possible, what kind of lens should I get and along with other accesories. How do I get my photos out there, Im not looking for pay, I just want to fallow a passion and see where it takes me.
Thanks. 🙂 (Sorry for the randomness in my structure of typing, running on no sleep haha)
I think that you should photograph your friend the skateboarder, or the bmx’er so that you have someone that feels comfortable while you take their pictures. WHY?? So that you get a hang of what pictures you like taking, I know they might look weird because they will all be of the same person, but once you get down what style you have and what kinds of pictures you like taking, then you can start meeting other people at the skate park and taking their pictures and start building your portfolio. Try using the receding lines of the ledges and rails in order to make a little bit more interesting pictures. Also, get down and take pictures from the ground looking up so you will have different colors on your pictures (sky, etc) and it will look like whoever is doing the trick is flying. There are a couple of other tricks, for example try to set the camera so that you have a semi slow shutter speed -1/30 or 1/40 (and isn’t overexposed) and follow your subject as it moves – so that the picture has this effect: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/images/2008/02/20/nyc_taxi_3.jpg
Anyway…most of all, have fun! See you later!!
It sounds like you know the answer to your question. Start on the street or in the park taking pictures of locals. Get to know them and practice when they practice. If you start photographing at events, always check first to make sure you are not intruding on a paid event photographer … you will not win friends if you are.
Look at the photographers who shoot for these publications; go to their websites and blogs. Check out SportsShooter.com … there are a good many BMX and skateboard photographers on there. They will often talk about their equipment, accessories, etc., on their blogs.
References :
http://www.sportsshooter.com
I think that you should photograph your friend the skateboarder, or the bmx’er so that you have someone that feels comfortable while you take their pictures. WHY?? So that you get a hang of what pictures you like taking, I know they might look weird because they will all be of the same person, but once you get down what style you have and what kinds of pictures you like taking, then you can start meeting other people at the skate park and taking their pictures and start building your portfolio. Try using the receding lines of the ledges and rails in order to make a little bit more interesting pictures. Also, get down and take pictures from the ground looking up so you will have different colors on your pictures (sky, etc) and it will look like whoever is doing the trick is flying. There are a couple of other tricks, for example try to set the camera so that you have a semi slow shutter speed -1/30 or 1/40 (and isn’t overexposed) and follow your subject as it moves – so that the picture has this effect: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/images/2008/02/20/nyc_taxi_3.jpg
Anyway…most of all, have fun! See you later!!
References :