This article is going to be a little different than a lot of the ones I like to read about sports photography. Most provide very helpful advice on what camera settings work best for different types of shots. I have read others that provide great insight on how to take better sports action photos. These are all very informative. But how do you know if you have a great action shot? I think it would be very interesting to find out what different photographers are looking for in a great action sports photo. So that’s what this article will address. What’s the difference between a good action shot and a great one? Here are three things I look for in making that distinction. If any of these three elements are captured, you have the makings of an impressive shot. Get two of the three, and there’s an excellent chance you’ve taken a photo that will always be remembered.
Element #1: Intense Focus and Concentration. Being able to capture the expression on athletes’ faces when they are totally in the zone can really set a photograph apart. It’s one of those qualities in a shot that you can’t necessarily plan for, but you know when you see it. This is what I mean. One tennis player that I really enjoy watching is Roger Federer. If you ever want to see what total concentration looks like when a tennis player at the top of his game is executing his deadliest shot, just Google “Roger Federer Backhand.” His eyes are focused on the ball like a pair of lasers as he prepares to hit the ball. I’m convinced that if someone blew an air horn right next to Federer’s ear, he wouldn’t even hear it as he nails another backhand winner. There are many examples in other sports as well. So, without a doubt, if an athlete’s focus and concentration can be captured in a photo, it can become a very special shot.
Element #2: raw emotion. If focus and concentration can give a photograph a certain edge, sheer emotion brings it to life. I have seen many iconic sporting moments on television. And years, even decades later, nothing can bring me back to that moment better than a photo that has captured the emotion in that instant. One of the best examples I can think of is Brandi Chastain’s shot after she scored the winning penalty to beat China in the 1999 Soccer Women’s World Cup. Again, you can Google it to see what I’m looking for. I mean. Caught in the moment, Chastain ripped off her tank top to reveal her sports bra and knelt in celebration. The look on her face says it all, but that’s only half the story. One of the widest shots of her shows her teammates running across the field to join her in that celebration. That was pure, unadulterated joy, and I can’t imagine anything giving a sports photographer more satisfaction than capturing that for eternity.
Element #3: The human body operating at its best. Let’s face it, the human body is an amazing machine. And when you can capture it in a photo running at full power, it’s really amazing. It doesn’t really matter what sport the athlete plays, but my favorites to watch in this field are individual Olympic sports. One athlete that I really enjoyed watching at the Rio Olympics was Simone Biles. She dominated the competition on her way to winning the all-around gold medal. There were times when I thought she was going to jump out of the gym. There are dozens of standout photos (yes, that’s right. Google “Simone Biles”) showing her twisting and turning in ways the human body isn’t supposed to. And the ease with which Biles seems to do it is equally impressive.
Those are three elements that I think are key to a great sports action photo: intense focus, raw emotion, and the human body working at its best. Capturing one of those items will separate your shot from the rest. Pinning two of them would be a clear game changer. What are some of your favorite action sports photos? I would like to hear from you and get your perspective. In the meantime, good luck in your endeavors.