hi everyone....im new to this site....im very much into sports photography...just wondering if there are any photographers out there into it too....would love to share ideas and maybe share some tips! thanks

Hi Leni, I started sports photography last year and I'm really enjoying it. I'm part of the Ateneo Sports Shooters, an informal groupig of students and alumni who cover the games during the UAAP season. I also had the chance to shoot the SEA Games last year and also have done motorsports like the AF3 and 2 Tough Truck challenges.
Let's share those tips!

Dave Black (http://www.daveblackphotography.com/) has alot of good insights and tips for Sports Photography.

hi tj! nice to meet you! i was also at the af3 race and the sea games!!!! thanks for the link....is the ateneo sports shooters an exclusive group? maybe there's a possiblity to join you guys in one of the uaap games..... :) i got into serious sports photography through beach volleyball....i just love it....keep in touch!

hi everyone....im new to this site....im very much into sports photography...just wondering if there are any photographers out there into it too....would love to share ideas and maybe share some tips! thanks

One of our members, Vic Icasas, has the reputation of being one of the country's better sports photographers. I hope Vic reads this message and gives us some of his sports tips under a new thread.

I am into Sports photography as well. I shoot for the UAAP basketball games (www.uaapgames.com), I always try to shoot at f2.8-3.2 to get fast enough shutter speeds to stop action around 1/320 more or less. No flash of course.

These photos won in the Canon contest:

3rd place Courtside Action
http://static.flickr.com/27/48343420_dec736040c_o.jpg

1st place Endgame Emotions
http://static.flickr.com/39/85176483_0f419c09f7_o.jpg

Here's a collection of my favorites last season: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ditoy_eagle/sets/1051790/

I also shoot Flagfootball (www.pffl.ph), some photos I like:
http://static.flickr.com/55/137015054_c5cb169798_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/55/137006540_5548ebe652_o.jpg

My photo sets are posted in my flicker page, link in my signature below.

I'm a beginner in photography too and I'm enjoying sports photography so far... Tried shooting soccer and frisbee already, very enjoyable. Looking forward to a few UAAP games coming in July...

TJ, I'm a student at the Ateneo, how'd you guys organize yourselves as Ateneo Sports Shooters? :)

Any tips on improving focus? Some have told me to prefocus but there doesn't seem to be a spot to prefocus on since the athletes are always moving? Or should I just use a higher aperture to increase DOF? (I shoot outdoors most of the time anyway so low light should not be a problem)

^^^ Hey Fidel! :D Cool you're here too! :)

Of course to make things easier, I use AF AI Servo and the center focus point for tracking moving subjects most of the time. I change focus point when the subject is not moving.

hi ditoy! nice to meet you....great shots!!!! any chance some of us can tag along for uaap games? :)
i shoot mostly beach volleyball but got the chance to do other sports.....havent tried bastketball though....i've got some photos on my site
http://lenillapitan.multiply.com

hi again ditoy....checked out your flicker site.....are you the husband of iya? :)

Thanks for the tip ditoy, been using one-shot for the longest time since it gives me focus confirmation amidst all the "chaos", will try your technique next time. By the way, nice photos you've got of the UAAP basketball games, sweet. :)

Hey Marton, didn't know you were into photography too, haha. See you around! :D

TJ, I'm a student at the Ateneo, how'd you guys organize yourselves as Ateneo Sports Shooters? :)

I few alums were already shooting UAAP basketball games but the group was put together with the main objective of equally covering all the other sports during the UAAP season (swimming, tabel tennis, volleyball, fencing, soccer, etc.) aside from the ever-popular basketball.
The group is more than a year old and we're still setting it up to be a proper organization. But in the meantime, just keep on shooting all the sports you can. That'll be the best form of practice. Get a schedule from the University Athletics Office and cover the games during your free time.
A few things I picked up from last season: aside from the action, watch the crowd since there are a lot of great photo ops as well. Team shots at the bench, dugout, etc also complete the story of each game.
I'm sure Ditoy or Vic Icasas can share tips about shooting indoor venues such as the Blue Eagle Gym or Araneta Coliseum (but this venue needs a permit for you to shoot by the sidelines).
For baseball at Rizal, a long lens is required for capturing all the action throughout the field.
Voleyball last season was at UP's CHK were the lighting was terrible! Highs ISO's and 1.8 lenses were always preferred. This season, it's supposed to be at the BEG.
Fencing I think will also be at the BEG.
A good oppotunity as a student is to take the teams while they practice.
It's much harder for us working types. We have to take a leave on weekdays or shoot only on weekends!

does anyone know what AIPS NO. stands for? i went to and FIVB tournament recently and they were asking me for an AIPS card to be given a press pass.....thanks!

Yes Leni, Iya is my wife. I think I met you before, Ian Monsod is my partner at Sound Crew recording studio. We used to operate at Ian's garage attic in Dasma. :)

"Yes Leni, Iya is my wife. I think I met you before, Ian Monsod is my partner at Sound Crew recording studio. We used to operate at Ian's garage attic in Dasma"

yeah!!!! i remember you ditoy! great to see you here! know iya from way back when she was still with charlotte...i was with identity.....see ya!

Thanks for the tips TJ, will visit the Athletics Office soon, they might have something already even if the season has not yet started. Hope the group gets organized formally, sounds like a good one.

indentity? as in identity crisis? homaygas! indentity crisis and charlotte rouse (tama ba spelling?), i'm back in high school!!!

len, nice vball shots! especially those of leila barros. :D

"Yes Leni, Iya is my wife. I think I met you before, Ian Monsod is my partner at Sound Crew recording studio. We used to operate at Ian's garage attic in Dasma"

yeah!!!! i remember you ditoy! great to see you here! know iya from way back when she was still with charlotte...i was with identity.....see ya!

indentity? as in identity crisis? homaygas! indentity crisis and charlotte rouse (tama ba spelling?), i'm back in high school!!!

len, nice vball shots! especially those of leila barros. :D

yep....identity crisis....thanks for the nice comment miguel....bout the photos:)

But in the meantime, just keep on shooting all the sports you can. That'll be the best form of practice. Get a schedule from the University Athletics Office and cover the games during your free time.


Is it only basketball that they're strict about needing a permit? Otherwise, anyone can shoot? Would the schedule be available by now? It would be great to shoot other sports. I was able to shoot basketball once during the Ateneo Alumni Tournament. I usually shoot show jumping. Just started late last year, in time for the World Cup and SEAGames but they're off-season now. :)

I've shot baseball, soccer, volleyball and basketball (Blue Eagle Gym) without a permit. You pretty much go as a spectator. :)
They may have the schedule by now since the UAAP season starts in July. I'll let you know if I get more information.
I was planning to shoot the Equestrian events for the SEAGames in Alabang Country Club, but couldn't squeeze it into my schedule.

@TJ

That would be great. Thanks! :)

Made it a point to shoot show jumping last SEAGames. Once in a lifetime chance... In all my years riding, never did we have shows of such caliber on homeground. :)

[quote=tj_parpan]I've shot baseball, soccer, volleyball and basketball (Blue Eagle Gym) without a permit. You pretty much go as a spectator. :)

yeah...i agree with tj....sometimes its much easier to just go as a spectator than having to go through all the hastle of submitting all the required documents just to get a permit or press pass.....

the trick is really how to sneak in a dslr and zoom lens inside a stadium:Grin:....but dont fret.....most security guards (no offense) are #@$"*^.... fill in the blanks....

i see the ateneo sports shooters are representated here already. i'm also part of the group. last season i shot some basketball, some football, and some volleyball. this season i hope to get more sports in the mix.

I have a few sports collection too:

http://static.flickr.com/15/68322261_acc0a7ec01.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/6/68321822_8fb2773bb3.jpg

Beach Volleyball:
http://static.flickr.com/18/69701038_067018d23b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/9/68687711_aad8c14414.jpg

@Kieron

What lens did you use for those shots, especially football? :)

Probably a Canon 70-200L f/2.8 IS?

@Kieron

What lens did you use for those shots, especially football? :)

Canon EF 70-200 2.8L IS for all the shots. Some I use with EF 2x.

Canon EF 70-200 2.8L IS for all the shots. Some I use with EF 2x.

Oh, ok! Thought you used a longer lens... :)

great shots kieron!!!

Oh, ok! Thought you used a longer lens... :)

How I wish I have 300 2.8L IS though. Photographers from thailand and vietnam have been using 300mm/400mm. All I can afford is the 70-200+2x combo. :)

leni: Thank you very much! :)

Canon EF 70-200 2.8L IS for all the shots. Some I use with EF 2x.

At least the men's games were during the day. The women's football games were mostyl/always at night or during the late afternoons. I couldn't use a 2x with the 70-200 2.8 if I wanted to!

At least the men's games were during the day. The women's football games were mostyl/always at night or during the late afternoons. I couldn't use a 2x with the 70-200 2.8 if I wanted to!

The men's game are played late in the afternoon. Because RP team games are played on the main event (2nd game of the day). I just boost up ISO.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5918/jcintal2sb.jpg

one of my most decent shots from yesterday's Ateneo Blue Eagles vs Ateneo Legends... ang galing pa rin talaga ni LA Tenorio!

Nice shot sir Aly. Hope that happens a lot this season. ;) 24-70?

oo nga eh... sayang wala lang si japeth.

nope... i used the 70-200 last night. When I used the 24-70, i was forced to stay near the basket. The problem in that area is that the shadows in the face and body of the players are so harsh so ang papangit ng shots

Does a lens with an IS or VR help when shooting action sports?Also,is there a learning center here where they teach sports photography?
THANKS.

Michael Y.

A learning center? Nope.. there isnt such a thing. most if not all, learn on the job.