Hi All
An the eve of my 2 day event trip to Deer Park Country Club as one of 2 commissioned photographers at a PGA golf tournament, I thought this would be a good time to go through some do's and don'ts for sports photography. One of the main things is to study the sport. Although I have been working around Edinburgh and throughout Scotland as a professional freelance event photographer, I am also a sports fan and as a previous track athlete, tennis player and golfer, I have a good idea about these particular sports. Like a lot of guys, I am also a big football fan. There is no substitute for knowledge when it comes to the sports photographer and if you don't have it, them acquire it, watch clips, read up on the sports etc. It would be difficult for a non golfer to photograph the sport for instance. You need to know where to stand, when not to click the shutter etc. One of the main issues in sport is to be able to anticipate what is going to happen next and have your camera move to that position in advance, this is particularly relevant in football and rugby photography. Focus on the crowd sometimes, or the players celebrating, or an off the ball incident - don't just relax after you have caught the goal in football. My best selling images have not been goals or dramatic action shots, they have been celebration shots - see attached. Take most sports at a fairly fast shutter speed ie at least 1/800, unless you want to create motion through an intentional blur, then move the camera smoothly in line with the subject using a slower shutter speed - this is particularly useful in motor racing. Try and get some close ups of the participants faces if your lens is long enough, emotion is a key aspect of sports photography.
More tips for the professional sports photographer later, but for the moment, here is the final one - enjoy the day.
Kind Regards
Colin wright
www.edinburghphotographer.com
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
Hi Everyone
Just back my holidays from the Isle of Mull. As a professional photographer operating in and around Scotland, it is always a treat to have a vacation in Scotland. As a landscape and infrared photographer, Scotland is one of the best locations in the world to visit and this time I also had the weather on my side. As I was with my family, the opportunities for photography were pretty limited, along with the potential to visit a variety of locations, but I manged some good images, which I will be able to include in my art portfolio for future sales. When most people go on holiday, they are encouraged to forget their job for a bit and certainly the lack of email and internet was good for my soul. However, it is a bit different for freelance photographers in Scotland, who are always on the lookout to add to their landscape portfolio and as we all love our job, it is no hardship to continue taking photos on holiday. I tend to travel light on vacation, not using heavy gear and I don't get obsessed, as my kids really do come fist when I am on holiday, but I have a whole batch of infrared photos to work on. I also must be one of the only professional photographers who exclusively photographs their children in infrared - I think this is maybe worth a book sometime. Anyway I have a masters golf tournament to photograph next week at Deer Park Country Club, Livingston, near Edinburgh, very much looking forward to the photoshoot next week, also more supercars and some wedding photography in East Lothian.
Anyway, until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
Colin Wright Photography
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Hi Everyone
As a professional event photographer working in and around Edinburgh and throughout the UK, this is a busy time of year, with sport, gala days and all sorts of events taking place. While I seldom have any time these days to just pop along and take photos for fun at the weekend, event photography was a great way to start and I urge all amateur photographers to get themselves along to a local event as it is ideal practice. Often these events can be attended free of charge, or if its a local junior football team, you can offer to give them photos for a priority position at the games. Airshows are great events to attend with all sots of opportunities. This was how I got a foothold in local newspaper photography in Edinburgh and Scotland, I was approached at a rugby event by a newspaper photography who asked me to contact them with my portfolio. As I had been attending events for a few years, I had a good varied portfolio which is ideal for the type of photography required by newspapers. Working for the press also enabled me to raise my profile locally and I was approached for private interior and wedding commissions. This type of marketing is invaluable, even in these days of social media. I do appreciate it is a bit more difficult nowadays with the surge in digital photography and there are probably more rules in relation to the taking of photographs, but its still worth a try and a great way to gain valuable experience and to experiment and find your photographic niche.
So out you get photographing, there is plenty on.
Anyway, until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Hi Everyone
Just finished an intensive 2 day photoshoot at a conference for Connect Gov at various locations in Edinburgh. Sometimes as a professional photographer operating around cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee and other locations in Scotland and the North of England, one of the most difficult things can be getting to the location early with all your gear, parking etc. These can be the things that break your back and this conference also had an 8.15am start and went on until 10pm at night, within various locations throughout Edinburgh. This is all part of the job and my aim in this short blog is not to moan about it, but to delve into the wonder of the human body and its endless capabilities. I love taking photographs and in these situations I seldom feel tired during the photoshoots and seem to find the energy to keep going with enthusiasm, often with very little sleep and lots of physical work too. It never fails to amaze me how as humans we can find energy easily for the things we love. I turned professional a bit later in my life and you would think this would make it more difficult, especially working as a professional photographer in and around a city like Edinburgh where you can never park, however I can give any of the youngsters a run for their money. Ask me to work long hours in an office without much sleep, sitting at a desk, well that's a different story. Attach is a photo from the Connect Gov conference.
Anyway, until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Hi Everyone
As a professional freelance event photographer working in and around Edinburgh and throughout Scotland, every now and again, you get to do a commission and when you can really identify with the project. Earlier last week, I had one of these commissions at Musselburgh Grammar School, who were having their first Sports Awards Ceremony for the coaches and children. I was well impressed with the overall organisation and the enthusiasm shown by the staff, particularly the PE Dept at the school. The event had some impressive guests, including the main invited speaker Kieron Achara, basketball star. It goes to show you that its not all about funding and all it takes is a few enthusiastic people to make things happen. Positive attitude and enthusiasm cant be bought and all our schools throughout Scotland should look at successful projects like this and try to replicate their success. Well done to all and best of luck for future events.
Kind Regards
Colin
Colin Wright Photography
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com