Capturing Peak Action in covering sports

Many of you have asked to share my secrets in capturing peak sports action photos you see in newspaper and magazines. One thing, I try to stop the action using a shutter speed of no less that 1/500 second and preferable 1/100 second or higher.

Getting the shot at the peak action requires split second timing, practice and keeping your finger pressed on the shutter button. The best stop action shots have sharp focus and the ball in the frame.

Another success in shooting sports requires a photographer to use long telephoto lenses in the ranges of 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, 500mm and longer. These lenses allow a photographer to use low f-stops at either 2.8 or f 4.0. This not only allows me to blur out the backgrounds, but I’m able to use higher shutter speeds to capture the ball in mid air. Another important reason is that the viewers’ eyes automatically goes to the subject and not wonder around the photo. Always crop your photographs to add impact and eye stopping power to them.

Another helpful hint is you also need to process knowledge of the sport you are shooting so you can anticipate the action.

Here's a few that might show you want I'm writing about.