How To Take Gymnastics Pictures - Part I
So you're interested in taking pictures of gymnastics, and you would
like to know how? Well, don't. Gymnastics is about motion.
Understanding gymnastics from a picture is like understanding a movie
from a movie still; it really doesn't capture the essence of the thing.
There. Aren't you glad I talked you down from wanting to take gymnastics pictures? Me too.
It's good to take care of these things so that they --
You're still here? Okay, if you
really
want to take gymnastics pictures you have to understand that you can't.
You see, even though I think gymnastics would be much better outside,
it's an indoor sport, but you can't use a flash because it could throw
the gymnasts off. Plus, the idea of using a common camera flash in a
stadium is like trying to light up a house with static electricity. Not
too bright.
So you have to be close to the action to catch enough light. So you
contact the proper authorities for the facility in advance to request a
media pass. But you have to be representing media and what media is
going to let you represent them when you don't have any experience?
You go up in the stands with the rest of the audience, except that you
have one of those ginormous head-clunking lenses that the instruction
booklet says should have its own tripod, and you figure you don't need
one. You'll just use the shoulder of the person in front of you.
Good luck. Because you'll be lucky to be able to swing the lens around
to follow the action without batting down everyone in clobbering range.
Plus, if you look at the fine print on your ticket stub or posted in
the lobby, you will find that people generally can't bring big
equipment into stadiums.
Because this sport is all about motion and you are trying to stop it,
you could speed up your shutter to some micro-fraction of a second. But
the faster the shutter, the darker the picture.
Even if you figure out a good camera, a good spot, and a good
understanding of what works -- the balance between light and speed, be
prepared for odd stuff. See the pictures above.
(to be continued)
