The Super Bowl is far and away the biggest, annual U.S. sporting event. As such, it is also a huge day for the media. Professional camera men and women from various news outlets are in attendance to capture the most memorable moments of the game. For these pros, the task is a challenge; for the lucky amateurs that land sideline privilege, it is also a chance to learn. Among the latter this year, was Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant.
Our sideline photographer @KDTrey5 filed these photos from #SB50. https://t.co/gwUDBKJgpl pic.twitter.com/QqvjBgOz3N
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) February 8, 2016
Durant, a professional basketball player, is typically known for his disdain for the media. However, the Player’s Tribune granted him the opportunity to become a credentialed member for the afternoon so he could put his amateur photography skills to the test. Armed with a Canon 7D and a press pass, Durant entered Levi’s Stadium with purpose. He later detailed his experience, offering a few grains of advice to aspiring sports photographers:
“The first thing is: you have to keep your wits about you. It’s a safety thing, man. As you’re looking for good pictures, and scoping things out through your lens, you have to be aware of the action on the field. You can’t have Cam Newton take you out into the Gatorade cooler because you were busy taking a picture of the Broncos mascot.”
This issue came up for me in a recent shoot. While filming the Portland Wheel Blazers (Portland’s wheelchair basketball team) at the Bridge City Classic, it behooved me to keep an eye on the action. I often positioned myself at corner baseline to get shots of the coach and the bench. Problem being that when the ball is live (the best time to capture reactions of players watching the game), I was also at risk of being struck by a players that could not turn their chairs to avoid me if need be. To protect myself and the gear, I kept both eyes open so I could see the action in my peripheral vision. I also found it helpful to be cognizant of where my subjects were looking, as it was a reasonable gauge of how close the action was to me.
Durant went on to note that, when focused on game action, anticipation of movement can make your job less difficult. This tip is great for videographers that have little experience (as I did) shooting dynamic action. Wide shots with a fixed camera serve a purpose, but at some point, you’re going to want to follow the play:
“One trick I was using to make it easier on myself: I’d predict if it was going to be a run or a pass and then focus in on just one player for an entire play.”
For me, this meant determining who the best ball-handlers were, who the best shooters were, and who had an advantageous defensive matchup. It also meant learning nuances of the sport rather quickly, as I was mostly unfamiliar with wheelchair basketball prior to shooting. Advice from me to you: talk to people that know their stuff. Do not be afraid to ask about what you are watching so that you can best frame what you are seeing.
Staying safe and keeping up with fast-paced movement are arguably the most important non-technical aspects of shooting a sporting event, so I found Durant’s advice retroactively comforting. His experience—albeit on a much larger scale—mirrored my own, and he came away with some pointers I had not thought to put into words. I would recommend keeping these suggestions in mind when and if you find yourself in a similar situation.
Can you think of a time when you had to adjust your approach for an action packed environment? What did you learn from your experience?
Oh, David. I went to a Blazer game with my mother and her boyfriend a few years back. I was so excited because we had courtside tickets for this game, and I was tired of being in the stuffy box seats. Don’t get me wrong, they were luxurious, but too comfortable for live basketball games. I wanted action, and that is just what I got. A flying-brown- leather-angry-rocket right into my chest. I still feel a certain way when I come across a Spalding. In those intense moments, you do have to pay attention because it can become dangerous really fast. Great suggestions on ways to stay safe!
Great post, thanks David. I’m curious how you feel about the photographers sitting on the baseline at NBA games? It always seems to me to be crazy dangerous, for both the players and the media members. I’m amazed a player’s career hasn’t been ended from tripping over someone while trying to make a save. I know the NBA needs media coverage to do what it does, but I just wonder if there needs to be quite so many of them sitting there. How long has that been the norm?
While filming for my winter term project I haven’t been in any danger, but I’ve had to stay alert in order not to miss the action. Filming a band with a single camera makes it difficult to capture detail shots because when you’re focusing on one instrument you’re neglecting the others. Maybe I’m shooting a guitar solo when a great drum fill kicks in — by the time I turn my camera the moment is gone.
After becoming more familiar with the music I was able to predict what would happen when. I knew that at minute one I should turn to the singer, at minute two toward the drums, and at minute three toward the guitar. Like you learning a particular play and directing your camera toward the relevant player, I was able to learn a particular song and direct my camera toward the relevant instrument.
Great tips, David. Yes, once, when I had an opportunity to film a girls basketball game, it was helpful to practice anticipating what was going to happen and where they were going. However, next time, I think what would be even more helpful for me is to bring (rent if I have to) a telephoto zoom lens. All I had was a 50mm prime–the only lens I owned at the time!