Lens Extender

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Unique Photos

The Interesting

If you take enough sports photos, you'll definitely capture a few that are very interesting.  Some of them will be on the field of play.  Others will be indirectly related to the action.  Theses are my favorites during 2011.

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - The Team

The Team Photo

Never forget to capture the staged photo of the team when it's appropriate.  When the final game of a tournament is played make sure to get a photo of that winning team.  If you have time to set the team up on the field of play with a non-distracting background, all the better.  

I like this photo below because this team clearly won something significant (see the plague and the #1 pose).  The photo was shot on the soccer pitch.  And the only background that's visible is the partly cloudy sky along with the singular set of lights.

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Funny

The Silly Photos

There's a funny moment before, during or after just about every sporting event.  Silliness can come from players, coaches and fans.  Be prepared to capture "silly" when "silly" happens.

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Effort

Maximum Effort

There's nothing like capturing athletes exerting extreme effort at their sport.  Intensity is one of those sports qualities that's often observable in a photo.

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Fouls

The Fouls

The only way to capture fouls and spills is to shoot early and shoot often.  Soccer is a very good sport for getting the trip, the fall, the push, the tug, and the collision.

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Spectators

The spectators

At most sporting events there are opportunities to capture shots of some of the spectators.  Coaches, bench players, and fans are all fair game.

 

A coach

 

A parent

 

A photographer

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Goal Keepers

The Keepers

When photographing soccer, action shots of the goal keeper are particularly easy to capture.  When the ball is in or near the box, just focus on the keeper.  Keeper action will soon follow.

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Air Time

The Flyers

Capturing athletes catching some air time always produces engaging photos.  Most sports contain moments when athletes leave their feet.  Be prepared to fire away to capture this action.

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Faces

The Facial Expressions

I've always said that facial expressions are golden.  The more you can get them in your action shots, the better your action shots will become.

 

My head just murdered that ball

 

Oomph

 

Squish

 

Oooh.  This is gonna hurt.

 

Hurry up and get over here

 

I can pass with my eyes closed

 

I know there's a ball up there somewhere

My Favorite Sports Photos of 2011 - Celebrate

The Celebrations

I've often advised to continue shooting after the action occurs. The celebrations can offer as much photographic opportunities as the actual action.  

Get fired up!

 

Hold me back.  I might score again.

 

Yeah, I'm number one!

 

The bernie