How to photograph a high school football game like a professional.?

Question

I have to take photos for my Journalism class tomorrow night at the home football game. What're some tips on shooting? Definitely want to get some of our band members sitting in the stands, fans, and the game. But I feel like I'm missing something?

Answer 1

I hope you have a telephoto lens as well as the camera.  

All the suggestions above were good, but keep in mind you should know the sport as well.  Best images are taken when you can anticipate the action.  If you have a field pass, make sure you know where to stand.  Anything further than 20 yards away from the action will not be good, as you want to fill the frame as much as possible.  

Most high school games will not be lit as well as professional ones, so make sure you do some practice shots before the game begins under the same lighting conditions and covering the same areas of the field to make sure your camera will be able to give proper exposure (anything under 1/250 will be blurry).  By setting the D40 to shutter speed priority, you will be able to hopefully find an ISO that will accommodate 1/250 (or faster) to give proper exposure.  Again, by doing test images and checking on your preview screen, you should be able to tell if they will come out well.

Crowd shots will best be taken when the action is at its peak, so you can't take shots of the action and the crowd at the same time.  

Band pictures are easy as they band usually plays when nothing is happening on the field.

You may  have an opportunity to take pictures of the players and coaches on the bench and sidelines.  You can get some excellent emotional moments during those times, but make sure you don't get in the way as some people get very agitated, especially if events are going well (these are some of the best shots by the way).

Don't get carried away by trying to photograph touchdowns.  They are often boring and don't tell much of a story.

Answer 2

Well, since most pros use fast telephoto lenses, unless you have a 400 mm f/2.8 or 600 mm f/4 lens and the stadium is lit for television broadcast, you may not "catch" the action with out a lot of blur.

Shooting the band and others in the stadium you can use your flash.

On the field, you will have to shoot using the highest ISO film you can find (Kodak makes a 3200 ISO film) or if digital, set your ISO to 3200 and shoot with your lens wide open.  Shooting at the peak of action will reduce blur to an acceptable level.

Answer 3

like a professional.?

what does that mean?

like someone that has trained or been to photography school and has the skills to make professional images

use a monopod and get close

Po

Answer 4

GET YOURSELF A CANNON. IT'S THE CAMERA USED MOST IN ALL OF SPORTS.

Answer 5

Use a telephoto lens, do some shots focusing on just people's faces, catch people when they're not paying attention to you.  Slow shutter speeds=blurry pictures, 1/250 or higher, or panning method; see where the person is starting at, anticipate the line of travel they are following, and follow them with your lens, start panning before you take the shot, and follow through after the photo was taken.  Try getting a VERY low angle on important parts of the game, i.e. a touchdown, the low angle will give a sense of accomplishment.  Whether there is stadium lighting, or sunlight, do NOT take a shot of someone backlit, unless you want a silhouette, which can be nice, too, if that's what you were going for!!! LOL  Hope this helps.  Oh, yeah, kids in public with food can make great candid shots, as close up as possible, and without them looking at the camera, or maybe a small boy falling asleep in their parents lap....