Over the last 2 weeks I’ve been shooting sports events in dark stadiums. First was a fast moving basketball game and second a gymnastics session. Both are fast moving and require you to freeze the action. Here are tips for shooting indoor action sports.
Increase ISO to achieve fast shutter speeds
Tip 1. Increase ISO to Achieve Fast Shutter Speeds
The one thing you can’t get wrong when you are shooting indoor action sports is focus. To achieve this you are going to need fast shutter speeds. Given that most indoor facilities are not very well lit, tip number 1 is to be prepared to shoot at high ISO. The images in this post were shot at ISO2000 to ensure I had fast enough shutter speeds to freeze the action.
Tip 2. Look for Plain Backgrounds
The images in this post were shot at a local gymnastics club. It was difficult to shoot with a background which didn’t take the viewers attention away from the subject, as you’ll see in some of the images in this post.
Look for plain backgrounds so all the attention is on your subject
Tip 2 is to look for opportunities to shoot with plain backgrounds. To make this image I went upstairs to a viewing area and shot down towards the gymnast. By doing this I was able to use the plain color of the gymnastics floor as my background, allowing the subject to really stand out in these images.
Capturing colors can add interest to your images
Tip 3. Make Use of the Color in Your Surroundings
While the background in a gym environment is potentially distracting, it is also very colorful. I made a point of making some images which accentuated the colorful and busy environment. Keep an eye on the colors around you to see if you can create different images.
Look for moments without fast moving action
Tip 4. Look for Moments Without Fast Moving Action
Some of the strongest images from this shoot did not involve fast moving action. We were able to create some images showing the strength, flexibility and balance of gymnastics without action. Here is an example showing the gymnast stretching. Tip 4 is to look for moments without fast moving action.
I hope these tips for shooting indoor action sports are useful for you. To read about related issues please see these earlier posts
Thanks for reading tips for shooting indoor action sports. Happy shooting.