Photography for Shredders Top Tips for that great shot
Be creative. Try out interesting angles. For example, when taking jib shots park yourself near the end of a rail to get some crazy perspective. Don't assume the best shot is at your own eye level: try getting really low on the ground, or climbing up a hill to shoot from above.
Don’t try to copy other people’s photos. By all means, look through magazines and use them for inspiration, but bring your own ‘flavour’ to your shots.
For action, communicate with the riders you’re shooting. Talk to them beforehand, and find out which jump/rail they are going to hit, what trick they plan on attempting, and which direction they will be facing. Knowing what to expect will make your job a lot easier when capturing the shot. Most importantly, use your own experience as a snowboarder to know where to be. Don’t get in the way of others and be sensible about getting in on the action. Too close can mean trouble for you and the rider. If you really want a close-in shot, try moving in and shooting behind the rider after they pass you, instead of shooting the rider as he or she comes at you.
Your biggest problem will be the white snow all around you. Because the snow is so bright it messes with your camera, fooling the light meter into messing up the automatic settings. Shooting on Auto may leave your photos too dark, or with a bluish colour, because the camera is attempting to take away light that isn’t there. This is where manual controls come in. My recommendation is to set your camera as if it is even brighter outside than it is. + ½ or 1 stop on your exposure setting should do the trick. Until you have a better feel for your particular camera, try taking shots at three or four different exposures until you have a better feel for this. For action shots, try shooting the park feature without a rider in the shot first to experiment with exposure settings.
Remember composition! Think about how to arrange the subject versus the background. Positioning the rider in the dead centre of the shot is boring, so get creative. Minimise clutter in the shot, and think about how to use colour contrast or similar ‘monochrome’ colours in your shot. If you're shooting an action shot, make sure to think about the color of the rider's outfit and equipment. It doesn't work to photograph a rider in white against the snow or a rider in dark colours against a pine forest.
Always show some of the ground in the shot to create a sense of height/distance. Without a point of reference, a rider will seem as if he or she is just floating around in space. Frame the shot. To emphasize how high a rider is in the air, shoot from a lower position, or try a wider angled shot.
It's best to use the viewfinder instead of the LCD display wherever possible.(when using an SLR the viewfinder is your only option). It's difficult to get a good shot with the camera held out in front of you, and glare from the sun on the snow will make it worse. It's best to get your eye up to the viewfinder and frame the shot with a clear view.
Decide what ‘style’ you want to go for. Nice moody scenic shots of the landscape and those around you, or some action packed park style. Don’t delete anything until you get home, even if you think it looks terrible. Your LCD screen does not show the shot well enough to determine whether or not it's good. Keep in mind that some simple cropping may get rid of that skier who fell at the side, or adjust the composition. Sometimes the best pictures don’t look great on the LCD screen. Get out there and get shooting. Learn from the good and bad shots and learn what works and what doesn’t. Don't be afraid to show up at the park or a competition and just start taking pictures, even if you don't know anyone. Also, don’t get stuck on taking just snow subjects; take photos of everything around you. With a digital camera, you can shoot as much as you want and just delete the crappy photos. Try different shutter speeds, night shots, day shots, and remember there are no rules (not even the ones I just gave), so be creative, and most of all, have fun.
Take a class. If you look in your area there is bound to be one you can sign up for. Photography is a very technical discipline, but even a short course can open your eyes to new techniques and improve your photos ten-fold. Instead of getting lucky with one good shot at the end of the day you will end up with quite a few excellent shots you are proud of. Looking for some inspiration? Check out portfolios from these awesome female snowboard photographers: Starting Out - Purchasing a CameraWhatever your intentions: wannabe pro photographer or happy snap specialist you need to have the correct tools for your trade. So, you are going to need a decent camera. But don’t fret, it’s not the end of the world if you can’t afford an SLR, most of these tips can apply to photography with your compact camera as well. SLR’s An SLR (especially digital) provides endless possibilities as far as manual control is concerned, which can be useful when shooting at the snow.
Compact CamerasPros and Cons
Dispelling the megapixel myth – The more pixels there are the clearer it will be when you enlarge your latest masterpiece. However, don’t get caught up in the idea that bigger is always better! A 5-6 mega pixel camera will allow a good sized enlargement - 10" x 12" or slightly bigger. Think about how big you plan to print when you are purchasing the camera, or if you plan to print at all. Depending on your plans, a lower megapixel camera might be perfect for your needs, and more in your budget, or you might want to spend the extra money on other features, such as zoom capabilities. What do you think? Let us know: |
