How I Shot That - Figure Skating Bullfighter

How I Shot That - Figure Skating Bullfighter

Sony 70-200 f4 OSS G: http://amzn.to/2F3YYR2
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

Back in the late summer of 2017, I was at an event called State Games of America (SGA).  This is an Olympic style of athletic competition open to competitors in all 50 states.  I found that SGA had a photography competition, and that they would give you all access to the sporting events.  You then get introduced to all sort of people all across the nation.

One of the most attended sports is figure skating.  I've been around this sport for a long time, nearly as long as I've known my wife (the coach in this sport).  She had 5 kids participating in various levels and events.  This kid, Daren, started with her and now lives on the east coast.  

But back to what I had to do in figuring out the event and getting the best possible photos of these participants.  I knew that my current lense wasn't going to be enough.  The lense I had been using for skating up till now was a 50mm f 1.8 OSS.  It is great for when the kids are pretty close.  But it makes for a lot of work down the line.  I needed to rent something nice.

I went to Lens Rentals .com and was able to reserve the 70-200mm f4 OSS G (probably should have gotten the f2.8 GM, but that was too much money for what I wanted at the time).  This along with my crop sensor a6000 would give me an effective focal length of 300mm at the farthest reach.  In other words, If I had to shoot photos all the way down at one corner of the rink, I could still fill most of the frame with the skater all the way down at the other end of the ice.  

When I first got to the rink, I had to get my media packet and find my places.  I wasn't going to photo 'everything' so I needed to get situated for when I was going to be there.  I quickly found one of the nicest things at this event, where these rinks usually have glass set up for hockey, they had places in the corners with the glass removed.  These were photographer hot spots!  But I needed to make sure I had access, it wasn't a reserved place.  There is a lot to be said for having presence in any job you are performing.  And that is what I did, didn't take up too much space, but when I moved, I made my moves seem precise and required. This way, other parents, or unauthorized Photographers wouldn't get in the way.  I must say, the other event authorized photogs knew how to find a close spot, but not get in the way.
 

The day I shot Darren (pictured above) was the 2nd day of competition.  These skaters at these levels were much faster.  To get the motion blur as reduced as possible, I had to get the shutter speed up to 1/800 a second.  The lighting was pretty good, but I still needed to go as high as ISO 2000 and my f-stop was as wide as it could be at f-4. 

Another way to prepare is to get some shots off during the warm up session.  I was able to get the group of skaters before their program in a few practice shots.  Thankfully, this let me know Darren jumps high.  I was able to keep the camera steady, and maybe move a little bit to account for the jump, but still get everything.  Thankfully, my camera can go as high as 11 frames a second, so getting him in front wasn't so hard.  I have many other photos of the man and my favorites from that event.  https://lifeexposure.smugmug.com/State-Games-of-America-2017/Favorite-of-SGA2017/

It really makes me want that lens.  I was, however, happy with renting it for now.

How I Shot That - Skating in Riedell Boots

How I Shot That - Skating in Riedell Boots

Similar Riedell Motion Boots - http://amzn.to/2CGzq6s
Shot with Sony 50mm f/1.8 - http://amzn.to/2FmZ82E
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr
Buy this photo here

Figure skating is in general a difficult sport to photograph.  You will have fast moving people travelling in a low light environment. If that isn't enough to make you think twice about shooting professionally, then the ice is going to mess with your light meter.  If you don't know better, then your meter will tell you there is enough light, when in fact, there isn't.

Product photography hasn't been what I was after, but I do like to get the details.  A few great photographers have always said, "Get your wides, the mediums, your close ups, and your details."  I find this to be great advise.  As a photographer, you need to be considering the entire canvas... then remove what you don't want (I think that goes against those 360 Virtual cameras, but I digress).  Figure skating and sports in general is no different.

This is an exercise in finding that detail shot.  It is also an exercise in finding out how to be different, or to stand out.  So often, I find photos online of figure skaters twirling, jumping, being tossed by a pairs partner and so forth.  But ask any skater what item they care about the most, and you will undoubtedly find it being their skates. I know, duh!  To underscore this, my wife has ornament upon ornament of ice skates for a Christmas tree.

That is what inspired me to get down low while at a high school figure skating team practice.  I wanted that product type of photo of one of the skater's skates.  Obviously, this was melding two types of photo styles: Product and Action.  Normal product photography gets everything in a controlled environment.  People get together to have lights just right, place the products ever so still, and make sure that the smoothest and most detailed photo possible could be made.

Action on an ice rink makes that impossible, unless you have rented the rink and no one else is skating.  Nonetheless, my goal was to have some movement.  I wanted that skate to show it was in use.  My plan was to wait by the coach near the boards.  Eventually one of these kids were going to come near by to talk to her.  

Let the waiting game start.

But while I was waiting, I needed to find what settings would work.  Usually, I photograph a skater at 1/500 or 1/750 a second.  While fast, even at this shutter speed, you can find motion blur with a figure skater.  My ISO was lowered from 1600 down to 1000 while increasing my aperture from 1.8 to 2.4. The 1.8 to 2.4 was needed so that I had a better depth of field.  Normally, with the 50mm on a figure skater, they are far enough that f1.8  isn't a problem.  Actually, normally, that lets in all that more light so the photo doesn't need to be higher than 1600 iso (it makes for a less grainy photo, compared to higher ISO numbers).  

I found I had the frame speed I needed at 350th a second.  Enough to freeze the photo of a slower moving skate of a subject talking to the coach.  I probably took about 10 shots trying to get this one that I liked the most.  The skater was stopped, but they had just barely put their right boot and blade on the ice.  You can tell this skate is used.  You can also tell it isn't damaged, so it is cared for.

Business of My Photography

New focus on my business of my photography.

Something I have had people inform me about is that my photography reminds them of product photography.  Not the original thought I had when pressing the shutter.

Youth Football Cleats
Shot with Sony 20mm F2.8 wide-angle http://amzn.to/2GFfmn9
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

But after time, I thought it over.  It wasn't easy, because I have dreams that take me far beyond product shots.  But dreams don't pay the bills.  And people that you want as clients (People with a huge sum of money) may want to see that what you do actually can pull some weight.

Charmant Hotel, Hotel .com gift card - http://amzn.to/2BMnAe0
Shot with Minolta 70-210 F4 Lens - http://amzn.to/2sNQSGy
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

So if much of what I have is like product photography, I will get some use of it somehow.  A friend at work mentioned Amazon and their affiliate program.  I read it over, and it seems good.  Descent returns, and rewards you get even beyond the initial item you linked to.

Similar Edea Skates - http://amzn.to/2GFvllt
Shot with Sony 70-200 F4 OSS G - http://amzn.to/2sRzSPM
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

So here is to a growing economy that they say is booming.  You know all I need are a few sheckles.  I want the photos to speak for themselves, but if there is something about the photo that can drive a persons to Amazon and pick something up, all the better!

GGOOLLD Band http://amzn.to/2CCw2cM
Shot with Sony 50mm f/1.8 - http://amzn.to/2FmZ82E
Camera is Sony a6000 - http://amzn.to/2ELLKIr

Skaters Grow Up, Not Out

Skaters Grow Up, the the Skater doesn't Grow Out

I've known how ice skating becomes a passion for nearly everyone that is able to skate into their freestyle lessons.  Adults that are able to continue skating have begun skating more and more.  Weather for exercise, release of stress or to learn what their child is going through, you can see more and more of these types of skaters.  Eau Claire, WI has had adult events as part of their yearly competitions.

So, get your skates on!  Time to hit the ice!

Figure Skater's Finish

A Figure Skater's Finish

I'm on Fine Arts America! (More on that below.)

Photography is a life long enjoyment.  Even if you only just recently start taking good photos, it was probably always inside of you.  Being married to a figure skating coach, I always have a challenging environment for taking photos.  

I took this photo realizing it was the moment a skater gave their final presentation to the audience.  Of course, everyone focuses on the face or the whole skater.  But I remembered a theme most photographers tell their students, "Don't do the same thing everyone is doing.  If everyone is in the 'pit' then don't be there."

Being honored with a figure skater's willingness to present, I thought about the feet and blades.  The punishment they endure as part of the show.  Making it 'look easy' through all that pain and hard work, these feet, boots, and blades were begging for attention.

And you can now honor them, too.  I now have a profile started at FineArtAmerica.com.  Purchase this image on some greating cards, through pillows, prints, etc.  

Goto:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-figure-skaters-finish-anthony-dooley.html