Indoor Sports Photography
Posted by Matt McGuire in 
Indoor sport photography is tough arena to master. I was at an indoor soccer game yesterday taking pictures for a local team. I decided to experiment with different lenses. While there were quite a few differences between lenses my main desire was to test each lenses difference in aperture.
Aperture is sometimes called Fstop or depth of field (DOF). Aperture is basically how wide open your shutter will go. I have lenses from 1.8 to 5.6. It was very interesting to see the differences. With my 1.8 lens I could have the sutter speed pretty fast. As soon as I put on my 3.5 lens everything was black. I had to slow down the shutter speed a lot to even get somewhat light picture.
I am still saving for the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, which will make a great indoor (and outdoor) sport lens. If you are going for indoor sports shot don’t plan on using a lens with a smaller aperture than 2.8. Anything larger and your photos will be blurry or very dark.
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49 Comments to “Indoor Sports Photography”
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AJ says:
Don’t you need a pretty fast shutter speed to grab the action shots? Indoor sports photography is a whole different ball game than portrait photography. Sorry for the pun
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Matt McGuire Reply:
February 28th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Yes a fast shutter speed is needed as well as a wide aperture.
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Melvin from Rental Property Management Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Matt, besides that I feel one should have a quick reflex and attention to detail. Every single second is precious and one have to set eyes on the game from scratch till end. We cant just say when the decisive moment comes. What do you think? I believe this is applicable to all action oriented territories of photography.
.-= Melvin@Rental Property Management´s last blog ..Otahuhu, Auckland City =-.
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steve from treadmill says:
You are right with shutter speed, when you are taking pictures of something that is stationary then having low shutter speed enables the picture to have more depth and detail I believe. What you think?
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Klaus from TechPatio says:
Are you going to put up a post about your experiences in this matter? What about ISO, did you shoot at the same ISO all the time or did you try raise ISO to try faster shutter speeds at smaller aperture?
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Gmail Tip: Trick Gmail Into Checking Your POP3 Accounts Often =-.
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Gary from Wedding photographer in Warwickshire says:
I have been using software to remove the noise from high ISO, indoor shots and it works very well, I won’t say which though, in case it gets mistaken for spam!
Thanks
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lucas from How To Jump Higher says:
Yes, for indoor photography you do need fast shutter. Aperture and ISO are also important, nonetheless.
.-= lucas@How To Jump Higher´s last blog ..4 Reasons for Failing To Jump Higher =-.
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Matt from Wilton California says:
Indoor photography is tough/ You need a fast shutter and a large aperture.
.-= Matt @ Wilton California´s last blog ..Pleasant Grove Jr Eagles Football and Cheer Signup =-.
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Professor Nyiam says:
A fast shutter speed as well as a wide aperture would help. But don’t forget the stamina you need to keep those hands up ready for action. You definitely need to be in shape to keep up with the Action.
.-= Professor Nyiam´s last blog ..Meet Jaylin Fleming, the best 10 year old hoops player in America Y! Sports Blogs Yahoo! Sports =-.
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Amanda from Northampton Wedding Photography says:
A monopod could make it easier on your arms and help prevent blur.
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Chris from Commercial Photographer Belfast says:
I too, lower shutter speed for stationary objects. It adds more character and life to a shot.
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stacie from Photographers in Bromsgrove says:
Hey Matt. I am my son’s chosen photographer for his basketball team so I know how hard it can be to get those shots just right. When I first started I was pretty shocked by how difficult it was compared to still photography, even though I tried to prepare myself for it.
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Rich from protein shakes says:
Few of my friends had a badminton tournament not long back and I was using a generic digital camera and found that even after playing with all the settings I couldnt capture an infocus-detailed action shot which was mega annoying.
.-= Rich@protein shakes´s last blog ..Which Cross trainer? =-.
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Denver Photographer says:
I can imagine the difficulties with indoor sporting events but there are some great advantages. You dont have to deal with the bad weather and rough conditions and really focus on your subject. As far as shutter speed, you could go higher and get cool action frozen in mid step or you could go slower and give your image illusion of movement with the blurriness. The options are limitless. Of course if you’re shooting with a huge telephoto lens its always harder to adjust while still getting the lighting you need.
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James from Bromsgrove Photographers says:
I used to do the photos for my younger brother’s football games and it’s so hard to get it right so I can appreciate the effort you had to put in here matt. Sometimes you wish you could just ask everyone to freeze so you can take good shot but if it works out it’s great.
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david from engagement rings says:
Truely I do not know anything about this. But like to master ndoor sport photography. How can I do?
david
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david from engagement rings says:
Indoor sport photography needs fast shutter speed.
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Luke from Tahoe Photographer says:
i normally do portrait photography but every now and then I try my hand at sports photography and let me tell ya its hard not to mention the lens i needed for it was expensive! I don’t always use a fast shutter and agree with steve. I like to add “movement” to the photo with a slower shutter speed sometimes.
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leonardo from consultoria de qualidade says:
you need a fast shutter speed for that right?
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Sabrina from raleigh portrait photographer says:
Shutter speed is indeed necessary! I recently photographed an indoor badminton tournament for my friend. I was totally unsatisfied with how some of my pictures turned out. Either I was too late to capture a perfect shot, or, I was too early because I was already anticipating being late for the shot. Of course, they wouldn’t break off the game until I could get my bearings
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Vanessa says:
Are you able to take photos of indoor tennis? I am very interested.
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Tim from Free Venue Finding Service says:
How do you get both a clear image and the depth of field indoors?
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Tamara from buy vampire costume says:
Hi, just want to say i learn a lot of ideas here about the importance Shutter speed in photography. It is really enlightening in my part to know the things which are really necessary in taking picture particularly when it comes to indoors sports. Thanks for sharing this informative post.
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petter from wedding photographers in Buffalo, NY says:
Great site and have a big response. I need help. can you provide me some important tips for indoor photography? thanks for comments.
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Aiden from wedding photography in Buffalo, NY says:
I have been working on taking photos inside of a gym during basketball games. My problem is that lighting in the gyms causes me to shoot at such at a low speed that the action is all blurred. But if I turn up the ISO, I am able to increase the speed to 1/125, but the shots are extremely grainy and still dark.
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Aiden from Buffalo photographer says:
IN indoor sport photography what to do for a fast speed i am really very interested?
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State College Wedding Photographer says:
Wow! Your lens can reach 1.8 opening. Mine can only be at 3.5 opening. I envy you.
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Chicago Wedding Limousine says:
thanks for the good tips that you said in taking indoor sports photo.
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pia from wedding photography in Buffalo says:
Use a fast shutter speed. Because there will be a lot of action, you need a fast shutter speed to capture that action without blurriness.
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Ethan from wedding photography in Buffalo says:
When shooting sporting events, I’m taking hundreds of shots which can eat up memory quickly when in RAW thus I prefer to switch to JPEG format.
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jack from Buffalo wedding photography says:
I thought for indoor sports photography you must prevent the use of flash at all cost cause it might disrupt the players concentration?
Like some user says, get a prime lens cause prime usually have wider aperture then zoom lens or you could get a wide aperture and zoom lens, that would be expensive. I heard that for indoor sports photography its best to get lenses which has aperture f/2 and lower (lower number like 1 and etc.)
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Jack from Buffalo wedding photography says:
I found this article very helpful. I have 2 sons that play sports i.e. basketball, baseball, and football, and have found that I have some problems with the freezing of motion. I just got through reading the article, and plan to use some of the information for my 10 year olds game today. Thanks for a very useful, and well written article.
I shoot high school sports – for indoor; basketball, fencing, swim, hockey, etc., I have my white lightnings 1600′s strobes at full power, bounced off the ceiling, clamped to whatever sturdy surface is available; window ledge, balcony… I use radio slaves, shoot at 2.8 w/ my 70-200 at 200 iso 1/250 and have beautiful results. Never a complaint about the flash, because it’s bounced.
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Diana Eftaiha from amazing photos says:
i just love lenses with great openings. theyre the best
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Design & Photography says:
Great information. Thanks for taking the time to post it up for people like myself to find. I’ve recently gotten into surf photography and some of the tips in here (although discovered on my own through trial and error) are absolutely essential.
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Chris from whey protein shakes says:
Thanks for this post. I found it really useful. Nice looking site btw! I love photography and so does my girlfriend.
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Dave from Treadmill Reviews says:
I’m glad you figured it out because I was in the exact same position just two weeks ago and was having a devil of a time trying to get my pictures to turn out.
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Fashion Photography says:
I guess that we all agreed around shutter speed and aperture and their importance. I tend to shoot in studio environments which makes it so much easier.
Fashion Photography´s last [type] ..Photo Shoot Experience for Christmas
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Cristy Cross Photography says:
It was very interesting to see the differences. With my 1.8 lens I could have the sutter speed pretty fast. Because there will be a lot of action, you need a fast shutter speed to capture that action without blurriness.
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Melissa from Ginny Corbett Photogaphy says:
It’s not easy to take photos in fast action. You need to be well equip with knowledge and practice. I used to practice taking fast photos with children at park. ISO really help and wide aperture and slow shutter helps to have a detailed photo, I will miss other actions too.
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lake tahoe senior portraits says:
Indoor shots and it works very well, I won’t say which though, in case it gets mistaken for spam. Because I was in the exact same position just two weeks ago and was having a devil of a time trying to get my pictures to turn out.
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brittany says:
I do have one suggestion. Even when light levels are low and you’re shooting at wide open apertures, I recommend picking a spot where you get uncluttered backgrounds. Indoor arenas tend to have seating where the audiences are very close to the players, so backgrounds tend to be very cluttered.
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Kaimo turizmas says:
Shutter speed is indeed necessary! I recently photographed an indoor badminton tournament for my friend. I was totally unsatisfied with how some of my pictures turned out. Either I was too late to capture a perfect shot, or, I was too early because I was already anticipating being late for the shot. Of course, they wouldn’t break off the game until I could get my bearings
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Michelle from Photography Auckland says:
Good tips! I have tried shooting indoor sports. I did cover a street futsal match and like what you shared..everything’s fast paced and I have trouble keeping up with the movements on camera. These tips will help the next time I attempt sports photography.
Even when light levels are low and you’re shooting at wide open apertures, I recommend picking a spot where you get uncluttered backgrounds. Indoor arenas tend to have seating where the audiences are very close to the players, so backgrounds tend to be very cluttered.Thanks for sharing.
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Steph Chasen says:
Helpful tips indeed!! Thanks for sharing this valuable information that you got in here.. It’s worth the read!
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Worcester Wedding photographer says:
Hey there guys, i am predominantly a wedding photogrpaher but i do enjoy sport photography. i use my favourite portrait lens Nikon 85mm F1.4 afs. possibly the best nikon has to date.
yer okay you might say that the 85mm F1.4 isnt much of a zoom? but if your low down and on the side of the pitch or court then the images are crisp sharp and has beautiful BOKEH and DOF.
longer shots i always use my 200mm F2.8 prime and converter if neccessary.
failing that the 70-200mm nikon f2.8 is still an amazing telephoto zoom.
dont always think zooms though incase the action is right inyour face then you will be wishing you brought your superwideangle.
for instance place in the top or bottom corners of a goal to get a totally different perspective.
Photography should be predictable and nor should you.
happy snapping guys
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gloucestershire Photographers says:
primes all the way
300mm f2.8 and 85mm f1.4, the the 24-70mm f2.8 for a bit more scope.
d3s is the best for indoor photos by far
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Morgan from wedding photographer says:
I can learn a lot from this. I always wanted to shot a sports photography and catch the best shot while they do their usual routine but I am still practicing on how to give the best one.
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Scott from Scott English Plumbing says:
That was great pictures that contributed to the wonderful memories. Thank you for the photo’s that you share.
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Worcestershire Photographers says:
Hey there guys, im trying to get into my sports photography and i must say its a whole lot different from weddings lol
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