Monday, March 4

Getting Started With BMX Photography 1

By Josh Root
EXPN.com

Getting Started Part 1 | Getting Started Part 2

This article is going to be written about BMX photography, but it really is about action photography in general. BMX photography just happens to be what I do. There are two parts to this lesson, the first is going to be about shooting with equipment that you might already have around and the second will be about what equipment to buy and how to set up some more technical shots.

Shooting with what you've got.

Most everybody has a camera. It might be a simple point and shoot, or maybe you've borrowed your dad's Canon, Olympus or Nikon. But most everybody has something they can use.

Doesn't look like much, but this could be your new "magazine money maker."

Here are some tips if you are using a P&S (point and shoot):

1. Use a fast speed film. Film usually comes in 100, 200, 400, and 800, speeds. You want to use 400 or 800 speed. This means that less light is needed to shoot a picture. Which means that your camera will use a faster shutter speed, which means that you are going to have a photo that isn't blurry.

2. Use the "sports" mode. Lots of P&S cameras have different modes you can put the camera in. Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, etc. Sports mode tells the camera that you are trying to shoot something that is moving fast, so it will try to use the highest shutter speed it can. Which will, once again, help keep your photos from being blurry.

3. Pre focus. Most P&S autofocus cameras will let you focus by pressing halfway down on the shutter button. Pick a spot that is the same distance away as the rider is going to be (I use the halfpipe coping or the dirt in between a set of doubles), and focus on that. If you then hold the shutter button at the halfway point, you can press it the rest of the way right when you want to take a photo. I see lots of shots where the photo was taken too late because the camera took too long to get in focus.

4. Get the rider out of the center. This simply makes a photo nicer to look at. Look through the magazines at which photos you like best. I will bet that 90% of the photos you like best will have the rider off to one side or another.

5. Use the flash, even if it's daytime. If your camera will let you, force it to turn on the flash even if it's sunny out. This will help freeze the action and fill in shadows.

Big shadow on a big white wall... Hmmmm, wonder how he did that?

6. Include some of the ground/lip/etc. The worst BMX photos are the ones that look like they could have been taken on a trampoline. You should try to leave a little of the ramp or lip of the jump in the photo to give some idea of what the rider is doing. Think how boring that photo of Mat Hoffman 25 feet out on that huge vert ramp would have been if you couldn't see the ground to know how high up he was.

7. Digital? All of these tips apply to a digital camera also. In addition, digital cameras let you see the photo instantly. So you can tell if you are getting the shot or not.

These are just some basic tips. With any luck, they will help you shot some better shots of your buddies or the pros next time you see a demo. You can work hard and learn about f-stops, flash ratios, radio slaves, and take photography as far as you want, or you can just use it to make memories of your own adventures. Neither is more important than the other. I get to run all over and shoot photos of some of the best riders in BMX, but photography still makes me happiest when I give a photo to a friend.

Related Photos:
Getting Started wtih BMX Photography