Optimal sports photography with off-camera flash

With the right technique, you can create impressive sports photos that perfectly capture action and dynamics. An essential element here is lighting. In this tutorial, I will show you how to achieve optimal lighting with off-camera flash, even when the built-in flash of your camera is not sufficient. Let's go through the steps together to achieve the desired effect.

Key insights

• Off-camera flash allows for flexible positioning of the flash.
• You can control the flash power independently of the camera.
• Using a tripod and a wireless trigger will yield the best results.
• The right positioning is crucial to achieve the desired light effect.

Step-by-Step Guide

For our shooting, I first set the camera settings. I set the shutter speed to 1/160 second and the aperture to f/4. Now I test the range of my flash to see how much light it can actually produce.

However, I find that the flash is not sufficient for the desired effects. Therefore, I decide to apply the principle of off-camera flash. I leave my camera settings unchanged and position a flash in a somewhat hidden area to act as a fill flash.

Thanks to my tripod, I can position the flash stably. I turn it on and initially set the power to a quarter strength. Then, I place the flash on the tripod and aim it so that it is outside the frame but close to the subject.

Now it is important to set the trigger to synchronize with the flash. This means that the flash will be activated when I press the shutter button on my camera. I test the settings multiple times to ensure that the lighting is correct.

Once the flash is prominently positioned, I aim it upward to ensure better light distribution. Using my light meter, I check the brightness and adjust it if necessary. I find that it is often necessary to vary the flash power to achieve the perfect light.

I do a first test run without the model. During this, I check the settings and ensure that everything is functioning correctly. Now the model, in this case, an athlete, can begin, and it is time to capture the final image.

It is important that the subject is in the best possible position while I capture the current point of action. Pay attention to the model's posture during the shot to obtain the best motion images.

If the movement is not optimal yet, you can instruct the model to roll just to the crucial point to stabilize the posture. Also, triggering the flash at the right time is crucial so you can optimally utilize the intensity of the light.

I continue to experiment with different angles. With a lower perspective, I can achieve a more dynamic effect while also finding the right timing for the flash. After several attempts, I find that the position of the flash was well chosen and the lighting looks great.

When I finally have the right image captured, I am once again satisfied with the result and realize how crucial off-camera flash is. The flash was positioned high in the trees, which allowed me to achieve just the right lighting. A wireless trigger was used, which synchronized everything perfectly.

Summary - Staged Sports Photography: Off-Camera Flash Step by Step

By understanding and applying off-camera flash techniques, you can significantly enhance the quality of your sports photos. Position your flash smartly and experiment with different light intensities to create impressive images.