Shoot sports with a monopod
Mike Harris explains why a monopod might be a good alternative to handheld motorsports shooting
Why you should always carry a support
Many motorsport photographers swear by shooting handheld, and there’s no denying it offers you greater freedom of movement. But racedays are long and often involve a good deal of walking – it’s no wonder hours of holding lenses can take its toll.
Practise using a monopod though, and you’ll have a viable solution if you feel fatigued. With the motorsport season upon us, we visited Castle Combe Circuit with a Nikon D800 and Sigma Sports 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM. The lens’s excellent
Optical Stabilizer meant handholding was a cinch, but a combined weight of over 3.5kg is a lot to hold during a long event.
This is where monopods come into their own. The Manfrotto XPRO we used retracts to just 56cm, making it easy to carry when not in use. Some motorsport photographers do use monopods exclusively, and what you lose in freedom of movement you gain in stability.
We took the image above with a shutter speed of 1/80 sec and although that’s still possible handheld, you might find your success rate is higher when using a monopod at slower shutter speeds. Prefocusing and shooting on corners could prove easier too, since the camera will move less. And by keeping the camera upright and in position between laps, you’re always ready for the next moment.
We’re not suggesting you shoot motorsport photography on a monopod exclusively. But if you’re keen on racing and using heavy kit, a monopod could prove a great addition to your kitbag.
Leg extensions
Set the monopod’s height so that you’re able to stand comfortably while looking through the viewfinder. We used a Manfrotto XPRO monopod combined with a three-way photo head. The monopod retracts down to just 56cm, so it’s easy to carry. Even if you normally shoot handheld, you may reach for your monopod after a day lugging kit around.
Mount up
If your lens has a collar and foot, use it. This will balance the centre of gravity and reduce strain on the lens mount. We mounted our camera backwards, so the monopod head’s handles pointed away from the torso and wouldn’t get in the way. With the camera attached. You might need to play around with the monopod’s height.
Fend off flare
Lens hoods help prevent flare and damage. You’ll encounter direct sunlight at most circuits, and it’s not uncommon to nick a piece of fence with your lens. The lens hood on our Sigma 150-600mm is made from metal. You might decide to omit the extra weight when shooting handheld, but it’s barely noticeable when using a monopod.
Good vibrations
The rule of thumb is to turn optical stabilization off when using a tripod, but panning with a monopod still produces plenty of movement, so our advice it so turn it on. Our Sigma Sport features three stabilization settings: 1, 2 and Off. Mode 2 is designed specifically for panning, only countering movement on the vertical axis.
Settings
Using a monopod doesn’t allow the same freedom of movement as shooting handheld. But the extra stability can make it easier to shoot at slower shutter speeds, especially if you’re struggling with tired arms. We shot in Manual mode, kept our aperture between f/4 and f/8, and altered the ISO accordingly.
Twist and shoot
Use AF-C to maintain focus on moving subjects and target the rider’s helmet (if shooting open-wheel racing or motorcycles) with Single Point AF. If your lens has a tripod collar and you want to slant your composition for a more dynamic image, simply loosen it just a little bit and twist the camera to skew your frame accordingly.