Create Compelling perspectives

Producing dynamic sports compositions is deceptively challenging, but with these pro tips you’ll discover limitless possibilities

In the heat of the action, as you’re trying to capture a correctly exposed, in-focus image, it can be all too easy to forget about the usual rules of photographic composition, to say nothing about actively seeking creative and unique perspectives. It is a perfect example of when a photographer’s artistic skill is of greater importance than the technology in their cameras – advanced AF systems can aid anyone in producing a technically correct shot, but the photographer’s vision dictates the engagement of the viewer. A common mistake is to forget about or ignore the environment in the composition, taking the subject out of the context of the scene. Extreme close-ups of an athlete can be interesting, but portraying them in action, within the greater context of their sport, tells a more engaging story. Surfing photographer Karl Lundholm (kallelundholm.com) always aims to make the most of his dramatic workplace in his compositions. “I don’t think I see surfing as a sport when

I’m shooting, rather a complement to the beautiful environment that [the surfers] are in,” he explains. “When I am out in the water, it is hard to get the composition 100 per cent correct because of all the factors the ocean brings. Every wave and surfer is unique and in constant moving water you never know what’s going to happen. I am always trying to get a depth in my photos by staying close to the surface, so I get an out-of-focus foreground, then the surfer and the wave in focus and last the sky or land in the background. I think this draws the viewer into the photo and makes it more powerful.” Choice of orientation is also an important consideration, as the frame shape defines how viewers see the subject. Lundholm prefers to shoot in portrait orientation – “I shoot mainly vertically when I shoot surfers because I like to get a lot of the ocean and sky in my photos. This format is also really effective when shooting sunsets or sunrises because you get a nice gradient in the sky, which allows for more colour and impact in the photos.”