(All images copyright Michael Berkeley Photography - no reproduction without permission)
I often say that no two sports are the same to photograph and that each brings its own challenges. Never is this more true than with athletics where there are many disciplines and every one is different! Photographing track events is completely different from field events – and, within the field events, the long or high jump is different from the throwing disciplines (javelin, hammer, discus).
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm at 200mm; f/2.8; 1/4000th sec; ISO 125)
My experience of photographing athletics dates back to the summer of 2018 when I spent a very hot day at a match hosted by the City of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club (CoSARC). The programme for the day was packed with both track and field events and, as I was keen to record every event, I was running (often literally) from place to place in order to make sure that I had images of all the Salisbury athletes.
As I needed to be able to cover so many bases, I had most of my camera kit with me. I used both the bodies I had at the time – a Nikon D700 (full frame, 12MP, 5 frames per second) and a Nikon D500 (crop sensor, 21MP, 10 fps) – as well as a good range of Nikon lenses: 24-70mm f/2.8; 70-200mm f/2.8; and a 200-500mm f/5.6.
(Nikon D500; 200-500mm at 440mm; f/5.6; 1/3200th sec; ISO 2800)
In most instances, I kept the lenses wide open in order to make the depth of field as shallow as possible in order to blur the background. As it was an extremely bright day and with ISO settings on Auto, the shutter speeds had to be very fast, partly to freeze the action and partly to keep the ISO at the right levels. The fastest shutter speed used was 1/6000th sec.
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm at 102mm; f/2.8; 1/5000th sec; ISO 200)
Athletics involves disciplines that are primarily individual in nature. The jumpers, throwers and runners are effectively trying to beat their ‘personal best’ and in doing so they win or lose against their opponents on the day. Only with the relays do you get more close to a team sport, with each runner relying the others to pass the baton.
The nature of athletics is that you know where the athlete is going to be and where they are going to be facing – which is not the case with many other sports. This means that it should be relatively easy to ensure that their face is fully visible and recognisable in the pictures.
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm at 70mm; f/2.8; 1/2500th sec; ISO 110)
Certainly, at the level that I was photographing, the issue of distracting backgrounds was a significant problem. In a stadium, with a big crowd, this might not have been the case. In the photographs above, for instance, the javelin thrower has somebody wearing a bright yellow top behind her; and the high jumper has a container and a portacabin behind him. In this latter case, a lower perspective might have worked so that the jumper was positioned against the trees above.
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm at 200mm; f/3.2; 1/5000th sec; ISO 320)
In the image of the long jumper, the other contestants milling around in the background may be considered distracting, but they also provide a good feel for the environment in which the competition was taking place, so they provide context. In any event, I attempt the blur the background as much as possible by keeping the shutter almost wide open, thereby providing separation between the main subject and the background..
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm at 140mm; f/2.8; 1/4000th sec; ISO 400)
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm at 135mm; f/3.2; 1/3200th sec; ISO 500)
When selecting the images for this blog, I found that – on re-visiting the pictures – I often decided to crop more tightly on the athlete as a way of avoiding distractions in the background and of concentrating on the individual. I did this, for example, with the shot putter and the runner above.
Also, I find it works to get as low as possible so that I am almost looking up at the person. This makes them look more ‘heroic’ and impressive. I found that it was better to photograph long distance runners earlier in the race, when they were more full of energy – whereas, towards the end of the race, energy levels had dropped and the images did not portray the athletes in the best light.
(Nikon D500; 24-70mm at 70mm; f/3.2; 1/3200th sec; ISO 125)
In any sport, it is always tempting to relax when there is a lull in proceedings – but that is often when some of the best, informal shots are to be had. One of my favourite images of the day was of an elder sister (who had just won the steeplechase) as she consoled her younger sister who had finished towards the back of the field in the same race. The looks on their faces tells a real story.
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm at 200mm; f/2.8; 1/3200th sec; ISO 720)
The starting pistol being fired was a bit more quirky – and provided something a bit different… As the official was facing away from me, the eye is drawn to the pistol and the smoke because there is no competing point of interest.
It is quite difficult to tell the story of what is happening in a running race. If you are, for instance photographing the 100m from head on, it is almost impossible to tell who is in the lead. In the photo below, the expressions on the faces, as well as the baton in hand, explain that one runner has passed to another in the relay races. It captures the relationship between the runners, but it doesn’t provide any information on how the team is getting on against their opponents. On the other hand, if somebody holds their arms aloft in triumph as they cross the finishing line, that will tell the story of who won … For a good example of this, see my blog on City Centre Cycling.
(Nikon D500; 70-200mm f2.8 - f2.8; 1/3200th sec; ISO 400)
All in all, the day at the athletics was demanding on me as a photographer, having to work out how to capture each discipline while under time pressure. That made it one of the best days I have had with a camera and would strongly recommend it if you get the opportunity!
With special thanks to the City of Salisbury Athletics & Running Club.
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