The Beginner's Corner - Filming Sports

 

 

Excellent question, David. Recording sporting events is pretty tricky. Part of the fun of watching sports is that the action is constantly changing directions, but that constant change can make filming a sporting event quite an undertaking. Here are some basic tips for filming sporting events.

 

Bring a Tripod 

A tripod is always the first thing I suggest for recording any event. Try to get there early and find a place at the game where you can get a good look at the field while also not obstructing the view of another game patron.

 

Don't try and catch every move 

Accept the fact that you are not going to be able to catch every single move in the game. If you constantly try to follow the action with the camera then you're going to end up with jerky video that is difficult to watch. Try to keep shots as wide as possible and follow the game with smooth panning from one side of the playing field to the other rather than zooming in on particular players.

 

Use a small aperture 

If your camcorder has built-in shooting modes you may want to give the "Sports" optional try. If you have the ability to manually control things like your aperture try to use a small aperture (high f-stop) to improve your depth of field and keep everything in focus as the event goes on.

 

Check your exposure 

What exposure settings are appropriate for the game will depend greatly on where it is being held. Games held inside would obviously need to use a different setting than games held outside in the sunlight or games held at dusk. Always test something out before you record an entire game with a particular setting. Nothing could be worse than recording an entire game only to discover your video isn't watchable.

 

Record reactions from the stands and other players 

Try recording the other players on the teams' reaction to what's going on and fans in the stands applauding or booing the game. Things like this can make great transitions if you decide to edit your video later and can be a great way to capture the "game feel" in your video.