5 Most Memorable Sports Pictures of All Time

Sports pictures are one of the most spontaneous photos you can ever take. They require you to be on top of your game, shooting constantly, and persistence. I have gathered some of my favorite sports pictures of all time and will tell you they’re importance and why they are my favorite.

This picture is from the 2008 Bejing Olympics. Michael Phelps beat Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic 

 by 0.01 seconds to win the Gold medal in the 100 yard butterfly. He went on to win a record eight gold medals during that Olympics. This picture is in my top 10 because it’s underwater photography and it shows how a picture can say a million words. It shows how close the race really was!

David Tyree makes an amazing catch to form a Super Bowl XLII victory for the New York Giants. The Giants played the New England Patriots and went on to win 17-14. Again, this is an instance of how a picture can say a thousand words.

Michaela Jordan's NBA Finals buzzer beater is another one of my favorite. Jordan made the shot and retired after this season, but this shot is arguable one of the most memorable shot of his career. This is one of my favorites because you can see the anticipation in all of the players and fans' faces.

The Miracle on ice is one of my all time favorite no matter what. The 1980 olympic game between the USA and Soviet Union concluded with USA winning 4-3. The USA went on to win the gold medal. I think this picture tells the story about the game, the team's season, and what they've had to over come.

Head Coach Vince Lombardi being carried off the field after the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory verses the Oakland Raiders. This picture shows the strong relationships players and coaches make with each other during the course of the season. 

These are only a few of the most memorable sports pictures. You can view Sports Illustrated's Top 100 most memorable sports pictures here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/main/photos/1212/100-greatest-sports-photos-of-all-time-final/. See which ones you think are your favorite and comment on why!

--Katie :)

A More Stable Picture

A tripod can make all the difference in a photo. To have the sturdy structure will allow you to get a more stable picture without having to actually hold your camera. I will tell you why you should invest in a tripod and what kinds of things you should be looking for when you’re buying.

First, a tripod can be very useful if you’re trying to take a panoramic shot with out having a panoramic setting. You can gently move the camera around 360 degrees without having to worry about the height difference in all of your pictures.

Secondly, a thing to look for when buying a tripod is how heavy the tripod is and how much can hold. How heavy the tripod is can determine where you will take it and how much use you will get out of it. A camera that is to heavy for a tripod could cause major problems with your picture. The camera will cause the tripod to be off balance creating an unstable shot.

Thirdly, if you shoot a lot of sports or wildlife a monopod is what you need instead of a tripod. A monopod is a tripod with only one leg. They increase mobility and you don’t have the hassle of carrying around a full tripod. A monopod can also make it much easier to shoot a moving person.  

I hope these tips help you when you are deciding which tripod to buy! A tripod can help you in many ways such as versatility and stable and sharper pictures.

--Katie :)

Lightning

Trying to capture one of the most unpredictable things of Mother Nature on film is a hard thing to do! The most powerful pictures can come from Mother Nature and often times it’s lightning. As I said before, lightning is very unpredictable so you have to be on your game the whole time. Sometimes your life could be in danger too, so here are some tips to get the shots you want while saying out of danger.

1.     Use a tripod- I usually set up my tripod in the back seat of our van and shoot out of the trunk so I am sheltered from rain or hail. Another tip is to be as still as possible because your shutter time will be set so long; any movement will be picked up in the shot.

2.     Set a long shutter time- A long shutter speed is key in shooting lighting. The longer the speed, the better outcome you will have.  The typical speed is around 15-30 seconds. You might not always be successful in getting shots, but there will always be more too shoot.

3.    Include something else- A picture of the sky and lightning is boring. Try to include a farm site or something that will show up whit the brightness from the lightning.

4.    Use manual focus- Shooting at night creates a hard situation for the camera to automatically focus on one thing since everything’s dark. By using manual focus, you won’t have the trouble of trying to find something to focus on.

5.    Be Patient- There will always be other storms, other shots you can get, and other possibilities for shots. Keep calm and keep taking shots. Always remember to check the weather radar to see if the storm increases in strength.

Lightning is one of the most fascinating things about Mother Nature. When your shooting, remember to be patient and don’t put yourself in danger and you’ll be fine! Here are some of my pictures from past storms!

-Katie :)