Three sports in two days

This weekend I had a goal.  To shoot sports and lots of it.

I had an assignment due Sunday at 6pm.  I needed to submit my best Sports Action shot.  It had to be a competitive game (no exhibitions) and a competitive league (no campus rec).  The picture had to include at least one member from each team at peak action.  AND it must be shot between Sept 17th and 23rd.

So I shot:
Friday - OHL hockey (Kingston Frontenac vs Barrie Colts)
Saturday - OCAA Women's Rugby (Loyalist Lancers vs SLC Vikings)
Saturday - OCAA Men's Rugby (Trent Excalibur vs SLC Vikings)
Sunday - OUA Men's Baseball (U of T Blues vs Queens Gaels)

I was lucky enough to borrow a lens from school (Nikon 300mm f2.8) and rent another from Headshots through Henrys (70-200mm f2.8).  Boy did I look ready for the part.

Things I learned:
1 - Get there early (which I already knew but overslept).  Others will take advantage of your loss (and get the last media pass).

2 - When in doubt, ask.  I'd never even seen a rugby game before so I didn't even know where to point my considerable lens.  Luckily, some fellow photoj's and fans were nice enough to give me the run down of the basics.

3 - If the rhythm of the game is too fast - move up and/or back.  A bit of distance will help slow things down.  Watching the women's rugby game certainly helped me with trying to shoot the faster paced men's game.

4 - Lots of gear means you're gonna get tired of carrying it.  Next time I might just use the 70-200. 

5 - You won't melt in the rain.  Be prepared for changes in the weather by dressing in layers, bring plastic to cover the lens, a towel to help keep it dry and a sense of humour cause you might end up looking like a drowned rat.

6 - Stay with the action but keep moving.  When the whistle blows it doesn't mean the action has stopped.  Try different angles (near the ground, from the top of the bleachers, at the side, from the endzone, etc).  One of the things they teach us is to own your frame.  It's hard in sports because the action is fast but practice will help fine tune your reflexes.

7 - HAVE FUN!!!!!!  It will show in your work.

Fruits of my labour:

From behind the camera

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been the one behind the camera.  

May 2011 - Briyanna Wilberforce in her mothers arms.

At family gatherings, holidays, school trips, community and theatre events I was the one who made sure that it was photographed.  My friends joke that I'd shoot anything, even food.

I love the visual history it creates and the stories that can be told through just watching, listening and shooting what you see around you.

When I was in high school I was amazed that one of my course options was photography, where I got to learn and play with a camera, for school credit.  My high school graduation present was a new Pentax 35mm camera.  It was my pride and joy for many years.   

In college I had my first taste of photojournalism.  Through a weird series of events I ended up on a bus that passed right by a car on fire (my first spot news) and "click, click" I shot it.  If only I knew to submit it to the local paper, lessons learned.

1996 - Car on fire at Canada Trust on Bath Rd, Kingston.

After school I continued shooting holidays, friends and family.  I joined a local theatre group and expanded my portfolio by telling the stories from "behind the scenes" and at rehearsals.

April 2007 - Our Town director Wayne Goodyer discusses the scene with his leading lady, Maggie Zatterberg.

It has gotten to the point that people have just stop bringing their cameras if they know I’ll be there.  I love to photograph people, places, events, animals and even things, as they happen.  To tell someones story or to just help develop a visual support system for my memories.


Julia McKay

Freelance Photographer
2nd year Photojournalism Student Loyalist College