Posted 1:50 am Friday, June 15, 2012
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PAGE TWO: Tyler Paper Photographer Explains How To Capture Pivotal Sports Moments
By Sarah A. Miller
smiller@tylerpaper.com
This photograph was taken during the first night that I ever shot a boxing match. My job requires me to put myself in new situations like this every day, and I enjoy the learning experience. I found that boxing is difficult to shoot. I shot leaning up against the ring, shooting between the ropes while trying to be conscious of not being in the way of the audience, judges and the fighters. Boxing also can be shot from above, from the bleachers or a ladder, but it’s not as fun.
smiller@tylerpaper.com
This photograph was taken during the first night that I ever shot a boxing match. My job requires me to put myself in new situations like this every day, and I enjoy the learning experience. I found that boxing is difficult to shoot. I shot leaning up against the ring, shooting between the ropes while trying to be conscious of not being in the way of the audience, judges and the fighters. Boxing also can be shot from above, from the bleachers or a ladder, but it’s not as fun.
When I shoot sports I like to be as close to the action as possible. Throughout the night I alternated shooting extremely wide to extremely tight to vary up the images and try different compositions. I’m glad I stuck to a tight shot for this frame because what’s important in this shot is that small space between the opponent’s glove and Blane Wallace’s face. What you don’t see is that a split second after this moment, Wallace puts his glove up and misses being hit. He goes on to win the fight.
I love shooting sports. It’s fast, the players are emotional and there’s never a lack of action. When I shot this fight I distinctly remembered seeing this moment for a split second in my viewfinder and just praying that I had hit the shutter button at the right time. I shot this photograph using my Nikon D700, a professional dSLR camera that is great for low-light and indoor shots, but is a little slow for sports. I always come home with a small pile of “almost” good sports, but I’m glad this one stuck.
Sarah A. Miller has a B.A. from Central Michigan University in Photojournalism. She is a member of National Press Photographers Association and SportsShooter. She has been a staff photographer at the Tyler Morning Telegraph since June 2011.
Sarah A. Miller has a B.A. from Central Michigan University in Photojournalism. She is a member of National Press Photographers Association and SportsShooter. She has been a staff photographer at the Tyler Morning Telegraph since June 2011.
