Editor's Blog: Rik Shares His Sports-Photography Tips (with Photos)
Posted 04/23/2007 at 7:59pm
| by Rik Myslewski
And Finally...
Just a couple of last thoughts. I'll be brief, as this has taken me longer to write than I thought it would, and there's a ribeye steak downstairs in the kitchen that's calling my name.
Don't be afraid of cliches: There's a reason why cliches became cliches. If you don't overdo them, they can tell a story quickly and effectively.

They just won the national championship; they are number one.

The happy medal-wearing victors. (I just had to sneak another picture of my daughter in here again.)
Don't be afraid of humor: If you find something amusing, there's a good chance that someone else might, as well. Being completely serious is completely boring.

Well, I find her naptime nonchalance and the overlooked ball mildly risible.
Don't be afraid of radical cropping: Who says that images have to all have the same aspect ratio? A scrum, for example, is a rather horizontal affair - why not give it a rather horizontal crop?

You couldn't get me to do this for love nor money.
Don't be afraid of Photoshop: There's been a lot of to-do in the news recently about newspaper and magazine photographers bending reality by using Photoshop. You don't work for the Associated Press, do you? Break out the Clone Stamp and the Healing Brush, and have at it!

A nice bit of ultra-violence, but the fence and ref take some of the punch out of it.

A minute or two of quick-and-dirty Photoshop work, and all we see is the ruck.
Well, that's it for now. I know I've left a million things out - tracking action, framing, and a whole lot more. Do you have some tips you can share? There's a comments area below - tell the world what you've learned through your experiences. Oh, and if you feel like clicking the Digg icon, above, my ego would much appreciate it.
Oh, and "Go Stanford!" The national collegiate rugby Final Four is May 4th and 5th - I'm sure SportsCenter will lead with it both those evenings.
Ah, if only...