Over the years I have photographed many professional sporting events. I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to photograph high school sports, especially during state tournaments. I Love the emotion of the athletes, the ability to creatively change photo positions, and the potential to capture the drama of the sport.
I will use high school sports as the middle ground for my photography tips, although they apply to all levels from tee-ball to professionals.
"Failure to Prepare is Preparing to Fail"
This is a famous quote by John Wooden that I try to follow in my life, especially in my profession. I have all my equipment packed and ready to go the night before the assignment. I review the shooting process as soon as I receive the assignment, and I prep all the proper gear as early as possible. I pack extra, fully charged nicads, the correct lenses for the shoot, the camera bodies, high-speed Lexar cards, a spare camera body, and a chamois cloth. If you are photographing youth league or high school sports, make sure you have permission from event organizers ahead of time and know your restrictions in terms of photo positions. This way you will avoid any game time issues that may prohibit you from shooting.
The Importance of Positioning: Be smart and considerate when choosing where you shoot. I arrive early to an event to evaluate the lighting conditions and check for the best photographic positions. Generally, I want to work with the sun, not against it. I prefer a nice side or frontal light, and I make sure I have clean, dark backgrounds. Try to avoid having signs, trees, parking lots, garbage cans, etc in your background. Darker backgrounds and wide apertures make the athletes pop in the image. It is important that you try to find shooting positions where your viewing angle will not get blocked by officials or umpires. At the same time, be polite and make sure you do not block the view of spectators.
Exposure - The Wider the Better:
I always try to shoot “wide open.” That means setting and shooting with your aperture set at F2.8, F/4, or F5.6 depending on your lens. I usually shoot in Manual or Aperture Priority Mode at the widest setting possible. The bigger the aperture opening, the less depth of field you will have, isolating your subject from the background. The wide-open aperture will also let more light into your camera, creating a faster shutter speed. You usually need to have your shutter speed at least at 1/1000 of a second to stop the action. It is recommended to shoot at 1/2000 or faster to stop extremely fast action, such as a pitcher’s throwing motion or a swinging bat. Adjust the ISO in your camera to accomplish the correct shutter speed. For the best quality images, you want to keep your ISO as low as possible. Take a couple of test exposures to double-check this because the dark background or bright white uniforms can trick your meter and over (under) expose your main subject. Know how your camera works and set it accordingly. I also use the “Continuous Focus” setting and one center focus point in my camera. This way your camera focusing system is not jumping around and you’ll have more control over what's in focus.
Know the Game:
Be knowledgeable about all the sports you plan on photographing. Some photographers, after viewing my Cavaliers photos, ask me if I know the plays. The truth is, I will usually have the plays down within the first few games of the season. Pay attention to the game and anticipate what play may happen next. For example, during a baseball game, is the runner on first going to steal second? Is there a chance for a double play? Will there be a play at the plate? Could this be the game-winning hit? I have seen photographers miss photos because they were chatting with the person next to them. Anticipate! Once a play happens, you better be ready, because it will not happen again.
Silhouette Images:
Silhouette images are fun and easy to shoot providing the sun is out and you have a clean background. I took this low-angle silhouette by focusing on the first hurdle, then set my camera on the ground and composed the image. I employed manual exposure to expose for the sky and used a 17mm lens at f/14 at 1/1000 to stop the action. Test some exposures ahead of time to get the desired effect.
Not Just Action:
When the play is over it doesn't mean you put your head down and look at your images. There are a lot of great sports images that are not action shots. Keep an eye out for something different or unusual. Look for images that tell a story and capture the drama and emotions of the game.
Try a Different Angle:
Try shooting from the stands for a higher view with a long lens. From the upper position, you can get cleaner backgrounds and more artistic images. Obviously, this only works if you are shooting in a larger stadium with an unobstructed view.
A Fan of the Pan:
Another artistic way to capture amazing sports action is by panning. When photographing a moving athlete, the panning technique is achieved by keeping your main subject in the frame for the entire time of the exposure. The slower your shutter speed, the more unusual and interesting the effect. Pre-focus on the runner’s lane and start following your subject before you press the shutter release button. I generally tuck my elbows into my chest and turn at my waist, following my main subject as I press the shutter release button. Follow the runner all the way through and do not jerk or stop your camera as you are shooting. Don't be afraid to use your motor drive if you have one. Generally, the faster your subject, the faster your shutter speed. This technique will take some practice and some experimenting with different shutter speeds to get your desired image.
The above tips have worked for me, I hope you are able to benefit from them as well.
DLK
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Sports Illustrated Photographer David Liam KyleSports Illustrated photographer David Liam Kyle with Canon 1200mm lens ready for Cleveland Indians game at Jacobs Field. Cleveland, OH 4/2/1996.
This photo popped up on Getty Images recently. Old photo of myself while on assignment for Sports Illustrated photographing Indians game in 1996 with a Canon 1200mm F5.6 lens. Supposedly only twenty 1200mm lenses were ever actually built. Of course this lens was owned by Sports Illustrated and was listed for sale by B&H for $180,000.00 in 2015.]]>If you are a baseball fan or photo buff, I hope you can forget a little bit of what is happening now and enjoy this old Story Behind the Shot from back in the day.
Opening Day 1996
If you live in Cleveland or any place where it is cold, the opening day brings you to hope that warm weather is here – and summer is just around the corner. Opening day also brings back memories of one of my favorite baseball feature photos. It was April 1996, and I was assigned by Sports Illustrated to cover the Cleveland Indians’ opening day game with the New York Yankees. Cleveland had a huge snowfall overnight, and the game was canceled first thing in the morning. I called Maureen "Moe" Cavanagh, the baseball photo editor and one of the best in the business, to check-in and let her know the game was canceled. Moe knew of the cancellation but suggested I go to the park anyway to see if anything was happening. She said I always come up with something. Although we had a lot of snow the day before, the weather turned warm. So I grabbed my gear and drove down to Jacobs Field. I walked into the park with my Nikon FM2 with a 180mm lens and Nikon F3 and a 300mm f/2.8 lens attached – all loaded with film and ready to shoot. I also carried wide-angle lenses in my camera bag just in case.
As I headed onto the field, I was pleasantly surprised to find a couple of the New York Yankees players dressed in their uniforms playing in the snow. I grabbed a couple of photos of them throwing snowballs and then I noticed Yankees pitcher Kenny Rogers rolling a giant snowball. The light background was not conducive for capturing the detail of the scene so I quickly changed my position so I would have a dark background. This created a nice backdrop with better contrast so the player and snow would pop out of the background better. It was fun watching these guys play in the snow like little kids. They did not stay out very long and headed back into the locker room after one of the coaches told them to come inside. I was very glad that I had my gear ready to go when I walk into the park because I only had about ten minutes to shoot at the most. Very pleased with what I shot and the fact that I was the only one there with a camera, I headed back to the car.
This being a Monday in 1996, the old days of film with manual focus cameras and lenses. Along with it being Sports Illustrated deadline day, I immediately went to the airport to ship the film to New York. No digital and email back then. I called Moe to tell her that her instincts were correct and the film was on its way. Moe loved the pictures as well as the editors and my photo of Rogers ran on the contents page of Sports Illustrated with the caption...
APRIL FOOL
Yankee Kenny Rogers uses his $20 million arm to have a ball when New York's season opener at Cleveland was snowed out on Monday. Photograph by David Liam Kyle
"Either Sports Illustrated Deserves Better Or None Of US Do" by Ray Ratto
Just like to share this article by Ray Ratto and the great response from my friend and great Sports Illustrated photographer Al Tielemans.
Hey, Ray Ratto....just my two cents here. One of the biggest problems at SI was that the hierarchy was all writers...at a place called Sports ILLUSTRATED! (Yeah, I know they "illustrated with words") I will NEVER downplay the work of our writers, whose week-long dives into the minutiae of the game and the players made game stories come alive like no place else. Our writers were brilliant...fucking brilliant. Steve Rushin, Austin Murphy, Tim Layden, Joe Posnanski, Scott Price, Michael Bamberger, to name just a few of my favorites (writers AND people) often made me realize my BA-in-English-transition-to-photography was the right move!!
But whoa, Ray, you forgot something. The pictures. Sure all the decision-making was made by the word geeks, but the photo geeks were vital too, and maybe, as the business morphed into the digital meme & gif society we live in now, if a little more attention had been given to the pictures we might (and I repeat, MIGHT) not be here now.
Two concrete examples: When the photo department went essentially fully digital in 2002, there were a lot of issues photographers had to deal with (way too wonky to get into here) so we asked for a meeting. "No," said the word geeks. So the photogs flew in, on their own nickel, invited the photo department and even the great poobah ME to come discuss our concerns and ideas. One of the biggest things to come out of the meetings, was that we were all willing to use the digital technology to get pictures up on the website, almost immediately after any event, especially the major ones. Forget about the debates and details...this was essentially shot down because photographers could not be "trusted" to write captions. Given the crass captions that were being written for the NFL cheerleader galleries, that was obviously a missed opportunity.
Second, the last 6 months of my time at SI, I essentially stopped dealing with the Photo Department, because honesty had gone the way of the E-6 process (photo joke). I started hanging with the tech heads, the publisher, the advertising guys. I wanted to know what was going on above us that was costing us all this money and jobs. I would bring camera executives in to meet these people, and they would leave laughing at their cluelessness. I kept digging. I learned that "in the past" ad agencies would just show up with a wheelbarrow full of money and say here's $XXX give me 6 months. I sat with the publisher and ad vp one day at lunch, and they explained how things had changed...they explained RFP's to me... "Request for Proposals." So apparently, now, ad agencies would come to several media outlets and bring them a concept, like, we want to "own sportsmanship" or we want to "own success" and the media organization would bid on these concepts with advertorial drivel like 'what a great businessman some former athlete became.' They suggested I come up with ideas, several of them, ten or more, that they could "put on the shelf" so that when one of these RFP's came through the door, they might be able to apply it and bid successfully.
As we talked, either the ad vp or the publisher said to the other, "Oh, we've never thought of putting together a visual package."
That night I went home and started preparing to get laid off. I was job eliminated three months later.
So here's a callout to the brilliant minds and people that I photographed the ILLUSTRATED part of "the" magazine with at one time or another...Walter Iooss (my first real inspiration, I called him at home in 1985, and he chatted with me for 10-15 minutes about how to get started in this field...I was 22. I always enjoyed that we shared a Belgian heritage, and when I got to work with him the first time at the '95 World T&F championships in Sweden, I figured I'd get to watch him throw his cameras around and have the pictures land in his lap...WRONG...Walter worked his ass off...), John Biever (a great photographer, and maybe ten times that greater a person...he was my SI 'dad' and 'big brother' and raised me in the SI world) Damian Strohmeyer (I learned a lot about how to parent my kids by listening to him), Chuck Solomon (my closest friend on the staff, even though I was not allowed to watch the Sopranos with him during Spring Training because I might say something at an inopportune time), the tireless Heinz Kluetmeier (gave me my first contract as DoP, but taught me more about real life and publishing life than I probably realized at the time....also drove me crazy at times) George Tiedemann (great chats about life...and a Great name!), Tony Tomsic (the Gentle Giant), John Iacono, Ron Modra, Peter Read Miller (met him as an overwhelmed 23 year old at the 1986 Olympic Festival SI Sports photography workshop and he was the first person to bring the SI mystique down to 'real people working hard, working smart'), Richard Mackson, Manny Rubio, David Klutho, Anthony Neste (shoulda gone to FL with Tony....sigh....), VJ Lovero (we had a business spat early on, but worked it out and became very close....many long conversations during his illness...first a medical report, and then an ongoing debate about all things baseball...V'J though we should all have numbers, like ballplayers did....he wanted to be 14, like Pete Rose), Dave Kyle, Robert Beck (probably the most talented, well rounded and funny photographer I ever worked with), Simon Bruty (the best political conversations and debates!), Bill Eppridge (Oh, the stories....), Manny Millan, Neil Leifer, Richard Clarkson, John McDonough, Brad Mangin (we met while working the 1990 World Series in Cincy for the National Sports Daily...fellow baseball junkie....the John Boccabella vs. Randy Hundley debate rages on!), Fred Vuich (Fred and I destroyed Beck and Kojo in wiffle ball at one of the golf majors, and we also toured England in a one week $3,000 Land Rover rental...Nina was not happy), Bob Martin, Kojo Kinno, Bill, Frakes, Greg Nelson, Jeffery Salter, Lynn Johnson, and all the people I missed (apologies) and that came before.....Cheers to all those people that encouraged everyone to flip open the magazine and look at the pictures first.
View article...
Either Sports Illustrated Deserves Better or None of Us Do by Ray Ratto
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ESPN Instagram receives over 300,000 likes.
]]>Real crazy and gratifying when you get multiple texts 10 minutes after you shoot a photo that your picture of Ja Morant is going viral...
ESPN Instagram just one of many major sports new outlets that published my photo.
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Great to be associated and work with some of the legends in sports photography. But the real honor is to be able to call them my friends.
About the photo...while on assignment for Sports Illustrated, I photographed Penn State All-American QB Kerry Collins as he ran out of the pocket in a cold, snowy game on Oct 30th, 1993, against The Ohio State Buckeyes. Shot with manual lens, camera, and film. To see all the photos, click ...Sports Illustrated
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Over twenty years ago I came across an old hoop attached to a garage that stirred a feeling in my soul, not realizing why, I grabbed a photo. Later realizing it reminded me of my old neighborhood hoop and the great times as a kid growing up in Cleveland.
Having played ball at every level I have fond memories and appreciate the purity of the game at its simplest form...the back yard hoop.
This first photo lead me into seeing classic old hoops as art. I began looking and photographing more hoops, but only hoops that I felt there was a passion for the game. I knocked on doors for permission to photograph their hoops. Meeting people and hearing their hoop stories was more interesting than photographing the hoop. I even shot around a bit with a few families.
My personal love for the game as well as photography turned my idea into my Classic Hoop Collection. Years ago I was featured in several sports media outlets including SLAM and Sports Illustrated. At the time I didn't realize the power of social media and how popular my Classic Hoop photo essay would become.
As an artist I am honored to be the original creator and widen people's vision as seeing old hoops as art. Love the thought that my idea and vision brings back hoop memories of the game to so many people. Enjoy my original Classic Hoop Collection™
They even make the best camera straps... even if you don't need one! Sounds funny, right? Although my Pro Loop Straps get plenty of work, there are many assignments I don't need a camera strap. Why? Because they get in the way. While shooting NBA action, I sit on the floor using several cameras. My cameras are connected with ethernet and remote trigger cables. Adding a couple of camera straps to the mix would be like having tangled Christmas lights. All would get tangled easily, especially when I quickly needed to change cameras.
What helps put OPTECH/USA on top of my list, besides their super comfortable camera straps, is their Uni-Loop connector system. The Uni-Loops disconnect quickly to remove the strap and the X-Long version Uni-Loop connectors can be clipped together to create a small carrying handle. The actual camera strap can be removed in seconds when not needed and reconnected quickly when needed.
Being a pro photographer with over thirty-five years of experience shooting everything from pro sports to nature, I highly recommend OP/TECH/USA. Besides the Uni-Loop connectors, they make other great gear. Plus, they will have a comfortable strap for your style and size. You will feel the difference. I should know...being 6'9”, they make the only strap that fits me and my demands. OP/TECH gear is proudly made in the USA.
Click here to visit OP/TECH USA
Below is a sample of the Uni-Loop X-Long connector without a camera strap. Click HERE to go directly to OP/TECH USA Uni-Loop.
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Kevin Durant
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Cavs CelebrateThe Cavs Cedi Osman and Rodney Hood celebrate Rodney's buzzer beater to put Cavs up six at the half against Warriors.
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NBA Ballgame!NBA Instagram with over a half a million likes!
Ballgame!King James version of Ballgame!
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Copyright 2017 DAVID LIAM KYLE
Over eighteen years ago I came across an old hoop attached to a garage that stirred a feeling in my soul. Not realizing why, I grabbed a photo. Later I realized it reminded me of the fun times I had playing ball as a kid on Meadowbrook Ave in Cleveland. We had some great times playing 3on3 or 2on2 with my buddies... the Aber and Reppa brothers along with Bob Russell. Playing ball at every level I have fond memories and appreciate the purity of the game at it's simplest form...the back yard hoop. That first hoop photo lead me to seeing classic hoops as art. I began photographing more hoops, but only hoops that I felt there was a passion for the game. My personal love for the game as well as photography turned into my Classic Hoop Collection. Years ago I was featured nationally in several major sports outlets and since then my project has been copied by numerous other photographers and sports news agencies. Hope you enjoy my hoop images!]]>
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Since I am a believer in the "K.I.S.S. Principle"...here are some simple tips for photographing waterfalls.
Your basic photographic gear needs...
A good solid tripod.
Camera with shutter priority capabilities.
Neutral density or polarizing filters.
Cable release.
In my opinion the the best time of day to photograph waterfalls is in the early morning and evening. Usually called the magic hour because of the soft light. An overcast day also works well. Basically, you want to avoid harsh sunlight.
Once you have found your beautiful waterfalls to photograph. Find the perfect composition while hand holding your camera. Then attach your camera to your tripod and firmly place on solid ground. Adjust your composition, focus and set your camera to shutter priority.
Connect your cable release to your camera. It is very important you do not have any camera movement during your exposure, so use the cable release. If you do not have a cable release just set the automatic timer on your camera.
Add your neutral density or polarizing filter in front of your lens. This will limit the amount of light entering your camera and permits you to use a slower shutter speed. The slow shutter speed gives the waterfalls that painterly appearance. Start at 1/6th shutter speed and make adjustments for the image your are trying to create. The longer the shutter speed, the more blurred motion will appear on your photo. Shoot several shots and adjust for exposure and motion to your artistic preference.
Hope these simple tips help you enjoy your photography experience.
All the best.
DLK
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Cavs Ring Ceremonyleft to right: Len Komoroski - Chief Executive Officer, David Griffin - General Manager, Jeff Cohen - Vice Chairman, myself, Dan Gilbert - Cavs Owner and Nate Forbes - Vice Chairman.
Close up action shot of me shooting Cavs game with ring. Photo by the great Dave Richard.
Ring on my photo position I have had for twenty five years.
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From Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland...
In its blog, Social Solutions said BGCC "does several things well to personalize their report and help the reader connect with the mission of the organization. From the cover page to the final page, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland use large images of the children they work with day in and day out. These are not stock photos, but instead pictures of the actual students they serve.This approach helps stakeholders and donors see where their money is going, and who is actually being served. In addition to using authentic photos to get the readers attention, quotes from individuals are used alongside their pictures. These quotes help give the photos some context, and can provide a powerful and inspirational message to the reader. It shows the impact that Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland has through the words of their students." Our annual report was produced by Ken Wood, Lauren Pollock and David Liam Kyle Photography. You can view the report at www.clevekids.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland Annual Report Award Winning Cover
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Over the years, I have photographed many professional sporting events. I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to photograph high school sports, especially during state tournaments. I love the emotion of the athletes, the ability to creatively change photo positions, and the potential to capture the drama of the sport.
I will use high school sports as the middle ground for my photography tips, although they apply to all levels, from tee-ball to professionals.
"Failure to Prepare is Preparing to Fail"
This is a famous quote by John Wooden that I try to follow in my life, especially in my profession. I have all my equipment packed and ready to go the night before the assignment. I review the shooting process as soon as I receive the assignment, and I prep all the proper gear as early as possible. I pack extra, fully charged nicads, the correct lenses for the shoot, camera bodies, high-speed Lexar cards, a monopod, and a chamois cloth. If you are photographing youth league or high school sports, make sure you have permission from event organizers ahead of time and know your restrictions in terms of photo positions. This way, you will avoid any game time issues that may prohibit you from shooting.
The Importance of Positioning:
Be smart and considerate when choosing where you shoot. I arrive early to an event to evaluate the lighting conditions and check for the best photographic positions. Generally, I want to work with the sun, not against it. I prefer a nice side or frontal light, and I make sure I have clean, dark backgrounds. Avoid having signs, trees, parking lots, garbage cans, etc in your background. Darker backgrounds and wide apertures make the athletes pop into the image. It is important that you try to find shooting positions where your viewing angle will not get blocked by officials or umpires. At the same time, be polite and make sure you do not block the view of spectators.
Sand BlastTo learn more about photography sports go to my BLOG "Tips for Sports Photographers by David Liam Kyle."
Exposure - The Wider, the Better:
I always try to shoot “wide open.” That means setting and shooting with your aperture set at F2.8, F/4, or F5.6, depending on your lens. I usually shoot in Manual or Aperture Priority Mode at the widest setting possible. The bigger the aperture opening, the less depth of field you will have, isolating your subject from the background. The wide-open aperture lets more light into your camera, creating a faster shutter speed. You usually need to have your shutter speed at least 1/1000 of a second to stop the action. It is recommended to shoot at 1/2000 or faster to stop extremely fast action, such as a pitcher’s throwing motion or a swinging bat. Adjust the ISO in your camera to accomplish the correct shutter speed. For the best quality images, you want to keep your ISO as low as possible. Take a couple of test exposures to double-check this because the dark background or bright white uniforms can trick your meter and over (under) expose your main subject. Know how your camera works and set it accordingly. I also use my camera's “Continuous Focus” setting and one center focus point. This way, your camera focusing system is not jumping around, and you’ll have more control over what's in focus.
Safe at SecondTo learn more about photography sports go to my BLOG "Tips for Sports Photographers by David Liam Kyle."
Know the Game:
Be knowledgeable about all the sports you plan on photographing. After viewing my Cavaliers photos, some photographers asked me if I know the plays. The truth is, I will usually have the plays down within the first few games of the season. Pay attention to the game and anticipate what play may happen next. For example, during a baseball game, is the runner on first going to steal second? Is there a chance for a double play? Will there be a play at the plate? Could this be the game-winning hit? Photographers miss photos because they chat with the person next to them. Anticipate! Once a play happens, you better be ready because it will not happen again.
Silhouette Images:
Silhouette images are fun and easy to shoot, providing the sun is out, and you have a clean background. I took this low-angle silhouette by focusing on the first hurdle, then set my camera on the ground and composed the image. I employed manual exposure to expose the sky and used a 17mm lens at f/14 at 1/1000 to stop the action. Test some exposures ahead of time to get the desired effect.
Not Just Action:
When the play is over, it doesn't mean you put your head down and look at your images. There are a lot of great sports images that are not action shots. Keep an eye out for something different or unusual. Look for images that tell a story and capture the drama and emotions of the game.
Try a Different Angle:
Try shooting from the stands for a higher view with a long lens. You can get cleaner backgrounds and more artistic images from the upper position. This only works if you shoot in a larger stadium with an unobstructed view.
A Fan of the Pan:
Another artistic way to capture amazing sports action is by panning. When photographing a moving athlete, the panning technique is achieved by keeping your main subject in the frame for the entire exposure time. The slower your shutter speed, the more unusual and interesting the effect. Pre-focus on the runner’s lane and start following your subject before you press the shutter release button. I tuck my elbows into my chest and turn at my waist, following my main subject as I press the shutter release button. Follow the runner all the way through and do not jerk or stop your camera as you shoot. Don't be afraid to use your motor drive if you have one. Generally, the faster your subject, the faster your shutter speed. This technique will take some practice and experimenting with different shutter speeds to get your desired image.
The above tips have worked for me; I hope you can also benefit from them.
DLK
Zenfolio is a great site for sharing photographs with clients in private galleries or selling online. I use Zenfolio to promote my work, but I love the private CLIENT access, which allows clients to download photographs easily and professionally.
Check out Zenfolio! They offer a free trial! Give it a shot...you can't miss!
Use code kyle20 at checkout for a 20% discount!
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Two great shots in one! @joehaden23 sat behind me at the @cavs game last night and tweeted out this photo he took while I was reviewing my images. Joe is a class guy and if you met him you can understand why he is one of the all time favorite Browns players. ]]>
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LeBron James©NBA Entertainment
ESPNPretty cool feeling watching ESPN and my photo from last nights Cavs win pops up full screen.
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Yesterday Sports Illustrated featured several of my photos again titled...
Cleveland Browns Fans React to "The Move"
Twenty years ago, on November 6, 1995, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell officially announced the team would move to Baltimore for the 1996 NFL season. Even though the Browns were 39-57 in the '90s, their average attendance since 1990 (over 70,000) was fourth in the league. Needless to say, Browns fans did not take the news so well...
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Scott Heckal grabbed this nice shot of Kevin Love and myself during Cavs Media Day. Kevin is one of the nicest players to wear a Cavs uniform. Great to have him back and healthy for the next few years.]]>
Added new hoop to my original Classic Hoop Collection™ from the Boys and Girls Club of East Cleveland. Also gave a shooting lesson to a future star on this rim. I liked the silhouette with the focus on the first ring with worn net which reminded me of all the nets that I wore out back in the day. Only one light was on until the gym opened which gave me the feeling of tranquility as I remembered being the first one in the gym and the quiet sounds of the ball hitting the brakes on the backboard and swishing through the net. To view my original Classic Hoop Collection™ click HERE.
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]]>As the team photographer for the Cleveland Cavalier since 1991 I have taken plenty of NBA images. Photos go directly to the NBA photo desk then on to their clients. I shoot a lot of images and I obviously can not remember them all but one particular image stood out that I took of Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was just a nice clean crisp shot with him dribbling the ball taken with speedotron strobes. The image just popped off my camera viewfinder while I was reviewing images during a timeout. I just knew this photo will be used somewhere in the future. Not sure where or when but probably in Oklahoma, so I thought.
Few months later during the off season I am sitting at the Affordable Muffler shop in Cleveland getting my muffler fixed on my car. Just killing time checking my twitter links on my phone when I see the big announcement from Play Station for their PS4 NBA2K15 cover art. Highly coveted by all NBA players. Not thinking much about it I click on the link and watch as a photo of Kevin Durant pops up on the cover. My Kevin Durant photo!
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Getting down to basics
Spring training isn’t just for athletes. Photographers need to be ready when it is time to shoot baseball games and track meets. Some of the best opportunities for great images may present themselves in the first week of the season, so be prepared. Here are a few basic tips that will help you get better sports photos of your youth league or high school athlete.
Be Prepared: Hey, it’s not just a slogan for Boy Scouts. If you are photographing youth league or high school sports, make sure you have permission from event organizers and know your restrictions in terms of photo positions. That way you will avoid any game time confrontations. You want to document the event, not be part of the event.
The Importance of Positioning: Be smart and considerate in choosing where you shoot. When walking into a sporting event, the first thing I do is check the lighting conditions. Generally, I want to work with the sun, not against it. I prefer nice side or frontal light, and I make sure I have clean, dark backgrounds. Try to avoid signs, trees, parking lots, garbage cans, etc. Darker backgrounds make the athletes’ images pop. It is important that you try to find shooting positions where you will not get blocked by officials and umpires. At the same time, be polite and make sure you do not block the view of spectators.
The dark background with shallow depth field along with side light makes the dirt pop out of the image and his glove. ©David Liam Kyle.com
The Wider, the Better
Always try to shoot “wide open.” That means setting and shooting with your aperture set at f/2.8, f/4 or f/5.6 depending on your lens. The longer the lens the better. Preferably with a 300mm or 400mm telephoto. I usually shoot in Manual or Aperture Priority Mode at the widest setting possible. You may also try the Auto ISO setting if your camera has that capability. In Auto ISO you set the aperture and shutter speed and the ISO automatically changes depending on the lighting situation. In any case the bigger the aperture opening, the less depth of field you will have, isolating your subject from the background. The wide open aperture will also let more light into your camera, creating a faster shutter speed. You usually need to have your shutter speed at least at 1/1000 of a second to stop the action. It is recommended to shoot at 1/2000 or faster to stop super fast action, such as a pitcher’s throwing motion or a swinging bat. Adjust your ISO in your camera to accomplish the correct shutter speed. For the best quality of images, you want to keep your ISO as low as possible. Take a couple of test exposures to double-check this, because the dark background or bright white uniforms can trick your meter and over or under expose your main subject. Know how your camera works and set it accordingly. I also use the Continuous Focus setting and one center focus point in my camera. That way your camera focusing system is not jumping around, and you have more control of what you want in focus.
Play at second base shot with 400mm lens at f5.6 at 1/1600th, 200 ISO. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Know the Game You’re Shooting
Be knowledgeable about all the sports you plan on photographing. Pay attention to the game and anticipate what play may happen next. Is the runner on first going to steal second? Is there a chance for a double play? Will there be a play at the plate? Could this be the game winning hit? I have seen photographers miss photos because they were chatting with the person next to them. Anticipate! Once a play happens, you better be ready because it will not happen again. You can't go tell the players to do it over.
The best part about track is that the events are all scheduled, and you know exactly where the athletes are going to be running or jumping. This allows you to plan ahead for some creative angles. The worst part about track is that a lot of events are happening at the same time, and you obviously can’t be in two places at once. So get yourself a schedule and plan what events you will be photographing. Look at different shooting positions. Can you get some interesting angles from the stands? Can you get inside the track? I took this low angle silhouette photo by focusing on the first hurdle and then setting my camera on the ground and composing the image. I employed manual exposure to expose for the sky and used a 17mm lens at f/14 at 1/1000 to stop the action.
Expose for the sky to create interesting silhouette photos. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Try to capture the intensity and emotion of sports as well as peak action.
I captured the jubilation as the pole vaulter realized she just set a new state record. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Don't worry if you can't get on the field. I also like to shoot from different positions from the stands with a 400mm lens. I find that from this position I can get cleaner backgrounds and more artistic sports images.
Shoot from the stands for some interesting shadows and angles. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Look for jubilation at home plate after a home run. ©David Liam Kyle.com
A Fan of the Pan
Another artistic way to capture amazing sports action is by panning. When photographing a moving athlete, the panning technique is achieved by keeping your main subject in the frame for the entire time of the exposure. The slower your shutter speed, the more unusual and interesting the effect. Pre-focus on the runner’s lane and start following your subject before you press the shutter release button. I generally tuck my elbows into my chest and turn at my waist, following my main subject as I press the shutter release button. Follow the runner all the way through and do not jerk or stop your camera as you are shooting. Don't be afraid to use your motor drive if you have one. Generally, the faster your subject, the faster your shutter speed. This technique will take some practice and some experimenting with different shutter speeds to get your desired image.
I followed the leader of this event by panning and using a slow shutter speed to create this artistic image. This picture was taken a few frames before the below image. Photo taken at f/29 at 1/40th of a second at 200 ISO. ©David Liam Kyle.com
You can tell she is a smooth runner and that I some how panned perfectly because her face is tack sharp and the rest has motion blur. I usually follow the rule of thirds when positioning the main subject but wanted her to run into the image and also show that she was leading the race. Photo taken at f/29 at 1/40th of a second at 200 ISO. ©David Liam Kyle.com
One More Thing
Practice like an athlete. Be dedicated and determined in your efforts to get great photographs.
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Cavs graphics department always do a great job with my photos. ]]>
Check it out HERE!
Very honored that Portfolio Magazine, a premiere lifestyles, interest, and leisure magazine based out of Naples, Florida, has featured my Shear Strength Cleveland™ photo collection along with my biography. This is an outstanding publication that features the best local artists and galleries.
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SI runs one of my game photos.
Is your Nikon lens zoom rubber grip loose? If you shoot a lot of sports you tend to be constantly using your zoom ring. A couple of my Nikon lens rubber zoom grip became unglued and stretched out and I didn't have the time or feel like spending the money to send it in for repair. Here is a very easy and inexpensive way to repair your lens.
Rubber grip stretched and loose on my 70-200mm Nikkor lens.
View of stretched out rubber zoom grip on my Nikkor 70-200mm lens.
STEP 1:
I happened to have Staples #84 rubber bands in my office supplies. You will need two.
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
STEP 2:
Take off your tripod mount from your 70-200mm lens and carefully move rubber zoom grip out of the way and slip rubber band into position. As shown in following photos.
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
STEP 3:
Place the first rubber band smoothly in slotted groove fitting tightly to one edge. Make room for the second rubber band.
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
STEP 4:
Two Staples #84 rubber bands will fit perfectly in the rubber zoom ring grip slotted area. Slowly place the second rubber band onto lens as shown in following two photos.
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
Perfect fit. Now...
STEP 5:
Slowly and carefully slide the original Nikon rubber zoom grip on top of the two rubber bands. Be careful not to over stretch and tear your original runner zoom grip.
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
©DAVID LIAM KYLE 2015 - All Rights Reserved - www.DavidLiamKyle.com - [email protected]
That's it! Your done! A perfect fit that probably cost you less than a cup of coffee.
I fixed this lens several years ago and haven't had any issues. It actually feels a bit softer and gives you a better feel. I also did this same procedure with my stretched our rubber zoom grip on my Nikkor 28-300mm lens. Hope this helps!
Thanks,
DLK
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Ansel Adams
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Kyrie Irving reacts after hitting game winning three pointer.
OP/TECH USA has a common-sense approach to their products and it's obvious they have the active photographer in mind while designing their gear. I love the weight-absorbing neoprene nonslip pad on their camera straps that GREATLY eases the stress on your neck and shoulders.
Their Uni-Loop system connectors are a great idea! They quickly disconnect and can be clipped together to create a small carrying handle when the strap is removed. Great for the times that I prefer not to use camera straps (photographing NBA games) because they get in the way when I have to quickly grab my camera.
Being a pro photographer with over thirty years of experience shooting everything from pro sports to nature I highly recommend OP/TECH USA. They will have a comfortable strap for your style and size and you will definitely feel the difference. I should know...being 6'9” they make the only strap that fits me and my demands. OP/TECH gear is proudly made in the USA.
Click here to visit OP/TECH USA
(Below is a sample of Uni-Loop XL connector without camera strap and click HERE to go directly to OP/TECH USA Uni-Loop video).
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I'd grabbed this pair of brand-new Nikes from my basement just before heading to the game. Although never worn, they were probably over ten years old. I think they were an old pair from Antonio Lang. So here I am in the middle of the first half under the basket in the Q, with the sole of my shoe hanging off. I know from growing up with hand-me-down shoes that using tape isn't going to cut it. I text a friend who's worked in Cavs equipment management for many years, tell him my situation, and ask if he can help me.
At the next timeout of the game, he brings a brand new pair of Andy Varejo Nike basketball shoes out to my spot on the court, already laced up. Only at the "Q" could I find a pair of size 16 shoes without any problem. All the surprised fans sitting right behind me were asking whose shoes they belonged to and if they were autographed. I explained the situation and jokingly said I would gladly sign my old shoes for them!
I put on the new shoes at halftime, and they felt great. I got up and walked off the court to stretch and threw my old pair in the nearest garbage can. Mike Hines, with the arena court security, told me that someone came moments later and took my old shoes out of the garbage!
Ready for second half of game with my new shoes.
Check out one of my LeBron photos in Sports Illustrated NBA Preview!
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and apparently a lot of other people do too. Lot of stores are back ordered but they are in stock at Adorama. Yea, I ordered a couple more before I told you.
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Drove by this old barn for years waiting for the opportunity to stop by because the old farm house has been empty for years. Barn sits way back from the road and entire barn is spray painted red. Judy wondered how I ever saw the hoop in the first place because it blends in with the boarded windows and paint and the speed limit on the road is 55. Had a nice chat with Kenny the owner who said he put the hoop up when he was in junior high school and he is 64 years old now. First thing he asked me was...How did you ever see that from the road? I laughed and told him that is exactly what my wife said. I shot some nice tight shots for my collection but I like the composition of the boarded window along with the hoop. Rim was bent by farm equipment not Kenny's jumpshot. To view more of my "Shooting Hoops - The Original Classic Hoop Collection"™ click HERE.
Red Barn HoopDAVID LIAM KYLE 2014 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - www.davidliamkyle.com
View my Kevin Love photos from today's press conference and portrait photo shoot on Cavs.com. Kevin was a pleasure to speak with and photograph. Going to be a FUN year!
DAVID LIAM KYLE 2014 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - www.davidliamkyle.com
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Double click on photo to take you to Zenfolio Blog.
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Photo by Kenny Roda
Check out my press conference photos on Cavs.com.
Top of Terminal TowerOne of my favorite Long Arm Shots was taken while on assignment featuring the gentleman who replaces the American flag on top of the Terminal Tower. His first name was Ray. Sorry I can't recall his last name. At that time it was the highest building in Cleveland and I was at the highest point humanly possible unless you are Spiderman.
LONG ARM SHOT
Many people have staked claim to the fact that they have invented the selfie. (I consider a selfie a photo taken of yourself while you hold the camera) By the way, I would never call it a "selfie" because it was never about me. It was about where I was, or who I was with... I call it my "Long Arm Shot." When I first started shooting this in the early eighties, I used a NIKON F2 35mm manual film camera with a 20mm lens. With the older cameras, you needed long arms and big hands to create this photo. Since I am 6'9", I had no problem. I am NOT claiming to have invented the selfie, but I know I'm glad I took a few "Long Arm Shots" to document some great memories.
THE GENESIS OF THE LONG-ARM SHOT
My first Long Arm Shot was taken in 1981 while covering the Strongsville Air Show. Tom Krukemeyer,
the show organizer asked me if I was interested in going up in an airplane to photograph the historic bi-plane from the air. I climbed into the passenger seat of one of their small planes, and we started toward the runway. Since both steering wheels move forward, backward, and side to side, the pilot was concerned that my legs were too long to allow room for the controls to move freely. We started heading down the runway, and I could sense the pilot was getting a bit nervous. As we accelerated for takeoff, becoming even more nervous, the pilot energetically expressed his concern again that he might have problems with my legs on the way. "Then don't do anything stupid," I quickly responded. He was relieved as he slowed down and took us back to the hangar. Once we returned, Tom Krukmeyer said, "I have a plane that I'm sure you'll fit into." The AT6 Fighter Trainer plane was displayed that day by the Historical Society. As Tom talked to the pilot, a crew of ten volunteers was polishing the plane. It looked impressive. Tom introduces me to the pilot, and as we shake hands, he says, "If you're ready to go...hop in." He didn't have to tell me twice.
While getting into the Cockpit, I thought my father would never believe I was flying in an AT6.
My Dad was a Marine combat veteran who received three purple hearts during WWII. He always loved these old fighter planes and even mentioned they saved him in combat more than once. We start rolling down the runway. I'm buckled in. Listening to the pilot through headphones, I can hear and talk to him sitting directly in front of me. "Are you ready?" comes through my headset... As soon as I say yes, I hear, "Here we go." The powerful engine roars to life, and we take off in seconds. I've never felt so safe in an airplane, feeling the power of that engine and knowing I have a veteran pilot in control. That AT6 was so powerful it could have taken off in my short Cleveland driveway. As we are flying around, I see several golf courses from the sky. I knew my Dad was playing golf somewhere today, as he did every weekend. I thought," Man, if Dad could see me now, he wouldn't believe it." I needed some evidence, so I shot photos of the pilot with a 20mm lens on my Nikon camera. I then turned the camera around and took a couple of shots of myself while we were in the air. I also took photos of the bi-plane as we circled above. After we landed, I handed my camera to one of the crew members and asked that they take my picture as I exited the Cockpit.
This was the early eighties, the old days before cell phones. I had to wait until I got home that evening to call my Dad. I say hello, but before I can say anything more, he tells me, "Dave...you are not going to believe what I saw today when I was playing golf...two old planes...looked like they were dogfighting". So I said, "Dad, I was in one of those!" But he said nothing. I was disappointed that he didn't believe me. Although I can understand why I was one of eight children, I'm sure he's heard some whopper stories from my older brothers over the years. I'm also notorious for playing practical jokes. So I didn't try to convince him; I just told him I'd be over Monday with the photos.
After finishing work at the newspaper, I print up several black and white images from my flight. Photos of the AT6 Fighter Trainer plane, wide angles of the pilot in flight, the biplane in flight, my Long Arm Shot in the Cockpit, and myself getting out of the plane. I walked into my folk's house and saw my Dad sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. I hand him a bunch of 8x10s... he looks at the pictures and gets a big grin on his face. Immediately he picks up the phone and starts dialing. "Hey Joe, you know those old planes flying around Saturday while we were golfing? My boy Dave was in one of them! Yea...really, he even has photos!"
Not sure where those original photos went, as my Dad passed away a few years later in 1984 from cancer. I will never forget his face as he viewed my first "Long Arm Shot."
I've taken hundreds of thousands of photos over my photojournalism career and never thought about organizing a "Long Arm Shot" collection. Many of the Long Arm Shot negatives are filed away with other assignments, and I gave most of the prints away to the people in the photo. I did, however, save a few of my favorites that you might enjoy.
The photos below were taken twenty-five to thirty years ago—a lifetime for many. I hate to say my new friends can't even recognize me. But instead, they all say..." is that you?"
Note: I took all Long Arm Shot photos with my left hand because I could hold the camera more securely and press the shutter release easily with my thumb. Since the camera was entirely manual, I would set the exposure beforehand. While holding my Nikon FM2 in my right hand, I would extend my left arm in front of me and focus on my hand. Then switch the camera to my left hand, raise my arm, aim, and click the shutter. Easy! (mouse over photo for caption).
1988 Miss America Kaye Lani RafkoOne of my favorite people Long Arm Shots was with Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Miss America 1988, while on assignment at the Cleveland Auto Show. We had a chance to chat while she was waiting to give a speech and it was easy to tell why she had won Miss America.
Doug HansonLong Arm Shot with one of my old friends from my Cleveland State days. If you look close you can see my hand and camera reflected inside Doug's mirror sun glasses. Check out the cars too.
ReflectionIf you look close you can actually see my arm holding the Nikon FM2 35mm film camera with straps hanging in the reflection of Doug Hanson's sunglasses.
"The Juice"Grabbed this shot of O.J. Simpson when he was working for NBC on the sideline of the Browns-Bills NFL playoff game. Simpson was at the height of his popularity and laughed when he realized I was taking the picture.
Last Game at StadiumLong Arm Shot after the last Browns game ever played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Photographed game for Sports Illustated and my nephew Mike assisted. Never forget how eerie it was afterwards knowing it was over and hearing all the hammering as fans were removing their stadium seats to take home as souvenirs. SI ran a photo I took of Jim Brown on sideline with tear rolling from his eye.
"Magic"Magic Johnson.
Two Super Joe'sLeft is Joe Sitt along with Indians legend Super Joe Charboneau. Joe Stitt passed away from cancer years ago and was a great reporter and person. Joe just finished interviewing Super Joe Charboneau for a feature story.
Little League World SeriesFriends and fellow co-workers Joe Stiit and Dom "Stu" DiPasqua at Williamsport, PA covering the Little League World Series.
Spot News FirePhotographed a spot news assignment about a building fire when the fireman decided to let it burn out. The fireman and trucks were just out of camera view as I took this Long Arm Shot a lifetime ago. Makes for an interesting photo.
Top of the Terminal TowerOne of my favorite Long Arm Shots was taken while on assignment featuring the gentleman who replaces the American flag on top of the Terminal Tower. His first name is Ray. Sorry I can't recall his last name. At that time it was the highest building in Cleveland and I was at the highest point humanly possible unless you are Spiderman
Cruising in My GalaxieAlmost lost my camera on this one. Driving in my 1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL convertible holding a Nikon FM2 camera with a 20mm lens. Still have the car and my hair although it is gray. Have owned my Galaxie over thirty years and it looks the same and hasn't age a bit. Wish I can say the same about me.
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View links below.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED - BYRON SCOTT
LOS ANGELES TIMES - BYRON SCOTT
SUMMER LEAGUES BIGGEST DRAWS - ESPN WIGGINS PORTRAIT
BUSINESS WEEK - LeBrON JAMES HOMECOMING
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Original photo taken March 20th, 2014 in Cleveland. Image shot with NIKON D3s, 28-300mm lens at f5.6, 1/250th, ISO 320 with strobes on Lexar Digital Media.
View article HERE.
CBS Cleveland runs one of photos. Click HERE to view article.
I met Bill Hemmer, the head publisher of Portfolio Magazine at the opening of Galerie Du Soliel while I was in Naples awhile ago. His initial plans were to feature my Original Classic Hoop Collection™ but he fell in love with my Shear Strength Cleveland Collection that I later added to my website. Said it was "cutting edge." Bill should know, he does a "cutting edge" job on his layouts and publication.
To view the online edition of Portfolio Magazine Naples click HERE. My work is featured on the cover and pages 46 through 51.
Thanks Bill for the great layout and featuring me in your magazine!
Cover by David Liam KyleClick on photo to view Portfolio Magazine.
All images taken with NIKON D3s and 28-300mm Nikkor lens. Lexar Digital. DAVID LIAM KYLE 2014 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - www.davidliamkyle.com
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WWII Medals of Joseph Kyle. USMC Combat Veteran.
Classic Hoop Collection by David Liam Kyle
Zenfolio has declared today as Cyber May Day – Head on over and save 40% on absolutely everything – prints, products, new subscriptions and upgrades. But hurry, this sale is one-day only! http://ow.ly/waGAa
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Ansel Adams
]]>Photography Blogger is a creative photo journal for photographers. P/B features useful tips, inspirations, showcases, and more. Check them out along with my photo spread by clicking HERE. Thought it was pretty cool that the author Tim Kok lives in the Netherlands where I played ball and started my interest in photography.
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for the rest of the story click HERE.
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Every opening day for Major League Baseball brings excitement and hope for a great season.
If you live in Cleveland or any place where it is cold, it also brings you to hope that warm weather is here – or just around the corner. Opening day also brings back memories of one of my favorite baseball feature photos. It was April 1996, and I was assigned by Sports Illustrated to cover the Cleveland Indians’ opening day game with the New York Yankees. Cleveland had a huge snowfall overnight, and the game was canceled first thing in the morning. I called Maureen Grise, the baseball photo editor, to check-in and let her know the game was canceled. Maureen knew of the cancellation but suggested I go to the park anyway to see if anything was happening. She said I always come up with something. So I drove down to Jacobs Field. I grabbed my gear and walked into the park with my Nikon FM2 with a 180mm lens and Nikon F3 and a 300mm f/2.8 lens attached – all loaded with film and ready to shoot. I also carried wide-angle lenses in my camera bag just in case.
As I headed onto the field, I was pleasantly surprised to find a couple of the New York Yankees players dressed in their uniforms playing in the snow. I grabbed a couple of photos of them throwing snowballs and then I noticed Yankees pitcher Kenny Rogers rolling a giant snowball. The light background was not conducive for capturing the detail of the scene so I quickly changed my position so I would have a dark background. This created a better contrast and also created a dark backdrop. The players did not stay out very long, and I immediately went to the airport to ship the film. I called Maureen to tell her that her instincts were correct and the film was on its way. The editors loved my images, and my photo of Rogers ran on the contents page of Sports Illustrated with the caption...
APRIL FOOL
Yankee Kenny Rogers uses his $20 million arm to have a ball when New York's season opener at Cleveland was snowed out on Monday. Photograph by David Liam Kyle
The image was captured with Nikon F3 film camera using a Nikkor 300mm f2.8 lens shot at f/2.8, 1/500th of a second on Fuji Provia 100 ASA film pushed two stops.
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Check out this interesting video on how the wolves changed Yellowstone in a positive way.
Click HERE.
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“Adorama is one of the biggest stores for professional photography gear in the U.S.A. It's the best combination of quality services, a vast selection of products, knowledgeable staff and competitive pricing. You get Same Day Shipping on items in stock when you place your order before 7 PM EST, and Adorama has free shipping on thousands of products!
Support my work and website by purchasing your gear from Adorama through the link below!
the ultimate destination to present your photos and video clips online
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The Original Classic Hoop Collection™ by David Liam Kyle
There is a story behind every backyard basketball hoop in America.
"Nothing But Net"You better hit nothing but net shooting at this hoop. Just one of the many hoops that I have photographed over the years.
Nearly a decade ago, photographer David Liam Kyle began looking for those stories wherever he went. Today, Kyle – a former professional basketball player and nationally acclaimed photojournalist – has assembled those shots in his Classic Hoop Collection, an album containing outdoor backboards and rims attached to everything from weathered barns to ivy-strewn oak trees.
Tales of success, loss, redemption and togetherness are attached to every backboard. “I have discovered so many cool-looking hoops and so many amazing stories behind them,” says Kyle, who himself was an All-American
basketball player at Cleveland State University.
Kyle’s first backyard hoop photo was shot while he was on an unrelated newspaper assignment in Northeast Ohio. As he was walking up the back stairs to a house, he spotted an old, rusty rim and backboard attached to a shed. He had no reason to photograph it, other than that it was interesting.
“I grabbed a couple of shots and didn’t think much of it,” Kyle says. But when he examined the photos, Kyle – whose own love of the game can be traced to the outdoor hoop at his childhood home in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood – wanted to know more. So he went back to the house and talked to the homeowner, a man in his 80s.
“They had four boys, and the kids used to play for hours,” Kyle says. “They put up the hoop when the oldest son was about 12 years old. So you can imagine how much use this hoop saw over the years.”
Kyle’s collection includes hoops on playgrounds, in fields, on barns, on garages and even a few in gymnasiums. He admits favoring old-school “man-made” hoops over those that are prefabricated. Perhaps that comes from his own childhood experience, when he first learned to shoot at a hoop and backboard his oldest brother, Don, fashioned out of a bunch of leftover two-by-fours.
The hoop was functional, but not a thing of beauty. “My brother,” Kyle says with a laugh, “was not particularly handy."
To view my original Classic Hoop Collection™ click HERE. To view my Shooting Hoops feature in SLAM Online click HERE.
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Zenfolio offers great new layouts!
Love the new layouts offered by Zenfolio! Finally had time to incorporate some of their great features. The new thumbnail layouts make your images pop off the page. Check out my some of galleries on my HOME page.
Go to Zenfolio Training videos to help you customize your website!
]]>Mpix Sale!
Hurry...only two days for 25% off!
Need some top quality prints? Good time to order through Zenfolio.
Bring your photos to life and save 25% on all Mpix prints today through January 29 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Mpix provides the highest quality printing trusted by photographers everywhere. As always, no coupon code is necessary when you order with your Zenfolio account. This sale ends January 29 so be sure to place your orders today. http://blog.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/1/bring-your-photos-to-life-and-save-25-on-all-mpix-prints
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To view this artwork go to CLEVELAND. To learn more about Doug (right) and his awesome music go to "Tricky Dick & the Cover-Ups". By the way...Doug isn't really a little guy it's just that I am 6'9".
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+Camera NIKON D3S - EXPOSURE f/16 @ 1 second, ISO 200 - Lexar Digital Image
"Autumn Reflections"
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The ZOOM Tour is coming to a city near you! This event is the perfect opportunity for photographers of all levels to meet, interact, and learn with the pros from Zenfolio. The ZOOM tour features industry professionals presenting on site design, order fulfillment, marketing, and more. There will also be free gifts for all attendees and a chance to speak directly with the presenters and network with fellow photographers.
Prior attendees have raved about their experiences on the ZOOM Tour. Said one: “I had a great time at ZOOM. I learned a lot. I went in thinking I wasn't going to learn anything, but came out with a task list that will take me days to complete! Thanks for everything!” Visit link...Zenfolio ZOOM Tour!
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To get a cover as a SI staff photographer is special. To get a cover as a freelance photographer is enormous. I am honored that one of my photographs is included in the fifty MJ covers, how it happened.
THE PHONE CALL
Michael Jordan had just announced his retirement for the first time from the Chicago Bulls, and I received a call from the basketball photo editor at Sports Illustrated. He was looking for a specific image of Michael walking away. He asked me if I had any shots like that, and I immediately said yes. The editor was surprised that I answered quickly and wanted to know how I knew I had the picture. He asked several times. "Are you sure? Are you positive?" I said, "Yes, I am positive." Then I explained how I knew I had the shot. It was Friday, and Sports Illustrated needed the color transparency ASAP, so it went federal express for Saturday delivery. The editor said he would call me Monday night if I got the cover.
STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOGRAPH
I was photographing the Bulls against the Cavaliers. Michael Jordan and the Bulls were having a rare off night, and Jordan tried to take over the game in the fourth quarter. Jordan was called for traveling as he made a move to the hoop. During the stop-in action, Jordan held onto the ball, so play could not resume. Allowing him to have a one-sided conversation with the referee. As Jordan finished speaking with the ref, the other players were down the court. Michael then started to walk away from the referee and me as he dropped the ball around the free-throw line. I noticed a nice clean shot and thought it would be a great photo when he retires and walks away from the game. I envisioned the layout as I took the picture. Not a great action shot but one that tells a story. Something that no one even thinks of shooting. Right after that play, Ed Nahra, (aka the "Super Fan"), who was sitting courtside, holds up a Michael Jordan Wheaties box and yells with his big profound opera voice, "What's the matter, Michael...Didn't eat your Wheaties? Still steamed from the traveling call, Jordan yells back at him to sit down and be quiet. (Not the actual terminology). This fueled Jordan's competitive nature, and Michael being Michael, dominated the game in the final minutes. The Bulls win again.
MONDAY NIGHT
True to his word, I got a call from the Sports Illustrated photo editor on Monday night. "You got the cover!"
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I have had numerous photos published in SLAM over the years and enjoy there publication and website. But I never thought I would see the day that I would be a subject of one of their stories. Check out a great article by Peter Walsh HERE!
"SLAM has published 155 issues in its history, and has featured the biggest names in basketball on its cover, in articles, and on its famous SLAMups posters". (Wikipedia)
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I have always enjoyed western shows and the history of the old west. The other day I watched the movie Jeremiah Johnson (I saw this movie for the first time in theaters in 1972), one of my favorites, a classic western about a mountain man living isolated in the Rocky Mountains during the Mexican War. I can't count how many times I watched this movie, but I got a good laugh when I realized the character 'Bear Claws' reminded me of one of my good friends and mentor, Tony Tomsic.
Both in looks and personality, Tony and Bear Claws are strikingly similar. My relationship with Tony also happens to be very similar to the relationship between the Main Character and Bear Claws.
As I watched the movie, I thought of Tony every time I heard Bear Claws call Jeremiah Johnson "Pilgrim" in a sarcastic tone. Tomsic has his special term of endearment that is infamous among his friends.
The more I worked with Tomsic, the more I respected him. He is the ultimate team player. The kind of guy that would always have your back. Like Bear Claws, he gives you advice and creative suggestions and lets you learn from your mistakes. So when you receive a compliment from Tony...it means something.
Tony, like Bear Claws, is one of the originals. Tough guy on the outside, great guy on the inside. A pioneer in sports photojournalism from the old days of all manual film cameras.
I had a chance to work with some of the great legends in sports photography, and I am honored to be one of Tomsic's "pilgrims."
I still have lunch with Tony every other month, and I call him immediately after watching the movie Jeremiah Johnson. "I have a new nickname for you meant with respect and affection..."
"What? The big (expletive)?". Tony asked jokingly.
"Nope, Bear Claws."
Tony laughed, "the guy from Jeremiah Johnson movie?"
"Yes!"
"I love it! I just finished watching that movie!" he exclaimed.
A few days later, I received a letter from him with a bumper sticker inside. It said...Have a Nice Day, "ELOHSSA"
]]>"In Yo Face"
I reluctantly but happily decided to leave the security of my staff photography position with the Sun Newspapers in 1992 to become a freelance photographer. At this time, I was a contract photographer for the Cleveland Cavaliers and just broke in with Sports Illustrated. Looking for extra work, I contacted the photo editors at SPORT Magazine and Inside Sport magazine. At their request, I sent them my portfolio.
Photography is one of the few careers where people examine your work first, not your resume. There were several alternatives to present your work in this day in age, not like today, where editors can look at your website. You usually sent slides or tear sheets, and photographers were always concerned about submitting many images. The options for your slide presentation were either slide pages or a slide tray. The editor had to use a slide magnifier with the slide pages, but with the slide tray, they can pop it into a slide projector and view a massive image on the projection screen. I opted for the slide tray with thirty slides containing various images ranging from action to feature. I shipped the slides in the original Kodak box, sent the exact (duplicate) portfolio to both magazines, and anxiously waited for a response.
SPORT Magazine was highly respected and did an outstanding presentation with photos and layouts. If you are not familiar with the old SPORT Magazine, the following is a quote from "The Sport Gallery-History of Sport Magazine" website. "SPORT magazine was America's first significant general-interest sports magazine. By the time of its closing, SPORT was an American institution. The formula was simple: combine terrific editorial features with generous photography presentations, particularly full-page color imagery. It was born as a novel idea and grew into a cultural icon. But it was SPORT's groundbreaking use of color photography that captivated sports fans, many of whom wallpapered their bedrooms with the exquisite full-page photos that were the magazine's signature item. SPORT used many of the nation's top shooters."
Inside Sports quickly returned my portfolio. I anxiously opened it and unexpectedly read an angry letter from their photo editor. He was agitated and thought I sent him too many slides. He also wrote some other choice comments. I caught this editor at the wrong time. Then I noticed that the outside of the slide box I shipped the carousel slide tray said "140 slides". I realized he might have assumed I sent him 140 slides, got mad, and never even opened the box. His return letter was so aggravating and discouraging that I decided to, at this point to either frame it for motivation or get rid of it. I decided I didn't want to look at it anymore, and I didn't need it for inspiration. So I took the letter to the kitchen sink, lit it with a match, and watched it slowly burn. It sounds crazy, but it released all the negativity from my body as it slowly went up in smoke.
But now I wondered what was going to happen with SPORT Magazine. Will that potential client goes up in smoke too? I decided to stay positive and to keep believing in myself and believing in God.
SPORT Magazine - Larry Nance dunks on Manute BolSPORT MAGAZINE - "In YO FACE" Larry Nance dunk on Manute Bol Click HERE for the Story Behind the Shot.
Several weeks later, I received a phone call from Ira Gabriel, the Picture Editor at SPORT Magazine. He had just viewed my portfolio and loved it. After viewing it several times, he told me he called in his assistant photo editors, and they also viewed it several more times!
Sport was working on their next issue about dunking in the NBA, and after reviewing my portfolio, Ira hopefully asked me if I had any NBA dunk images. Of course, I had several. One of my favorites is Larry Nance of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunking on seven-foot-six center Manute Bol. I captured the exact moment after the ball went through the net and hit Manute square on his face. It looked like a boxer landing a punch. On the slide mount, I had handwritten..." In Yo Face".
Receiving my next issue of SPORT magazine, I quickly flipped through the pages. Ira published the Nance-Manute dunk photo two full pages in the center spread! Furthermore, he titled the photo and dunk series "In Yo Face". SPORT additionally ran numerous other full-page dunk photos of mine.
The next time Manute came to town for a game, I noticed Cavaliers trainer Gary Briggs standing on the sideline near half-court yelling to get Manute's attention during pregame layups. Briggs was a fun guy and always a practical joker, and I wondered what he was up to now. Here Gary was holding up the issue of SPORT Magazine with my "In Yo Face" dunk photo spread wide open. As Manute trots toward Gary, he sees the magazine. Meanwhile, Gary is holding it outright with his arms extended and pointing to my photo and is busting up laughing. Manute chuckles and then gives Gary the finger. They both had a good laugh. Gary more so than Manute, but Manute was a good sport and hugged Briggs.
The "In Yo Face" picture is one of my favorite photos because it helped me launch my professional sports photography career and bust out into the national spotlight in sports photojournalism. I will always be thankful for professional people like Ira Gabriel. Good people that work hard and have class. Along with Gary Briggs and Manute Bol, two great guys from the NBA!
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I have photographed numerous sports assignments over my thirty plus years as a photojournalist and have been slowly going through some of my old images. This photo still seems to get the most attention for one of my most unusual feature sports photographs. I was on assignment for Sports Illustrated shooting the NFL Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns
Stadium in the early nineties. It was a cold but sunny day when I noticed steam coming off the head of Philadelphia Eagles football player Antone Davis after he removed his helmet as he left the playing field. Nothing really uncommon from a heated lineman under the right conditions in Cleveland. The light and positioning at that moment was not conducive to a good photograph so I waited until the next time Davis came off the field and positioned myself so the light would be back lit with the dark shadows of Cleveland Stadium as a clean backdrop. As luck would have it Antone Davis actually walked toward me and looked up at the scoreboard. I photographed this image with my Nikon F3 film camera and manual focus Nikkor 400mm f/2.8 lens wide open at 1/500th shutter speed on Fujichrome Provia 100 pushed one stop. During the nineties my NFL game equipment was usually four Nikon F3 camera bodies with 50mm, 300mm f/2.8, 400mm f/2.8 and 600mm f/4 Nikkor lenses. Technology has obviously changed over the years. Zoom lenses have replaced the need for numerous lenses and camera bodies and my Lexar compact flash cards have replaced the need for numerous bags of film...but at the end of the assignment you still have to see pictures and capture moments.
David Liam Kyle
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Getting down to basics
Spring training isn’t just for athletes. Photographers need to be ready when it is time to shoot baseball games and track meets. Some of the best opportunities for great images may present themselves in the first week of the season, so be prepared. Here are a few basic tips that will help you get better sports photos of your youth league or high school athlete.
Be Prepared: Hey, it’s not just a slogan for Boy Scouts. If you are photographing youth league or high school sports, make sure you have permission from event organizers and know your restrictions in terms of photo positions. That way you will avoid any game time confrontations. You want to document the event, not be part of the event.
The Importance of Positioning: Be smart and considerate in choosing where you shoot. When walking into a sporting event, the first thing I do is check the lighting conditions. Generally, I want to work with the sun, not against it. I prefer a nice side or frontal light, and I make sure I have clean, dark backgrounds. Try to avoid signs, trees, parking lots, garbage cans, etc. Darker backgrounds make the athletes’ images pop. It is important that you try to find shooting positions where you will not get blocked by officials and umpires. At the same time, be polite and make sure you do not block the view of spectators.
The dark background with a shallow depth field along with sidelight makes the dirt pop out of the image and his glove. ©David Liam Kyle.com
The Wider, the Better
Always try to shoot “wide open.” That means setting and shooting with your aperture set at f/2.8, f/4, or f/5.6 depending on your lens. The longer the lens the better. Preferably with a 300mm or 400mm telephoto. I usually shoot in Manual or Aperture Priority Mode at the widest setting possible. You may also try the Auto ISO setting if your camera has that capability. In Auto ISO you set the aperture and shutter speed and the ISO automatically changes depending on the lighting situation. In any case the bigger the aperture opening, the less depth of field you will have, isolating your subject from the background. The wide-open aperture will also let more light into your camera, creating a faster shutter speed. You usually need to have your shutter speed at least at 1/1000 of a second to stop the action. It is recommended to shoot at 1/2000 or faster to stop super-fast action, such as a pitcher’s throwing motion or a swinging bat. Adjust your ISO in your camera to accomplish the correct shutter speed. For the best quality of images, you want to keep your ISO as low as possible. Take a couple of test exposures to double-check this, because the dark background or bright white uniforms can trick your meter and over or underexpose your main subject. Know how your camera works and set it accordingly. I also use the Continuous Focus setting and one center focus point in my camera. That way your camera focusing system is not jumping around, and you have more control of what you want in focus.
Play at second base shot with 400mm lens at f5.6 at 1/1600th, 200 ISO. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Know the Game You’re Shooting
Be knowledgeable about all the sports you plan on photographing. Pay attention to the game and anticipate what play may happen next. Is the runner on first going to steal second? Is there a chance for a double play? Will there be a play at the plate? Could this be the game-winning hit? I have seen photographers miss photos because they were chatting with the person next to them. Anticipate! Once a play happens, you better be ready because it will not happen again. You can't go tell the players to do it over.
The best part about track is that the events are all scheduled, and you know exactly where the athletes are going to be running or jumping. This allows you to plan ahead for some creative angles. The worst part about track is that a lot of events are happening at the same time, and you obviously can’t be in two places at once. So get yourself a schedule and plan what events you will be photographing. Look at different shooting positions. Can you get some interesting angles from the stands? Can you get inside the track? I took this low angle silhouette photo by focusing on the first hurdle and then setting my camera on the ground and composing the image. I employed manual exposure to expose for the sky and used a 17mm lens at f/14 at 1/1000 to stop the action.
Expose for the sky to create interesting silhouette photos. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Try to capture the intensity and emotion of sports as well as peak action.
I captured the jubilation as the pole vaulter realized she just set a new state record. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Don't worry if you can't get on the field. I also like to shoot from different positions from the stands with a 400mm lens. I find that from this position I can get cleaner backgrounds and more artistic sports images.
Shoot from the stands for some interesting shadows and angles. ©David Liam Kyle.com
Look for jubilation at home plate after a home run. ©David Liam Kyle.com
A Fan of the Pan
Another artistic way to capture amazing sports action is by panning. When photographing a moving athlete, the panning technique is achieved by keeping your main subject in the frame for the entire time of the exposure. The slower your shutter speed, the more unusual and interesting the effect. Pre-focus on the runner’s lane and start following your subject before you press the shutter release button. I generally tuck my elbows into my chest and turn at my waist, following my main subject as I press the shutter release button. Follow the runner all the way through and do not jerk or stop your camera as you are shooting. Don't be afraid to use your motor drive if you have one. Generally, the faster your subject, the faster your shutter speed. This technique will take some practice and some experimenting with different shutter speeds to get your desired image.
I followed the leader of this event by panning and using a slow shutter speed to create this artistic image. This picture was taken a few frames before the below image. Photo taken at f/29 at 1/40th of a second at 200 ISO. ©David Liam Kyle.com
You can tell she is a smooth runner and that I somehow panned perfectly because her face is tack sharp and the rest has motion blur. I usually follow the rule of thirds when positioning the main subject but wanted her to run into the image and also show that she was leading the race. Photo was taken at f/29 at 1/40th of a second at 200 ISO. ©David Liam Kyle.com
One More Thing
Practice like an athlete. Be dedicated and determined in your efforts to get great photographs.
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