SOME TIPS FOR FILMING SPORTS

KEY POINT:  GETTING OVER EMBARASMENT

First of all, when you are video taping, you have the right as well as the duty to place yourself in a position where you can actually capture the event you are shooting. Insecurity, is natural when you first begin, but all sports events expect the camera people to be where they need to be. You will be told if you have placed yourself in an area which is forbidden. Then simply ask which of usually many areas you may shoot from.

Many of you take your camera to an event and then sit in the bleachers and handhold the camera. This is sooooo wrong, its wrong for three reasons.
1. You are interfering with the sight lines of the other spectators.
2. Hand holding the camera never produces really good video, it is shaky and usually poorly framed. The only place handholding is at all appropriate is on the floor close to the court, or on the sidelines of a field game. In fact using a tripod in these situations is forbidden, because the tripod represents a danger to the players.
3. In the bleachers you will have to stand and sit - stand and sit - and someone will obscure the very shot you want most in front of you.

At Indoor Events, look around and observe the professional camera crews, and behave as they do. There are rules of behavior,
1. be polite,
2. do not get in front of another cameraman and block his shot,
3. give way to the professional crews, their living relies on their work, they often show up well in advance of the event and set up their location.

Indoor Court Events - I cover many of these events, and use the game-camera technique of documentation. You can watch any professional event, the actual game play itself will be from one camera, and this camera is normally high above the court at the centerline.
This camera position allows you to see the entire court, and game well.
You need to use a tripod from this position, please refer to the (tripod) section for how to set up and use the tripod.

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