On Sports Photography: Peter Read Miller Answers Your Questions on Sports Photography

Peter answers the questions you submitted on his videos, sports photography and life in-general. Please comment with your questions or drop an email.

Peter Read Miller has been photographing athletes, events and the sporting life for more than 40 years. He is has worked as a staff and contract photographer for Sports Illustrated for more than 35 years. His images have appeared on over 100 Sports Illustrated covers.

His editorial clients have included: Time, Life, People, Money, The Associated Press, Playboy, Runner’s World, Newsweek, USA Weekend and The New York Times. In addition to covering 9 Olympic Games and 40 Super Bowls, Peter has shot 14 NBA Finals. He has covered the Stanley Cup Finals, the World Series, the Kentucky Derby, the NCAA Basketball Final Four, and the Men’s and Women’s World Cup Soccer Finals.

[TexMex]

A GREAT topic for a video would be your experience with the 1200mm Canon, especially if you included some sample photos. To be honest that would make a pretty great book.

[robedwards]

Hi Peter, would you talk about how to properly expose action photos when shooting backlit?

[joshdafoe]

If you had the money to either buy a 1dx Mark II or two decent bodies (1dx IV), which would you reccomend? I'm torn because clearly it's a good chunk of change and I want to make the best decision. Love your youtube channel, hope to make it to a workshop one day.

[trapthelight]

I have problems catching a receiver in football.  I am behind the line of scrimmage, focused on the back of the quarterback.  I watch him to see what he intends to do.  Once I see him looking for a close in receiver, I then try to follow to where he is looking to find the receiver.  This is just too slow.  I mostly miss the shot.  So, before the play starts, are you looking through the camera lens, or do you watch the quarterback to see if a pass is starting, then find the receiver (a guess) and then look through the lens?  This is for passes in the area of 5 to 10 yards out, quick passes.


A second question.  When standing on the sidelines behind the line of scrimmage, as the team moves up the field away from me (like past the 30 yard line or so), my view of the line of scrimmage and the play starts to get blocked by the team and other people who are standing with the team and inside of the yellow dashed line that limits me.  How do you deal with this?  I am using a 400mm 2.8 lens (old, version 1).  Perhaps I can stand around the end zone and still get a photo after I crop it, but at some point I just want to get down to the other end of the field and stand in front of the play.  Perhaps I stand in front of the play too much.  I have always been told to always be in  front of the play.  It is odd to me to stand behind the line of scrimage.  Sorry, sort of rambling.

[grantniels]

I bit the bullet and bought a 400mm 2.8. It is the heaviest lens I have ever used.(probably older version) And it costs a lot of money! I have used it for a couple of football games now and I am constantly worried about dropping it. What is the best way to tether it so it won't hit the ground if the play comes right at me and I switch to the 28-70 body and loose grip on it. Or I have to run away so I don't get killed being run over? 
Do you take out the insert and use the larger threads on the monopod or just use the small threads? Any mono pod advice would be great because in all my years being a photographer I rarely had use for them.
Also the lens has settings I have never used before. I know how to use the focus range but I don't know about the stabilization modes or the focus presets. I bought it used and the book did not come with it. It would be great if you could discuss how you handle the monster lenses safely.
Also your body saving tips are great. Do you have any more? After my first hip replacement I stopped kneeling and the callous on my knees are gone. Now that you have talked me into doing it again, I am constantly looking for ways to extend my comfort on the field.

[scottb]

With regards to promoting yourself, what about submitting a great image of local high school football game to local media for them to use how they want? Seems that along with having your own website showing your best work plus getting some local exposure would be a good path to go about

[zavoina]

On the 1Dx, do you use Auto-ISO or not and why?

[dudeyes]

Basically shot 60 frames that's a movie get real.