Tips to Take SHARPER Sports Photos: Settings, Back Button Focus, and Why I Missed This Photo

Tips to take sharper action photos. The tips to take sharper sports photos address the settings needed, how to set up your camera, and some theory behind getting how to take sharp action photos.

Want to know how to take sharp sports images? Using these tips for a few shoots will guide you in how to take sharper sports images. They take a little bit fo time to get used to, but if you follow the tips to take sharp action photos you'll improve in no time!

0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Shutter Speed
1:05 - F/stop
1:30 - Depth of Field
2:06 - Back Button Focus
3:27 - Single Point Autofocus
4:26 - Aim at the Chest
4:50 - Keep Both Eyes Open
5:23 - Why I missed Focus
6:38 - Bonus Tip!

Follow along on Instagram @paulrutherford_

As always, leave any questions in the comments!

[Paul_Rutherford]

Has anyone else missed some photos you wished you could have back?

[bowerdw]

The old line hindsight is 20/20 came to mind. I have lost count of pictures I didn't get because I had anticipated something else or saw something else that didn't unfold as I thought and then missed an action shot that if only I had followed another possibility.

[woodandwheelz]

Thank you for a great video, I actually learned 2 things from this.
1. A valid reason why I should use Back Button Focus. Most everyone I talk to always just said, "It comes in handy." but not explain why.
2. Why I should consider moving my single focus around more.
Thank you, thank you.

[snrl]

Thanks for the video. Great use of visual black board drawing and explaining DOF simple and quick. Also like the second "B" camera showing "A" camera view, helps keep the video interesting vs you just starring at us while you explain stuff.

One question I have is if your lens can do sharp photos at 2.8 why wouldn't I shoot at 2.8 Outside for background separation of subjects?

On single point AF, I feel like for a beginner it maybe really hard to get the shot in focus every time in single point AF. I totally get trying to track your main subject when you have other subjects running through the frame at different distances. But with single point your gambling you hit the main subject every time. In a sense you nail it or you don't with single point. I feel like that is harder for a beginner, but see why you prefer it over a grouping AF points in AF-C.

[ChaChaCafe]

This is a great video. I’ve been doing music photography for years. I recently wanted to start doing sports for my Son’s basketball. But I couldn’t wrap my head around how to keep the focus point on the eyes as you’re always “supposed” to do. Aiming at the chest makes so much sense. Thank you for clearing up what drove me mad.

[timasbell]

It seems so basic, but I never thought of lowering the focal point in the camera to capture things high. Just starting to shoot other sports, (have primarily been doing football for years) and was struggling with catching the full frame shots I wanted with some of the other sports, (Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, etc). I do prefer the expanded Center Point, but can completely see what you’re saying about potentially losing a shot due to the camera choosing the wrong helping point to focus on. Thanks for the great tip!

[ginnylaux]

OUTSTANDING! Very, very helpful and simple solutions to a constant problem!

[jasonjmp]

Love the bonus tip with basketball. I use center point for everything, but that makes so much sense. I though pro shooters use some kind of fancy action based autofocus, I was planning some day trying to figure out all that.

[cmhuggins]

Just did the same for my son's soccer game. First pick oof but the rest were in focused. Would have liked the first Pic.

[ZeeTaib]

Thank you! I’d always close one eye when looking through viewfinder and found I missed moments cause I couldn’t see lol 😅 will try it

[ZeeTaib]

Thank you! I was having trouble with what focus point to choose! I was doing 9 point but I think I’m gonna try 1 point!

[fredzwicky]

All good advice...but interesting how new technology (mirrorless AF) changes technique. Eye tracking can be a game changer for certain sports (but definitely not football). Pro shooter who's covered pro sports/college/preps for a long time. But, never been a back-button focus guy. So, for those who feel guilty about not learning how to do back focus, it's OK to be different.

[Twobarpsi]

I used these tips, to improve my soccer pictures!! They really helped!! Thanks.

[allevinoantiquecafecomhist]

The 2 eyes open, i always do that, never seen anyone talk about it

[ofthewayministries]

This was an absolute treasure to find as I'm getting into more sports photography as friends and family are starting up their seasons. These are all wonderful tips and advise. Do you recommend learning and shooting in full manual or one of the semi-auto modes (e.g. aperture priority, shutter priority)? Thanks.

[rjnakamura]

ive been focusing on faces and i have a 70% success rate nailing it

both you and Sambles said to focus on the chest, i will try that next

[EsmeeCycles]

Thanks a lot! I will start learning back focus from now on!

[carlosdias]

Hi Paul! Same as a few comments below! Just crossed over your channel and very simple explanations, however keen for success on the field. Suffered for while of miss focus, now my keeper rate got better as I go. Field sports shoot Rugby, also motorsports and surf (Kite and Windsurf). Loved the channel. Cheers and stay safe!

[fasttracksportsphotography]

You can also prefocus using the shutter release button you just leave your finger on the shutter which is far easier than back button focusing for most people

[chadperling]

I shot my first college games in 1974, my first pro FB game in 1986 (Dallas Cowboys vs. St Louis Cardinals) and have been published in Sport Illustrated. I've shot Canon and Nikon in the days of film and manual focus, and digital with both, and I have NEVER used single spot focusing for more than a few shots, it's just too unforgiving. If your miss as you try to follow your subject or you change subjects (QB to receiver) and you're just slightly off, then you've lost a shot (or more). I would suggest "expand AF area surround" on the Canon series or the '9 point dynamic' area on a Nikon. Even Nikons literature says "use Single Point AF with stationary subjects"...9-Point Dynamic area AF for "predictable" moving subjects and 21-Point Area AF for subjects that are moving "unpredictably". To be fair there are some photogs who used center point only but the majority use single point with some "expansion" or "dynamic" area included. And I'm not counting those folks that are beginning to use the predictive AF settings that are getting better and better. Hard to argue with a man how has more than 100 Sports Illustrated covers, Peter Read Miller, "I used four or nine point focus" on my Canons.