One of my favorite sports to photograph is track and field. Track is a challenge to photograph since so many sports are going on at once. You can turn in a circle and photograph high jump, a running event, shot put, pole vault, and long jump. One of the keys is figuring where the peak action is going to be. Should I shoot the start, the finish, or somewhere in between? Personally, I like to capture the jumping events somewhere in the middle to capture a number of participants. Late in the competition, most of the competitors have been eliminated. With running events, I try and vary my spot as the runners go through heats. On one heat, I might shoot the start while during another, I might line up in the middle of the track. This is particularly interesting during hurdles to get runners clearing hurdles mid-race. Then, for the finals, I might focus on the finish to get the emotional reaction of the winner and losers.
Track is also one of the few sports where a wide angle lens is a key player. From steeple chase to long jump, a wide angle can provide a new perspective on the action. Placed at almost ground level, it provides the worm’s eye view that gives a unique vantage point.
