Tips for taking more exciting orienteering photographs

1. SHOOTING
ORIENTEERING
Tips for taking interesting photos
2012 Orienteering Canada Conference
Adrian Zissos

2. Preamble
• This is a 10-minute long presentation given at the 2012
Orienteering Canada conference
• The aim is to encourage people to take more “exciting”
photos of orienteering, photos that will help promote the
sport and encourage more participation, sponsorship, and
media coverage
• It is inspired by a much more thorough slide presentation
prepared by Martin Flynn. I highly recommend it – you
can watch it here.

3. “Runner in a field” Runner too small,
Avoid this… Boring snap shot
What is this shot about?
Cluttered background,
Closed eyes, etc

4. What is this photo about?
Main subject Power / determination / emotion
Viewer will react

5. Fill the frame People look at eyes

6. Isolate subject Robbie shot against dark forest

7. Get low!
Isolate subject Anika placed against clear blue sky

8. Isolate subject Simone placed in frame with
solid green background

9. Isolate subject Place the runner in the gap

10. Isolate the subject Shallow depth of field

11. Secondary subject Relationships are interesting

12. Secondary subject

13. “Runner about to punch”
Avoid this Poor expression - always
Too static / dull

14. Change of direction
Show motion Where she came from &
where she‟s going to

15. Body language conveys sense of energy
Get excited Anticipate the key moments

16. Make a plan
AZ at WOC Long Final
• Arena shot
• Louise at spectator control
• Louise in finish chute
• Candid Louise
• Sam when I can (nice she starts close to Louise)
• Simone / Minna / others in finish chute & candid
• Winner
• Crowd
• Canadian fans
• Details

17. Environment Show off the interesting places that we run

18. Environment Sometimes the runner is secondary

19. “O flag in a cool spot”
Avoid this… Needs some action & human interest
Perhaps get a „model‟ for such a cool spot

20. Use a model

21. Hard shadows
Sunlight sucks Try flash
Pray for cloudy day

22. Bright spots / dark spots
Forest light sucks Camera‟s dynamic range can‟t cope
Pray subject runs into a bright spot

23. dark forest  long exposure
Pan Try 1/10th second
Practice a lot

24. Blur dark forest, slow shutter, still camera

25. Subject too small Strange running position
Avoid this… Subject not isolated Terrible clothes
Spectators not looking at subject Over exposed

26. Better… Clear subject
coming at the camera
(too bad about the focus)

27. Get high Unique view from above

28. Get low Get low and shoot upwards
Sure fire “trick”

29. Shoot kids Always interesting
Shows a unique aspect of orienteering

30. Be anonymous Who the subject is isn‟t important
Viewers imagine themselves

31. Be candid Greatness, elegance, grace, humility

32. Show emotion

33. Show emotion

34. Show emotion

35. Attention to details

36. Jazz it up…

37. Go black & white

38. Be effective
And vary orientation

39. Shoot through the trees

40. Pan Sense of motion & excitement

41. Get the crowd involved…

42. Stay focused

43. Huh?

44. More? Google “orienteering photography martin flynn”
* More technical information about cameras

45. The Finish Thanks for listening