Extreme sports are definitely not an activity for the faint-hearted. They include difficult stunts, accidents and generally, very risky situations. Things could end up looking amazing, or feeling very painful. Photographing extreme sports also isn’t the easiest thing in the world, and it helps to have a genuine interest in them, but, that again, you never really know until you try it once. Here are some tips to help you capture the amazing action in a creative way.

Don’t settle for one angle

Everything about a subject like this is dynamic, so the last you want is to get stuck in a single position and shoto from there. Choose a wide angle lens, and move around with it. It will help you create some expansive compositions, but it will also mean you will have to get up close and personal. These are not the kind of sports that are photographed from the side, with a long lens and in relative safety.

Get close and personal

Telephoto lenses tend to compress the overall look of a photograph, and with the fast , dynamic action from extreme sports, compressing things is the last thing you want to do. Move closer and fill the frame in a smart way. Use its edges for extra creativity and always keep in mind that the main goal is to pack up as much of the energy as possible.

Use panning

For maximum visual effect, use panning .It’s a technique often used by motorsport photographers. It basically consists of following your subject with the camera, at their speed or as close as possible and shooting in the process. This way, the background will be motion blurred and the subject in focus. It’s not easy, especially if you haven’t done it before, but once you get the hang of it, you can get some great pictures.

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