| This guide is about the specifics of taking your snaps | | | | setup manually if you can. Or, check which direction |
| at 'the match' and hints about the do's and don'ts. | | | | the stand you are choosing seats in is facing; |
| Make an effort to understand your own camera's | | | | remember the sun rises in the east, sinks in the west. |
| capabilities - 'happy snappers' can take great football | | | | Planning: If you know where you're going to sit, you |
| players photos as today's modern digital cameras are | | | | can plan what kind of shot you think best will work |
| all pretty good. One important thing to recognise is that | | | | from your station. Information about such positions can |
| taking photographs at a sporting arena, can require a | | | | be gleaned from the club or internet. If you can choose |
| permit, as obtained by the press and media | | | | you seating, then avoid being behind the goal - too |
| organizations. However, with the proliferation and | | | | much excited jumping up and down around you. Or, |
| qualities of mobile phone camera's and the compact | | | | being too high as the angle will seem odd and the |
| digital cameras, all stadiums and clubs now turn a blind | | | | digital zoom will not be enough. |
| eye to their use by the general public. Remember this, | | | | Shots: If there is a barrier or wall that you can utilize to |
| it's important, it is a privilege not a right and acting as | | | | steady the camera then, more chance of avoiding |
| such can avoid difficult situations. | | | | 'shake'. You can always use football players taking |
| Equipment: Read the camera's instructions and | | | | free kicks or corners as a bench mark shot as there |
| understand what you can and can't do with your point | | | | are moments of 'stillness', this will assist you calibrating |
| and shoot. Extra battery power is essential, small and | | | | and manual changes to the camera set up. Want |
| easy, keep them warm in your pocket - longer life. An | | | | football players photos close up? Then try and get a |
| extra memory card is always a good idea. An SLR | | | | seat near the corner flag or front row along the |
| camera may be too bulky to get past security plus, | | | | touchline. |
| may make you look like a 'pro' and therefore attract | | | | Continuous mode: Your camera should have this |
| the wrong kind of attention. In the same vein, tripods | | | | facility. If there's a melee in the box or, good action |
| and telephoto lenses may prove troublesome. | | | | close by, then continuous mode will give you the best |
| Location: Most premier league stadiums are modern | | | | chance of catching the action. Typically the built in flash |
| and will not have restricted views. However, older | | | | turns off on 'continuous mode' if not make sure you do |
| more characterful arena's such as Goodison Park and | | | | it manually. |
| Craven Cottage for example, will have pillars and | | | | We wish you happy snapping and you get the shots |
| stanchions blocking some views. Also sunshine can | | | | you want, hoping the simple guide will assist you getting |
| play havoc with a good shot either in reflective light or, | | | | your favourite football player photos. |
| cast shadows, be prepared to adjust your camera's | | | | |