How to Take Cool Skate Board Photography?
October 13, 2022If you love skateboarding and reading skateboarding magazines, you must have probably seen some excellent skateboard photography and wondered how those photographers took such great pictures and what they used to take them.
This article will give you tips on how to take awesome skateboard photos and the equipment you will need to get the best results.
Gears for Skate Board Photography
When doing skateboard photography, there are several gears that you will need to get the perfect shot.
Camera
You will need a camera that can capture fast-moving objects. A DSLR camera is a good option because it will allow you to change the shutter speed. A faster shutter speed will freeze the action, and a slower shutter speed will give you the motion blur effect.
Lens
You will need a wide angle lens to capture the whole skateboarder in the frame. A good example is the fisheye lens. This lens will allow you to get close to the skateboarder and still capture the whole scene: the skateboarder, the skateboard, and the background.
Photo by Tom Morbey on Unsplash
Flash
A flash is a must in skateboard photography because it will help you freeze the action and control where the light falls on the subject by controlling where the flash is pointing.
Radio slaves
If you use a flash, you need to trigger it wirelessly. You can do this using radio slaves. Radio slaves enable you to trigger the flash from a distance without having to be in line of sight of the flash.
11 Tips for Taking Awesome Skate Board Photos
In a world where everyone is a photographer, it takes a little something extra to make your skateboarding photos stand out. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Use a Fisheye Lens
Skateboard photography and a fisheye lens go hand in hand. This type of lens achieves a wide angle of view, perfect for capturing all the action on a skateboard. It shows off where the subject is coming from, what he is doing, and where he is going in a fantastic way.
2. Always Pre-focus Your Camera
When doing skateboard photography, you must be prepared for anything. This means you should always pre-focus your camera to be ready to take the shot as soon as the action starts.
Photo by Jasper Garratt on Unsplash
You can do this by switching the manual focusing mode on your camera and then focussing on an area where you think the action will happen and shoot just before your subject enters the frame.
3. Keep the Background Clean
When doing skateboard photography, it would be best if you could keep the background clean and free from any distractions. The best way to do this is to use the sky as your backdrop. This perfectly contrasts your subject and makes him stand out in the photo.
You should also ensure that you include the sorrounding area and obstacles in your frame to give the viewer a sense of place and a sense of direction.
4. Get Down Low
One of the best ways to get great skateboard photos is by changing the angle you shoot from. Instead of shooting from eye level, try getting down low and shooting from a ground-level perspective.
This helps bring your skateboard photography to another level. Taking shots of the skaters with your camera at the ground level will increase their jump and make them appear as if they are further from the ground than they are.
5. Lighting Your Photos with External Flash
Photo by Tom Morbey on Unsplash
When shooting skateboard photos, the lighting can sometimes be tricky. The best way to overcome this is to use an external flash to light up your subject.
This will give you much more control over the lighting in your photos and allow you to get the perfect exposure for your shots hence getting great skateboard photos.
6. Do Not Cut off the Skater’s Heads and Limbs
This is a common mistake that people make when doing skateboard photography. When framing your shots, ensure you do not cut off the skater's heads and limbs. This will make your photos look much more professional and give the viewer a better idea of what the skater is doing.
7. Have Good Timing
When doing skateboard photography, timing is everything. It would be best if you timed your shots ideally to capture the skateboarder in mid-air or during a cool trick. This can be difficult to do, but with practice, you will be able to get the perfect timing for your shots.
8. Use a Quick Shutter Speed
When doing skateboard photography, it is essential to use a quick shutter speed to freeze the action. This is especially important when shooting photos of the skateboarder in mid-air.
A slow shutter speed captures blurry photos, so be sure to use a quick shutter speed when taking your shots.
9. Communicate with the Skater
Photo by Travis Yewell on Unsplash
When doing skateboard photography, it is crucial to communicate with the skater. This way, you will be able to let him know when you will take the photo, and he can prepare for it. This is a perfect way to get some great shots of the skater.
10. Experiment Often
The best way to get great skateboard photos is to experiment. Try different techniques and see what technique works best for you. Do not be afraid to try something new, as you never know what might work out great in the end.
11. Read Many Skaters’ Blogs and Look at Their Photos
A great way to get inspiration for your skateboard photography is to look at other skater's photos and read their blogs. This way, you can see what they are doing and how they are taking their photos. You can then use this inspiration to help you take your great skateboard photos.
Conclusion
Knowing what to carry when going for skateboard photography and the tips you can use to take awesome skateboard photos, you should be good to go. With practice, you will get better at it and be able to take even more fantastic photos that you can be proud of.
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