Creating Magic for a Moment in Time: 10 Years of Adventure as a Sports and Event Photographer.
At the end of 2023, I'll have been involved in sports and event photography for 10 years. So here's what I've learned over the years, interwoven with memorable moments and shots that have left their mark on me along the way!
The Genesis
At the end of 2013, I was in charge of the creative department of a new obstacle course magazine, and was assigned to cover our partners' sporting events. At the time, I could never have imagined how this would transform my life.
Nikon D3 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
1/1600s | f/2.8 | ISO 400, at 14mm
Here I am at Spartan Race Owls Head 2017, the only event where I appear in front of my lens.
Nikon D3100 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G
1/6400s | f/1.4 | ISO 560
My adventure in the field began with this photo taken in the spring of 2014 at the Mont-Tremblant Spartan Race.
Until 2017, I only photographed running events – whether road, trail or obstacle course. In total, I must have covered over a hundred of them. It was in those early years that I learned the basics. Not just the sporting side, but also the ecosystem around it.
If I had to give one fundamental piece of advice to those starting out, it would be to become an expert in one type of event before exploring others. What's more, having had the opportunity to manage several teams of photographers, I can confirm that it's essential to master the basics in order to progress.
Nikon D3 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 FL ED VR
1/1600s | f/2.8 | ISO 200
Obstacle racing is definitely the most interesting sport I've had the chance to discover. Here, a participant in the Mont Radar Prison Break 2021, emerging from a huge pool of water at the foot of a slide.
Nikon D500 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 FL ED VR
1/1600s | f/2.8 | ISO 100, at 200mm
To this day it's my favourite photo in running: two friends racing ahead of the leading peloton at kilometre number 2 of the 2018 Demi-Marathon des Vignobles.
Nikon D610 + Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED
1/1250s | f/4.5 | ISO 400, at 110mm
The most satisfying part of our job is realizing how lucky we are to witness such unique moments, and to be able to recall the full force of the emotion in the shot recorded on our memory card.
My first night event, Zombie Apocalypse 2016
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
1/800s | f/3.5 | ISO 800, at 24mm
The hyper-competitive nature of Spartan Race athletes puts them in a class of their own! Here the participants are shouting “Spartan, Spartan, Spartan” at the starting line. This photograph was my first big hit on Instagram, ending up leading #running for more than a day!
Nikon D610 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 FL ED VR
1600s | f/2.8 | ISO 100, at 185mm
Obstacle course is one of the few sports where a participant can take a moment to interact with the camera.
2017 – Taking Off
My first accreditation for an international event was during the Jamboree snowboarding event in 2017, organized by the Gestev team in Quebec City. Since then, I've been part of the team at most of their events.
To date, I've covered a dozen international events, including a few mountain bike world cups, the Tomorrowland electronic festival and – most recently – the XTerra World Championships in Italy.
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
1/250s | f/2.8 | ISO 1600, at 23mm
The excitement I felt at my first international events! The night before, I didn't sleep a wink (Jamboree 2018, Quebec City).
Nikon D810 + Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D
1/100s | f/2.8 | ISO 110
Tomorrowland 2019, the first in a series of events on European soil. Then, in early 2020, Covid-19 struck, bringing the adventure to a definitive end.
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
1/1600s | f/5.6 | ISO 220, at 440mm
With 100m to go, skier Stina Nilsson looks back over her shoulder and realizes she wins the 2019 World Cup. I'm alone in front of her. She looks at me and proudly raises her pole.
How Did I Progress Technically as a Sports Photographer?
We must never lose sight of the fact that a good sports photograph doesn't necessarily fit in with photographic standards. The angle, action and positioning of the athlete should always take precedence over aesthetics.
Nikon D3 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
1/3200s | f/6.3 | ISO 200, at 14mm
The only photo of this article that was ever published. At the time, I remember that aesthetically, everything had to be a little too perfect.
In sports, when you realize that your photos are bad, you start to make progress. Over time, photos that I thought were great at the time now seem rather bland. Every discipline has its own “peek” of action; if you step outside its own well-defined standards, the chances of getting really great photos are pretty slim.
In sports, when you realize that your photos are bad, you start to make progress. Over time, photos that I thought were great at the time now seem rather bland. Every discipline has its own “peek” of action; if you step outside its own well-defined standards, the chances of getting really great photos are pretty slim.
Nikon D5 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 FL ED VR
1/1000s | f/2.8 | ISO 3200, at 105mm
Over time, you identify with the team you cover, in victory and defeat alike. Here, the Rouge et Or basketball team won the 2020 RSEQ championship.
What about the gear?
Since 2016, I've added a second camera to my arsenal. It allows me to have a wide-angle lens close at hand: a “must” for events. I've had the opportunity to test various Nikon bodies, including the D3100, D3, D4, D5, D500, D610, D810, D850, Z 7 models, as well as my two inseparable Nikon Z 9s.
I quickly concluded that Nikon's Z series offers far superior performance to DSLRs in every respect. By using the FTZ adapter, we can ease the transition with our old lenses, which, on the whole, adapt very well to this new technology.
In my case, the two biggest evolutions were the switch from the Nikon D610 to the D3 and – more recently – from the Nikon D5 and D850 to the Z 9, which is by far the best camera I've ever owned!
Nikon Z 9 + Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR
1/2500s | f/4 | ISO 160, at 400mm
In four years, my alpine skiing photos have improved significantly. The Nikon Z 9's autofocus system has boosted the quality of my pictures.
We're Not Rewarded for Effort, but for Results
One thing's for sure when you're covering an event: anything can happen, and nothing turns out as you'd planned. Whether it's the failure of a participant, the choice of a location that turns out to being unattractive, or even miserable weather! We have to think ahead, because at the end of the day, excuses don't count. You MUST deliver good photos.
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED
1/800s | f/1.8 | ISO 64
When the going gets tough, the tough get going! For this shot, there were so many spectators at the starting line of the XTerra World Championship that it was impossible to get anywhere closer. I improvised a few shots from the side, with my feet in the water!
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
1/1600s | f/5.6 | ISO 800, at 400mm
Displacements rarely go according to plan. At the downhill event at Vélirium 2019, there were so many spectators that I gave up going to the finish. However, equipped with a 200-500mm lens, I was still able to get an interesting perspective.
What Makes a Good Event Photographer?
You may think I'm being predictable, but THE most important quality to develop is the ability to observe, and to maintain this ability in order to be on the lookout for any moment that might be interesting to capture. A child running into its mother's arms, for example, will only last a few seconds. Being reactive, quick and always ready is a real asset.
Nikon D810 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 FL ED VR
1/2500s | f/2.8 | ISO 125, at 200mm
Proud couple at the finish line of Quebec City's 2019 Northman Race. The moment only lasted a second, but remains the most beautiful kiss I've ever captured.
Nikon D610 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8D ED
1/1600s | f/8 | ISO 1800, at 14mm
Photo booths are an inexhaustible source of epic moments. As a photographer, they're undeniably my favourite assignment.
Nikon D850 + Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED
1/2500s | f/1.8 | ISO 72
The Quebec City staircase challenge, summed up in a single image. In this shot, timing is everything; one more step and this photo would have been a dud.
Of course, you'll need a great deal of interpersonal skills. A moment filled with joy or any other emotion will require you to interact directly with the participants to capture the scene.
The most important, the most subtle, the most difficult to explain, and the one thing that – in my opinion – can't really be taught, is the capacity for wonder.
Nikon D810 + Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED
1/1600s | f/4.5 | ISO 360
The pride of a mother and daughter, having both completed the Xterra Québec 2019 events.
Nikon Z 9 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G
1/6400s | f/1.4 | ISO 560
Some may find it a bit cliché, but for me there's nothing more beautiful than witnessing a moment of pure happiness. I think this image is worth a thousand words.
My fascination with selfies is nothing new. Back in May 2015, I captured this photo. Since then, not an event goes by without me capturing one. In fact, I've always wondered whether I was the very first to photograph these moments...
Beauty in Imperfection
It's only right that our work should be assessed in the same way as other branches of photography. However, by definition, it can only be imperfect, like a sketch that captures a moment, a movement or an emotion. In event photography, we don't rehash poses, we live with them.
Nikon D810 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G
1/8000s | f/1.4 | ISO 180
This image is a perfect illustration of what a candid photo is all about. Is it perfect? No, far from it. And yet it is! (Tomorrowland, 2019, Belgium)
Nikon D5 + AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
1/1600s | f/4.5 | ISO 200, at 14mm
It also requires luck! In this photo, one of the volunteers exclaims, “Come on, girls, let's jump!” (CandyCourse 5K, 2021, Village Québécois d'Antan)
The 12 lessons I've learned over the years
- Equipment quality makes all the difference.
- In sports, it's shutter speed before ISO.
- Each time, I innocently think that my next lens will finally be my last.
- Even after ten years' experience, the first 30 minutes of an event are still very destabilizing.
- In sports, the higher the calibre of the athletes, the easier it is to work.
- The shots that excite us most, on the field, rarely live up to our expectations.
- Choosing THE right shot from a series is the step that makes the difference between a good photographer and an excellent one.
- Bear in mind that most photographs intended for publication on social networks are viewed on small cell phones.
- You must avoid at all costs including in your portfolio photos taken in an unfamiliar sport.
- You can take several great shots of a sporting event, but if you miss the winner, the day is a failure.
- You can make a career in photography without ever having used a 24-70mm lens.
- To stand out, you must be creative and give yourself time to learn, one shot at a time.
In closing, I'd like to leave you with a magical quote from the illustrious Bernard Brault, press photographer, which he tossed out to us at an event:
— How many photographers do you think it takes to take a good photo?
— Nine in total... One photographer to take it, and eight others who think they'd take a better one than him.
We all had a good laugh!
 | Louis Charland Event and sports photographer, passionate about the aesthetics of movement, emotion in sports and by the individuals who practice them. |
