Yes, really. It might seem counter-intuitive for those of us who’ve sat with a bag of lenses next to a field or court. But it is possible to take some great pictures using a smartphone, particularly a newer model.
It comes down to technique and, yes, the tools. This post will guide you to better sports images in no time.
Manual Settings
Camera settings matter, whether you’re shooting with a smartphone or a DSLR. If you’re using a camera phone to shoot sports photography, it’s better to control the settings manually. However, depending on your smartphone brand, the manufacturer might recommend using a third-party camera app.
There are countless options for third-party camera apps. The best free one, in our opinion, remains Lightroom Mobile CC from Adobe. If you’re an Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom subscriber already, great. Otherwise, a free version of the app offers the manual control you’ll need with basic photo editing capabilities and RAW file capture (DNG in Adobe).
Familiarize yourself with the following three settings before you shoot an actual game or match. Learn how to activate or set them before you need to use them to capture sports photos. Once you’re comfortable with the settings, it just takes some practice. Soon, you’ll be shooting high-quality sports images.
Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is the most critical setting for any fast-moving sports photography. Faster shutter speeds produce the sharpest images because they freeze the motion. You’ll need to be able to adjust it, or you’ll end up with a blurry photo, just as you might with a DSLR camera.
