RAISE YOUR GAME FOR WINNING SPORTS SHOTS

From the World Cup to Wimbledon, pro sports photographer Joel Marklund shares the secrets of capturing gold medal-worthy images

- JOEL MARKLUND

JUMP FOR JOY

Joel had to lie down low to get this shot of a Cuban pole vaulter. "You often need to put yourself in an uncomfortable position to get those prized angles."

Last year we were treated to a super summer of sport, with the delayed Euro 2020 football championships, Wimbledon tennis and the Tokyo Olympics all crammed into the space of a glorious couple of months. With large sporting events having been delayed by the pandemic, spectators were back in the stadiums and sport was once again on everyone's minds. This year promises to be just as spectacular, with events such as the FIFA World Cup, Rugby League World Cup and cycling's Tour de France on the horizon.

Whether you just want to get better shots at sporting events you're attending, or have your sights set on joining the ranks of the pros, in this feature I'll share my tips on everything from choosing the right gear and mastering camera settings, to how to capture the drama, the passion and the decisive moment of any sport.

The path to becoming a sports photographer isn't easy. On a professional level, it demands fast telephoto lenses and top-end cameras, neither of which come cheap. And getting accreditation to shoot at professional games is a chicken-and-egg situation where you need a proven track record to get access to shoot and, realistically, you need to be working for a sports photo agency or a newspaper to get the gig in the first place.

But it's not impossible and starting off small, perhaps by covering your local amateur team or smaller sporting events, can lead to bigger and better things. Hopefully, this advice will stand you in good stead, no matter what level or discipline of sport you want to shoot.