Juicy Tools

Have you ever had to photograph a running event or race? It’s not easy and most people have a hard time focusing on the moving runners. Below is a compilation of tips that will help you photograph a local racing or running event like a 5k or marathon.

Tips and Tricks to Photographing Runners and Racing Events

• Make sure you get tight photos of runners with the sponser’s name and logo in the foreground or background.
• Keep your AF on “C” if using a Canon 20D. Runners don’t move so fast so you’ll get more motion blur from them moving up and down.
• Try and photograph them right at end stride. This will help for two reasons:
  • 1) The photograph will show the runner in full stride. Which always looks like they are really moving.
  • 2)It is the moment where the least vertical motion is occuring in the photograph (helping w/ the motion blur thing)
• Get ahead of the group and compose a good photograph. Let the runners come into the photo frame and photograph away.
• If you can, I would seriously think about using fill flash with a mild under exposure of the background - maybe 1/3 or 2/3s of a stop. This will really make the runner pop out of the background and brighten up their faces which might be shadowed if their head is pointing down a bit.
• Ask the race coodinator if you can be allowed to photograph in the finish line chute area. The finish line area is somewhat restricted and doesn’t allow a ton of people around the finish line with a camera.
• Try to photograph with the finish line banner and/or timing clock in the photo. Lots of people like to record PB’s (personal best) and showing the time they cross the finish line is an added bonus. Try to be slightly off line (i.e. to one side or another) so that you can see a bit of their stride.
• As far as the focus is concerned, I usually try to prefocus on a spot and let them run into the photo.
• Remember, except for some of the fastest runners, most of the recreational runners will look like they are almost walking in the photos, no matter where you try to get them in stride.
• Try using a 70-200 telephoto for the bulk of the race. However, capture the masses at the start of the race with a wide angle lens. When the race starts, I just photograph the crowd as they come by. While you’re waiting for the first runner to come back, this is a good time to take photos of volunteers or people waiting to cheer on their loved ones. People buy these too.
• After everybody is in, there is usually a food line or something that you can now take candids of the runners post race. Usually lots of smiles, red faces, hugs, etc.
• Finally, practice photographing runners once or twice before the race. Try run clubs or popular running trails where you can just photograph people as they go by.