Taking Orienteering Photographs 3 June 2007 Martin Flynn

Orienteering is ... “ Isn't that hillwalking with a map?” “ You mean a treasure hunt?” - These are common perceptions of Orienteering. Our photographs should aim to change them.

“ Isn't that hillwalking with a map?”

“ You mean a treasure hunt?”

- These are common perceptions of Orienteering. Our photographs should aim to change them.

"... you have a load of pyjama clad, woolly hat wearing bespectacled balding competitors milling around in no coherent pattern. Secondly they all start at different times, run / walk / wander around different courses in different directions, usually in atrocious conditions ... " - John Shiels Orienteering is ...

"... you have a load of pyjama clad, woolly hat wearing bespectacled balding competitors milling around in no coherent pattern. Secondly they all start at different times, run / walk / wander around different courses in different directions, usually in atrocious conditions ... "

- John Shiels

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition – There should be a clear subject to the photo. Usually one person or a distinct group. Framing Focus Blur – movement & shake Contrast & Exposure From the Front or Side Interesting Depth of Field This is a very badly composed photo. There is no clear subject, everybody is very small and everybody has their backs to the camera. Nothing interesting is happening.

Composition – There should be a clear subject to the photo. Usually one person or a distinct group.

Framing

Focus

Blur – movement & shake

Contrast & Exposure

From the Front or Side

Interesting

Depth of Field

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition Framing – Subject should fill the frame – either get very close or use zoom. Don't chop too much Focus Blur – movement & shake Contrast & Exposure From the Front or Side Interesting Depth of Field

Composition

Framing – Subject should fill the frame – either get very close or use zoom. Don't chop too much

Focus

Blur – movement & shake

Contrast & Exposure

From the Front or Side

Interesting

Depth of Field

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition Framing Focus – A blurred photo is almost useless. Make sure that the focus is for the subject, not the background. Blur – movement & shake Contrast & Exposure From the Front or Side Interesting Depth of Field

Composition

Framing

Focus – A blurred photo is almost useless. Make sure that the focus is for the subject, not the background.

Blur – movement & shake

Contrast & Exposure

From the Front or Side

Interesting

Depth of Field

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition Framing Focus Blur – movement & shake. This is caused by slow shutter speed. When panning this can be good (advanced technique). Contrast & Exposure From the Front or Side Interesting Depth of Field

Composition

Framing

Focus

Blur – movement & shake. This is caused by slow shutter speed. When panning this can be good (advanced technique).

Contrast & Exposure

From the Front or Side

Interesting

Depth of Field

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition Framing Focus Blur – movement & shake Contrast & Exposure – The camera can be fooled in very bright light. Low light gives very poor contrast and leads to a lack of impact. From the Front or Side Interesting Depth of Field

Composition

Framing

Focus

Blur – movement & shake

Contrast & Exposure – The camera can be fooled in very bright light. Low light gives very poor contrast and leads to a lack of impact.

From the Front or Side

Interesting

Depth of Field

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition Framing Focus Blur – movement & shake Contrast & Exposure From the Front or Side – Never take a photo from behind. Interesting Depth of Field

Composition

Framing

Focus

Blur – movement & shake

Contrast & Exposure

From the Front or Side – Never take a photo from behind.

Interesting

Depth of Field

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition Framing Focus Blur – movement & shake Contrast & Exposure From the Front or Side Interesting Depth of Field

Composition

Framing

Focus

Blur – movement & shake

Contrast & Exposure

From the Front or Side

Interesting

Depth of Field

Rules of Photography Still Apply Composition Framing Focus Blur – movement & shake Contrast & Exposure From the Front or Side Interesting Depth of Field – A Wide aperture means that more of the photo is out-of-focus. This can add impact to the subject.

Composition

Framing

Focus

Blur – movement & shake

Contrast & Exposure

From the Front or Side

Interesting

Depth of Field – A Wide aperture means that more of the photo is out-of-focus. This can add impact to the subject.

General Sports Photography Direction Change can add to the illusion of movement Multishot Scenery Oncoming competitor Pan Splashes Most of these techniques are to add the “illusion” of movement.

Direction Change can add to the illusion of movement

Multishot

Scenery

Oncoming competitor

Pan

Splashes

General Sports Photography Direction Change Multishot Maximises your chance of getting a good shot. Usually best if leading arm is away from you. Scenery Oncoming competitor Pan Splashes

Direction Change

Multishot

Maximises your chance of getting a good shot.

Usually best if leading arm is away from you.

Scenery

Oncoming competitor

Pan

Splashes

General Sports Photography Direction Change Multishot Scenery is secondary to the competitor Fill the frame with the subject Focus on subject Oncoming competitor Pan Splashes

Direction Change

Multishot

Scenery is secondary to the competitor

Fill the frame with the subject

Focus on subject

Oncoming competitor

Pan

Splashes

General Sports Photography Direction Change Multishot Scenery Oncoming competitor Need short exposure Can prefocus but need to know how much to zoom. Pan Splashes

Direction Change

Multishot

Scenery

Oncoming competitor

Need short exposure

Can prefocus but need to know how much to zoom.

Pan

Splashes

General Sports Photography Direction Change Multishot Scenery Oncoming competitor Pan Track with subject Slow shutter speed blurs the background and gives better illusion of motion – difficult to get right Splashes

Direction Change

Multishot

Scenery

Oncoming competitor

Pan

Track with subject

Slow shutter speed blurs the background and gives better illusion of motion – difficult to get right

Splashes

General Sports Photography Direction Change Multishot Scenery Oncoming competitor Pan Splashes

Direction Change

Multishot

Scenery

Oncoming competitor

Pan

Splashes

Orienteering Specific Issues Finding Subjects . The small number of competitors, long start interval and lack of fixed route means it is difficult to actually find any subjects. Best places are Start, Controls, Finish and some obvious track junctions.

Finding Subjects . The small number of competitors, long start interval and lack of fixed route means it is difficult to actually find any subjects. Best places are Start, Controls, Finish and some obvious track junctions.

Orienteering Specific Issues A sense of O I photo of a runner is just that! Try to show that he is an Orienteer. Try to get a Control, terrain, map (preferably being read on the move)

A sense of O I photo of a runner is just that! Try to show that he is an Orienteer. Try to get a Control, terrain, map (preferably being read on the move)

Orienteering Specific Issues Movement Orienteering involves a lot of standing & walking so it is difficult to imply movement.

Movement Orienteering involves a lot of standing & walking so it is difficult to imply movement.

Orienteering Specific Issues At the Control Usually better to snap somebody as he leaves a control

At the Control Usually better to snap somebody as he leaves a control

Variety Is The Spice Of Life Don't take the same photo over and over again Don't photo the same person over and over again Use several locations (3 – 6) Over time you will learn who is likely to give a good photo and who will be bad

Don't take the same photo over and over again

Don't photo the same person over and over again

Use several locations (3 – 6)

Over time you will learn who is likely to give a good photo and who will be bad

Variety Is The Spice Of Life Upward/Downward Shots Orienteers look down most of the time so upward shots are best to see their faces. Occasionally, downward shots can be good. They can give a candid sense. If you have a small (or no) zoom, get in close and try for upward shots

Upward/Downward Shots

Orienteers look down most of the time so upward shots are best to see their faces.

Occasionally, downward shots can be good. They can give a candid sense.

If you have a small (or no) zoom, get in close and try for upward shots

Variety Is The Spice Of Life Multiple subjects – rare, should be distinct small number, use focus. Give a sense of a race. Groups – almost always somebody with his back to you. Needs to be a distinct group of people, not part of a bigger crowd. Officials

Multiple subjects – rare, should be distinct small number, use focus. Give a sense of a race.

Groups – almost always somebody with his back to you. Needs to be a distinct group of people, not part of a bigger crowd.

Officials

Variety Is The Spice Of Life Candid shots – blurred foreground can add atmosphere

Candid shots – blurred foreground can add atmosphere

Variety Is The Spice Of Life Kids, Seniors and Families – Usually take photos of “elites” as they tend to be more dynamic. Others can give good shots and add balance.

Kids, Seniors and Families – Usually take photos of “elites” as they tend to be more dynamic. Others can give good shots and add balance.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life Oddities

Oddities

Positioning Yourself Need to find a location with lots of traffic Controls are a good choice You should not give away the control. At easy controls, you can be visible but at tricky controls, you should try to be discrete. You need to be able to see competitors entering or exiting the control. Can you find a spot where you can get more than one type of shot? Make sure the sun is not in your face The location should not be too dark. On a dark day, pick a location in the open. Make sure you an see competitors faces

Need to find a location with lots of traffic

Controls are a good choice

You should not give away the control. At easy controls, you can be visible but at tricky controls, you should try to be discrete.

You need to be able to see competitors entering or exiting the control. Can you find a spot where you can get more than one type of shot?

Make sure the sun is not in your face

The location should not be too dark. On a dark day, pick a location in the open.

Make sure you an see competitors faces

Using Your Photos

Practical Considerations Arrive early Run before Photo Need to invest some time. Try to allocate an hour. Food & drink Clothing Rain Talk with organisers Map with controls Move from start towards finish Use busy controls Anticipate geography at location Physical difficuties – fatigue, rough terrain, climb, distance ... Carrying gear

Arrive early

Run before Photo

Need to invest some time. Try to allocate an hour.

Food & drink

Clothing

Rain

Talk with organisers

Map with controls

Move from start towards finish

Use busy controls

Anticipate geography at location

Physical difficuties – fatigue, rough terrain, climb, distance ...

Carrying gear

Light – Know Your Enemy There is almost never enough light Camera calculates aperture and exposure time to try to give the best photograph. Good cameras allow manual settings: ISO – Higher is better but can affect quality Shutter Speed – Longer gives more light but causes blur Aperture – Wider gives more light but narrows DoF, may decrease quality and may not be available Zoom makes matters worse – Increases shake, decreases light and may decrease aperture Stopping Down. Good cameras allow you to accept less light. This will result in a darker photo but it will be sharper.

There is almost never enough light

Camera calculates aperture and exposure time to try to give the best photograph.

Good cameras allow manual settings:

ISO – Higher is better but can affect quality

Shutter Speed – Longer gives more light but causes blur

Aperture – Wider gives more light but narrows DoF, may decrease quality and may not be available

Zoom makes matters worse – Increases shake, decreases light and may decrease aperture

Stopping Down. Good cameras allow you to accept less light. This will result in a darker photo but it will be sharper.

Night - O Unbelievably difficult Need a Flash & Tripod Lots of practice Prefocus Be creative People hate flashes. Beware scaring people Zoom is useless. Need to get closer than usual Two methods: Basic Flash Second Curtain Synch

Unbelievably difficult

Need a Flash & Tripod

Lots of practice

Prefocus

Be creative

People hate flashes. Beware scaring people

Zoom is useless. Need to get closer than usual

Two methods:

Basic Flash

Second Curtain Synch

Night-O Basic Flash

Night-O Second Curtain Sync Works best with shall torches

Works best with shall torches

Equipment 1 No zoom so you have to be really really close. Slow, so hard to get the photo you want. Low resolution limited output quality and didn't allow any software zoom. You must get up close and take upward shots. Hard to get sharp photos 1999 1.3M Fuji MX-1500 compact No Zoom

No zoom so you have to be really really close.

Slow, so hard to get the photo you want.

Low resolution limited output quality and didn't allow any software zoom.

You must get up close and take upward shots.

Hard to get sharp photos

1999

1.3M Fuji MX-1500

compact

No Zoom

Equipment 2 Excellent zoom. Excellent lens. Shutter speed/Aperture configurable. Multishot mode. Slow. Multishot Limited. Bulky. 2004 3M Fuji S5000 SLR-like Zoom Lens 38-380mm (10x zoom) ISO 64 - 1600 F3.2 - 8

Excellent zoom.

Excellent lens.

Shutter speed/Aperture configurable.

Multishot mode.

Slow.

Multishot Limited.

Bulky.

2004

3M Fuji S5000

SLR-like

Zoom Lens 38-380mm (10x zoom)

ISO 64 - 1600

F3.2 - 8

Equipment 3 Very fast. Very flexible. Interchangable lenses. High resolution & image quality. Excellent Multishot. Image Stabilizer reduces handshake. Harder to use properly. Even more bulky. Expensive. Hard to beat the lens on the S5000. 2005 8M Canon EOS350D SLR ISO 100-1600 F4-5.6 Main Lens 70-300mm (2-9x zoom) Image Stabilizer

Very fast.

Very flexible.

Interchangable lenses.

High resolution & image quality.

Excellent Multishot.

Image Stabilizer reduces handshake.

Harder to use properly.

Even more bulky.

Expensive.

Hard to beat the lens on the S5000.

2005

8M Canon EOS350D SLR

ISO 100-1600

F4-5.6

Main Lens 70-300mm (2-9x zoom)

Image Stabilizer

Equipment 4 Neat, easy to have with you all the time. Not enough zoom. Not as flexible as the S5000 or EOS. 2006 5M Canon IXUS 50 compact Zoom Lens 50-150mm 3x zoom ISO 50-400 F2.8-4.9

Neat, easy to have with you all the time.

Not enough zoom.

Not as flexible as the S5000 or EOS.

2006

5M Canon IXUS 50

compact

Zoom Lens 50-150mm 3x zoom

ISO 50-400

F2.8-4.9

Of Beards and Sweatbands O is not well understood by the general public. Photos are an opportunity to influence the perception. Difficult to give the illusion of movement Orienteers are not very photogenic at the best of times O-gear (pyjamas) is a big turn-off to non-orienteers Coats & hats make O look like hillwalking Beards, spectacles and sweatbands give a bad impression Smiling & looking at the camera ruins a photo Kids & families make good photos but kids can be problematic Older competitors show the breadth of the sport but tend not to be as dynamic Students & beginners in tracksuits or jeans don't look great The above are meant as discussion points. They are meant to start a debate on the image of Orienteering and how we can improve it, especially using our photographs.

O is not well understood by the general public. Photos are an opportunity to influence the perception.

Difficult to give the illusion of movement

Orienteers are not very photogenic at the best of times

O-gear (pyjamas) is a big turn-off to non-orienteers

Coats & hats make O look like hillwalking

Beards, spectacles and sweatbands give a bad impression

Smiling & looking at the camera ruins a photo

Kids & families make good photos but kids can be problematic

Older competitors show the breadth of the sport but tend not to be as dynamic

Students & beginners in tracksuits or jeans don't look great

Summary Do give O photography a go Do get in close and fill the Frame Do try to get the O into the photo (map or control ...) Do Not photograph people from behind Do consider the uses of you photographs and how they portray O Do mix it up Do use Continuous Mode/Multi Shot Do publish your photos on Flickr (or other) Do Persevere Do consider a Fuji S5600/S5700

Do give O photography a go

Do get in close and fill the Frame

Do try to get the O into the photo (map or control ...)

Do Not photograph people from behind

Do consider the uses of you photographs and how they portray O

Do mix it up

Do use Continuous Mode/Multi Shot

Do publish your photos on Flickr (or other)

Do Persevere

Do consider a Fuji S5600/S5700

"Navigating at speed over rough terrain" “ A dynamic sport, perfect for everyone from 9 to 90” - Our Photographs (I Hope) Orienteering is ...

"Navigating at speed over rough terrain"

“ A dynamic sport, perfect for everyone from 9 to 90”

- Our Photographs (I Hope)