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30 ZiNG July - September 2009 Sports Our fourth category in this year's photo competition is SPORTS. This covers a multitude of activities, from extreme sports such as KITE SURFING TO HORSE RACING TO CRICKET, indeed, to any action- based event. And don't forget shots of the spectators can be every bit as exciting as the action itself. To help with some top tips, we sought the advice of Barbados- based sports photographer Chris Welch, who is responsible for the incredible photos you see on this page ( visit www. chriswelchphotos. com and www. coastcaribbeanimages. com to see more). Chris will also be on hand to judge your entries. Fancy yourself as a photographer? Keen on capturing this wonderful region on camera? So let's share it! We're running a photography competition to encourage you all to grab your cameras and start taking pictures of this place you call home. In each issue of ZiNG a new category will be promoted, with four categories being featured throughout the year. The winner of each category will win a luxurious weekend getaway for two persons, including fl ights courtesy of LIAT, plus there'll be an amazing grand prize for the overall winner. So make sure you keep an eye on each edition of ZiNG, and visit www. zingmag. net for full details and terms and conditions. PiCTURE PERFECT ENTER NOW! GO TO WWW. ZINGMAG. NET FOR FULL ENTRY DETAILS Chris Welch's top tips for sports photography 1 PHOTOGRAPHY A good grasp of the funda-mentals of photography is needed - fast shutter speed ( 1/ 1000 sec) to freeze action; slow shutter speed ( 1/ 25 sec) to create dramatic, arty blurs; wide apertures ( f/ 4) to de- focus backgrounds. Get to know your camera well, and experiment with different autofocus modes and settings. 2 EQUIPMENT Most sports action photos are taken with high- speed digital SLR cameras, doing at least 3- 5 fps ( frames per second). This helps to capture peak action, which can occur in split seconds. Use medium to long telephoto lenses for tight framing, isolating subjects, and capturing emotions; wide- angle lenses allow you to get in close to the action ( with some risk involved), and also capture unusual perspectives showing the action within the surrounding environment. A monopod helps to stabilise longer lenses while allowing ease of movement. 3KNOW THE SPORT Do some research, and look at the work of top sports photographers. Having a basic knowledge of the sport will improve your photos dramatically. This will help with timing, anticipating when the peak moments occur, and also where to position yourself to capture the best moments. 4GENERAL Practice often, try shooting different sports, challenge yourself and most of all have fun!