Analysing Sports Pictures

Remember that sports pictures fall broadly into two categories: victory and loss. There are also 'frozen action' shots which show a key moment of the match/game/race, one which often points to victory or loss.

1. Composition

How is the picture composed?

  • Who/what is in the picture?
  • What proportion of it do they take up?
  • Whereabouts in the picture are they? Centred? To one side? At the top? Bottom?
  • What else is in the picture? Crowds? Pitch? Racetrack?
  • How do the other elements of the picture balance with the sports player?
  • Are they given equal or less space? What is the main focus of the picture (what can you see most clearly)?
  • What is in the background?
  • What is the depth of field?

 

2. Content

What is this picture showing?

  • Who is the person/team in the picture? How important/famous are they? Does the picture reflect their status?
  • What expressions are on faces?
  • What postures are shown by bodies?
  • Is the content of the picture something we would notice and remember with the naked eye, or has it taken the photographer to 'freeze' a moment of action which is unusual/unnatural?
  • Are the sports people on the ground or in mid air?
  • What details do you notice - logos, sweat, injury, equipment etc
  • Is there a caption to the picture? Is it appropriate? Does it make a joke or a statement?

 

3. Effect

'A picture is worth a thousand words' is the mantra of any magazine or newspaper layout editor. Pictures are vital to the overall effect of a story, or the visual impact of a page.

  • How attention-grabbing is this picture? What attracts you to it? Would it make you read the accompanying story?
  • How effective do you think the picture is in showing the 'essence' of the particular match/game/race?
  • What are your expectations of pictures depicting individual sports? Does this picture challenge the usual codes and conventions?
  • How effectively does this picture convey victory or loss?

 

Find examples of sporting photographs at the following sites: