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Remember this ad from 12 years ago? This is why you don’t use on-camera flash for sports photography

Mar 18, 2022 by Alex Baker 6 Comments

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Are you sitting comfortably? Great! Now, think back 12 years ago. Yes, that would be pre-multiple political upheavals, pre-pandemic and pre-full frame mirrorless cameras. It was a much simpler time, we were all so innocent then…but I digress.

Take a look at this Buffalo Wings commercial from 2010 that hilariously pokes fun at sports photographers using on-camera flash. The results of which, have a disasterous effect on the athletes.

I personally hadn’t seen this advertisement when it was new, but I have to say it’s pretty spot on. Indoor events generally request no flash photography, and especially if matches are televised it’s a big no-no. These days with modern cameras and fast lenses the need for a flash is pretty minimal. Newer mirrorless cameras like the Canon R3 can freeze action and rapid fire shots at incredibly fast speeds. You’re not going to miss the shot.

Unlike the poor athletes who may be completely distracted by something such as a rogue flash going off in their line of sight. It’s a similar problem with concert photography. In my performing days I even had video crews asking to be on stage with the musicians, sticking their cameras almost into their faces. My response is always this: the music or sport, the musicians or athletes, and the paying audience come first with shooting these kinds of events. Find a way to capture what you need, without detracting from the enjoyment and execution of the performance itself. You are not the star of the show.

We probably don’t need to be telling you, but if you’re thinking of using flash in a live situation, please just don’t!

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Filed Under: news Tagged With: advertisements, flash, funny, on-camera light, sports photography

About Alex Baker

Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

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Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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