Make your pictures tell a story

Position, timing and the right lens make this rugby shot work.

When taking photos of an event, look for the story line. This will help you get shots that capture the feeling and meaning of the activities. It will also result in an interpretive sequence that can be run as a slide show on you blogs and other online venues or interspersed into a magazine story. Remember, you are not passively 'taking pictures', you are actively 'interpreting the event' and giving it meaning.

Go in with a photo coverage plan. Look at the program or itinerary of the event. Find out who's who. Scope out the venue, looking for vantages that will give you the best shot. This isn't rocket science. It's basic preparation for effective photo coverage of the story you have in mind. To get that story you have to know who the players are, what type of drama is going to unfold, when and where. Then you have to position yourself to get that shot. The old adage 'a photo is worth a thousand words' is true. But be sure your photos tell the story the way words do too.