FUJIFILM FEATURE: Michael Sheehan

Fresh from shooting the Springboks vs. Argentina in Gqeberha, sports photographer Michael Sheehan talks about getting the shot right, his Fujifilm setup and sporting events on his bucket list.

How did you find your way towards being a sports photographer?

I was awarded a contract here in Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth to cover the 2010 World Cup for the LOC. This included shooting photos of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium being built and all the sports activities. (This is where my profile photo was taken by my daughter, Caryn Sheehan, using her Fujifilm X-T1.)

Through all the activities in and around the World Cup, I really enjoyed the fast action of football and from there I ventured down the road of sports photography.

When did you switch to Fujifilm and what made you make the decision?

I switched about 18 months ago. The reason I switched was that I wanted a system that gave me consistently great quality photos and Fujifilm does exactly that. Fujifilm ticked all the boxes and with its smaller form factor makes shooting a real pleasure.

Can you tell us about your sports photography gear?

I am currently using a Fujifilm X-T3 with an adapted Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 lens. This combination works extremely well but hopefully I will be able to invest in a fast prime in the near future. I also use an X-H1 with either a 50-140mm f2.8 lens or a 16-55mm f2.8 lens for team photos and change between the two as needed. To send my photos to the picture desk as the action takes place I use a Dell Vostro laptop on field.

If you had to provide three rules for sports photography, what would they be?

1. Try to keep the ball in the frame. Cricket in particular can be difficult because of the speed of the ball

2. Make sure you can see athletes’ faces

3. Capture at least two players in the frame, but this will depend on the type of sport you are shooting.

Keep in mind sometimes wide shots and single shots are needed depending on the client and what the purpose of the shoot is.

Any advice for those starting off with sport?

Sports photography equipment is quite expensive so I would start by buying used lenses if possible. A lot of sports events are played at night and a lens with an aperture of f2.8 or f4 at the most will be needed.

Spend a lot of time practicing. A sports photographer should get to know the game they are shooting as this helps with anticipating the flow of the game. It’s also fast, so shoot many frames so that you can choose the right one from the sequence.

If there is one sporting event you wished you captured, what would have been and why?

I sometimes wish I could shoot Wimbledon as it’s very different but as exciting.

Do you have a favourite sports pic of yours you would tell us about?

Having a favourite photo is difficult as there are many to choose from. This is one of my favourite photos  of Dale Steyn in action against England in a T20 series in East London last year. It was one of the last sports events before Covid stopped us from shooting sport.

To me, it is the speed and emotion he is putting into his bowling that makes this a great photo. I believe we need those emotional photos to tell the story. It was taken with my X-H1 at the time.

Are there any big events that’s in your scope for the future? 

There are two events I would love to shoot. The first is the Rugby World Cup and the second is Formula 1 racing. Even though I photographed a Soccer World Cup, I think these two are very different from each other but it’s something I would love to capture.

Covid has clipped my wings, so travel is just not going to happen. I will settle with local sports for now, which will include some international games luckily.

Find more of Michael Sheehan’s work here:

Website: https://www.portelizabethphotographer.co.za/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.sheehan.5496/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsheehanphotos/