Shooting Boxing

[Chicle]

Alright so I work at an after school center and part of our program we have a youth boxing program. I've shot a few of their sparring matches with mixed results. This weekend is one of the bigger amateur matches and the coaches have asked me to come along and take some shots of the fights. I'm really excited about the opportunity as I would like to shoot more boxing and I might have the opportunity to shoot a small professional fight in January.

For those of you that shoot boxing what are some tips you could give?


What do you use for focus points? When I use the center point focus it is difficult to keep both boxers in the frame and using all the focus point seems difficult to get the right stuff in focus.

I'll be shooting the event with a 40d and 50mm 1.4

Thanks for any help guys.

here are a few shots just to show where i'm at:

[BIG H]

I'm guessing you shot the competition held in Racine this past weekend. How did your pics turn out?
I use center focus point on a 40D w/ 70-200L and stand on a stepladder to get above the ropes.

[Chicle]

Originally Posted by BIG H

I'm guessing you shot the competition held in Racine this past weekend. How did your pics turn out?
I use center focus point on a 40D w/ 70-200L and stand on a stepladder to get above the ropes.

Yeah i shot in Racine, not too happy with the pics but mostly because of the absolutely horrible lighting. Those lights must have been 100 years old, gave a horrible orange hue to everything, I tried setting a custom white balance which helped a bit but still not spot on. Then also the lights were the recycling type so every shot turned out way dark.

The biggest issue I am still having though is getting both boxers profile and in focus when throwing punches. I can get the shots like I posted all day long but i can't seem to get the side shots down what so ever. any help?

[BIG H]

I focus on one boxer, shoot wide so that both are in the picture and then crop. I have never had decent lighting at these events. Good shots are few...But I still have fun. A boxer from UCC, Luis "Cuba" Arias uses one of my shots on his facebook page. It has lots of noise.

[Chicle]

With the 50mm it seems hard to get both fighters in the frame but I get what your saying.

You from the Milwaukee area? I've never met Cuba but I've heard he is an amazing fighter.

[BIG H]

I'm from Fond du Lac. A fifty kind of limits you. Alot of people use a 24-70 from ringside.

[Chicle]

Originally Posted by BIG H

I'm from Fond du Lac. A fifty kind of limits you. Alot of people use a 24-70 from ringside.

Yeah thats what I'm seeing. I'm thinking about rent some sort of wide angle prime lens for my next event.

By chance do you know Gregg Denman? He's a fond du lac based photographer and also my uncle.

[BIG H]

Sorry, I don't know your uncle. If we attend the same boxing event some time, I have a sigma 24-70 f2.8 you could try out.

[Chicle]

Originally Posted by BIG H

Sorry, I don't know your uncle. If we attend the same boxing event some time, I have a sigma 24-70 f2.8 you could try out.

That would be great, thanks.

[BIG H]

Chicle - I sent you a PM.