Wheelchair rugby! This isn't your average sport, and it's not my first time trying to capture its unique intensity through photography. This is actually the second time I've done photography at this event, the national tournament for the USWRA (United States Wheelchair Rugby Association).
Check out the video featuring photography talk and photos of the event.
Check out the main lens I used, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S:
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/3oUTm1g
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DvQH1P
- ebay: https://ebay.us/n1hGRG
- Used on KEH: https://shrsl.com/376rv
As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!
It was hosted or at least partly sponsored by Oscar Mike, a great organization that you should really check out if you are curious about their efforts supporting disabled veterans. My friend is related to them and handles a lot of their photography, so he invited me along.
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| A view of the court, ready for the intense wheelchair rugby action. |
This particular tournament was back in 2023. It's been sitting on my computer this long, and I haven't edited any type of video out of it, but today's the day.
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| A look at the USWRA National Championship schedule – a busy weekend of games! |
My friend that's a photographer asked me to take some photos at the event. The first time I photographed wheelchair rugby, I felt I didn't do an amazing job. So, this time, I came in with a plan: get more photos, better photos, and really capture the spirit of the game. I think, at the very least, I accomplished that.
Gear Limitations and Workarounds
Ideally, for sports photography, you want a versatile kit. I reached out to one of my affiliates, hoping to snag some loaner equipment – maybe a telephoto zoom lens – but it didn't work out. So, I had to make the most of what I had on hand:
Equipment used at the event:
- Nikon Z5
- Nikon 85mm f1.8S
- GoPro Hero 9: For video footage
- 28mm f2.8: Used this one very little. The 85mm was my main lens for the event.
It's important to note: I did not edit any of the photos you're seeing. These are direct exports from the RAW files, so what you see is what I captured.
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| My first-person view, camera in hand, ready to capture the action. |
My Photography Strategy: Positioning is Key
Because I was effectively limited to the 85mm as my main lens, my strategy was all about positioning. Last time, I think I stayed too far back. This time, I knew I needed to get closer to the action to fill the frame and capture those crucial details.
With sports, the settings are often secondary to being in the right place at the right time. Still, for those curious, here's what I used:
Aperture Priority Mode: I set the aperture to f/2 by default in my custom modes. Letting in a good deal of light and creating a shallow depth of field when possible. But in these situations the subject would have to be pretty close, so for most of the event it looks pretty normal. If you want more isolation, using a lens closer to 200mm would be ideal.
Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/640th of a second. This is crucial to freeze the fast-paced action and avoid blurry shots. The camera would automatically adjust the ISO to maintain this shutter speed.
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| Wheelchair Rugby contact! Two players collide. |
It was a constant game of anticipation. Getting closer, waiting for the shot, finding good positions, finding good angles – I really think it worked out better this time. And I tried to get a lot of variety.
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| A player is about to throw in the ball – a moment of anticipation before the action restarts. |
More Than Just Snapping Pictures
Sports photography has so many approaches. You can pan the camera with the players (following them as they move to create a sense of motion), set yourself up at the corners of the court for dynamic angles... Some positions work great; others, not so much. It really depends on what you're trying to achieve.
Ideally, I would have loved a fast zoom lens (something like a 70-200mm f2.8). Anything at a distance with the 85mm was going to look pretty basic, but when the players were close, using close to the maximum aperture on the 85mm could create something unique in comparison.
My main goals:
- Capture the expressions on the players' faces – the intensity, the focus, the teamwork.
- Freeze the ball in motion.
- Get those impactful shots of the wheelchairs colliding (it's a contact sport!).
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| Players gather for the pass. |
It wasn't easy, especially given my equipment limitations. But by watching the players, seeing how they positioned themselves, and understanding the flow of the game, I could anticipate where I needed to be while also trying to be polite to viewers as well as anyone on the courts or the sidelines.
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| Recovering a player after a collision – a testament to the physicality of wheelchair rugby. |
I experimented a lot with holding the camera low, using the flip-out screen to compose my shots. Often, I wasn't even looking through the viewfinder. While holding the camera out like that isn't as stable, it can lead to some unique perspectives. Try it out! See if it works...
Finding My Spot
I pretty much camped out on a lot of positions that I thought would work out well to get close-ups when they came into my area. I also took the time to get photos of various items in the room, like the championship trophies.
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| A view of the championship trophies. |
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| Players happily receiving awards – the culmination of a hard-fought tournament. |
I was definitely able to get more dynamic photos this year, but with around 3000 total photos, it's tough even looking through them to find the best examples. All of these images are screencaps from the YouTube video.
Wheelchair rugby is an incredible sport. If you ever see it happening in your area, definitely check it out. I really enjoyed photographing it, and a big thanks to my friend for inviting me!
Hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at wheelchair rugby photography, featuring the USWRA and Oscar Mike.