Last Sunday, Real Madrid Feminino played against Tenerife at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano in a drama filled match of tussles, injuries and cards. I was fortunate enough to experience the match from a whole new perspective this time – that of pitch-side photographer.
This marked my first experience as a sports photographer and it was certainly an eye-opening experience that both captivated and challenged me. Armed with a Canon EOS R6 and (rather intimidating and extremely heavy) Canon EF 100-400MM F/4.5-5.6L IS UCM I lens, I took up my position at the end of the pitch and spent the next 3 hours doing my best to capture the game.
From a human perspective, we were extremely luck with the weather as the sun bathed the stadium in warmth and light, however, through the viewfinder, the bright sunny conditions posed definite challenges when it came to finding appropriate camera settings. I spent the match oscillating between low and higher ISOs, readjusting the f stops and trying to counteract the constant battle of light and shadow on pitch.
However, when all is said and done, I managed to come away from the match with a selection of decent shots that I feel quite proud of. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to the opportunity to capture future matches both in the Alfredo di Stefano and, eventually, the Bernabeu – by then I hope I will feel both more confident and competent! Until then, please enjoy Real Madrid F vs Tenerife through my eyes.
