Sports
MarkSims

Sports

September 2020

Entry 7004812
103rd
174

Mont Blanc is the second-highest mountain in Europe, and this tiny paraglider really emphasizes the peak’s mighty sense of scale. The timing of this image was hugely important as the paraglider contrasts against the bright white clouds, but could have otherwise got lost were it shot against the dark sections of the mountain.

Entry 7019359
44th
118
Entry 7045177
56th
31
Entry 7049905
74th
3
Entry 7056845
19th
47
Entry 7084421
46th
40
Crowd
winner
Entry 7109384
60th
88
Entry 7157309
5th
203
Entry 7172271
118th
104
Entry 7300315
35th
3
Entry 7304142
30th
5
Entry 7306847
62nd
121
Expert
winner
Entry 7308788
109th
319

Sports photographers often only have a few fleeting moments to capture a showstopping shot, and that’s why this image takes the gold. The passing of the baton is the moment that needs to be captured if you’re photographing a relay race and this image doesn’t disappoint. Crucially, the slow 1/60 sec shutter speed has captured motion in the arms and legs of the runners, while freezing their faces.

518 Images entered

Meet the expert judge

Brief

See more contest details

In this Nikon-only contest – brought to you by N-Photo magazine – we're asking for your best sports images. So, whether it’s a great moment captured from a Sunday league game, a high-octane motorsport pan or a portrait of an up-and-coming sportsperson, we’d like to see your best sports photographs. //Entry details DO: Ensure your photo was taken on a Nikon camera Have EXIF data in your photo (in the info section) Provide a title for your photo Write a description of the photo you're entering of at least 50 words to give us the background of what the image is of and how the it was taken. A little context can go a long way! Check your photo has a resolution of at least 3000 pixels on the longest edge of the photo as we will be printing our top 10 images in N-Photo magazine. DO NOT: Have a watermark on your photograph Any photo not following the above rules will be disqualified from the competition.

341 Photographers

25,835 Ratings

Entry 7004814
33rd
134
Entry 7009018
264th
16
Entry 7009103
4th
28

A good sports photographer is always on the lookout for fleeting moments like this. The intense expression on the hooker’s face as he’s surrounded by the faceless opposition makes for a truly striking composition. The shallow depth of field has blurred all distractions beyond the rugby players locked in the scrum, and the black and white conversion further focuses the viewer’s gaze on the subject.

Entry 7019358
45th
132
Entry 7244712
364th
3

Unfortunately NPOTY only accepts images taken on Nikon cameras. However, we couldn’t help but leave a review of this stunning baseball image. We really like the colour palette of this photo, and how both the subject and ball have been frozen thanks to the 1/6400 sec shutter speed. Finally, the shadow from the stand has created plenty of interest in the foreground. A great shot!

Entry 7279401
112th
6

Sports photography isn’t always about super-long lenses – this Tour de France image was taken using a humble 50mm f/1.8. The 1/250 sec shutter speed was just fast enough to freeze the subject, but slow enough to retain motion in the wheels. The dark sky and rain add an atmospheric quality, while ample light still hits the subject and prevents the image from appearing washed out.

Entry 7310305
151st
10

This corner at Germany’s Sachsenring circuit is known as The Waterfall, and this low-angle photograph really amplifies the sloping nature of this super-fast bend. Shooting from behind the subjects allows the viewer to take in the awe-inspiring drop they’re about to face, while the bike in the background creates a sense of depth that couldn’t be conveyed via the flat grey track alone.