Kym Douglas
Sports | Last Updated: February 23, 2021
My name is Kym Douglas and I’m an action photographer based in Queensland, Australia. My love for photography started in 2000 when I commenced as a pet photographer back in the film days before becoming a passionate action photographer.
Digital has really made this much more affordable than the old days and I really enjoy the challenge of choosing the precise moment to press the shutter. It might seem strange to some that I can’t sit in front of the telly watching sport but love capturing sports images.
Whilst I’ve specialised in action I’m also a bit of an all-rounder and enjoy all types of photography including macro, landscapes, and nature. But I always come back to sports. There’s no better feeling than capturing a moment in time, which will never be relived again.
Some of my best shots have been with the local Freestyle Motocross team which I follow around the country and Jet Boat Racing which is always full of action. I was honoured when some of my photos were nationally and internationally recognised.
I’ve always been a Canon person and must admit to always taking too much gear out with me, but would be devastated if I left a lens at home and consequently missed the opportunity to capture a special image whether it be a sports photo or a landscape.
I carry everything in my Lowepro Vertex 100 AW backpack, which is no longer produced but I always find it difficult to find the right size bag so I’ve been using this one for many years. I find it’s comfortable for making those long trips around sporting grounds.
Cameras
Canon EOS 7D Mark II – I still remember being super excited when Canon released the Mark II and it has been my workhorse ever since. It’s totally reliable and I love the crop factor especially for photographing the sports where access isn’t always permissible.
The 10fps is also very useful when you’ve got something really action-packed happening in front of you and you don’t want to miss a frame.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III – This is my landscape camera and a bit of an all-rounder. I must admit I don’t use it nearly as much as I should.
Lenses
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 – I mainly use this for landscapes. It’s a nice lens and I find it very easy to focus when shooting early morning in the dark and when using filters.
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro USM – Another quality lens that is nice and sharp and is a good portrait lens as well.
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L Mark II IS – A bit of an all-rounder lens which I’ve used for action as well as portraits and pets. I find this lens very sharp but prefer the zooming ring a bit further away from the body of the camera as I seem to unintentionally rest my hand on the unlock button on the body of my camera.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L Mark III IS – This is my go-to lens in low light. Extremely quick to focus and lovely and sharp.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L Mark II IS – I still remember the day I took this out for the first time and couldn’t believe how sharp it was, as I was previously using an older version. It locks on quickly with focus when paired with the 7d Mark II, it’s truly a lovely lens to use whilst being affordable to most people.
Tripods
Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fibre 3-section Tripod – Mounted with a Wimberley WH-200-S Head. This is the tripod I use for sports photography due to its lightweight and if I’m going to be located in one spot all day. That way I can alternate between hand-holding and using the tripod when the lens gets heavy.
I really love the free movement of the Wimberley WH-200-S Head as it’s incredibly smooth for panning shots.
Manfrotto 190 Pro – I must admit I’ve had this tripod for about 15 years and I love it. I love the quick release legs and the centre pole is totally removable so it can be used horizontally allowing you to shoot really low which is great for taking photos of fungi and also getting down low for landscapes.
Manfrotto Monopod – I don’t use this as much as I should, whilst being lightweight I find that I’ve still got to hold my camera all day which is why I like the tripod where I can lock off the head and leave the camera free standing.
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