Monopod, Stick, Unipod, One Legged Tripod what ever you want to call it, is one of the main pieces of equipment that I use on a daily basis being a sports photographer.

Working in the UK the main sport in my country is football (soccer for you folks on the other side of the pond) and it’s what I mainly photograph for 10 months of the year. I cover all aspects of the game from live action to commercial photo shoots as well. When not covering football I cover other sports including, boxing, tennis, golf, cricket to name a few.

My choice of monopod for my career so far has been Gitzo, I’m currently using the GM3551 Carbon Fiber. I have tried other brands but always found myself going back to Gitzo ones. Ok, they are the most expensive of the brands out there but my dad always said to me “you buy cheap you buy twice “ and boy was he right. Twice I have bought different ones and twice I have gone back to Gitzo, which never let me down. Don’t forget you are putting between £12,000 – £15,000 (Canon 1DX & 400 2.8) worth of equipment on this long pole, so you shouldn’t really skimp on it. It has a lot of expensive responsibility to hold my equipment.

You will see most sports photographers or come to think of it any photographer with a long lens say over 300mm 2.8 using a monopod. I even use mine on my 70-200 2.8 lens some times if I am shooting with slow shutter speeds. You do sometimes see photographer’s hand holding their long lenses, but I don’t have time to go to gym and work out daily or have the money to have physiotherapy on my back each week. Saying that though some of these new long lenses, especially the new Canon range are so light nowadays you might be able to get away with it, but if using for long periods of time, monopod all the way.
The main purpose of using a monopod is to keep the lens and camera steady whilst taking a picture. This can be at low shutter speeds to stop movement or even at high shutter speeds to eliminate any camera movement affecting the final image. My main reason for using a monopod is to be able to have the ability to quickly work between a long lens, which is mounted to the monopod, and a short lens, which I have around my neck. In the fast pace world of sport photography having this ability to quickly change cameras is a skill that is worth perfecting.

There are quite a few ways of using the monopod at sporting events. I see people operating 2 cameras at many sporting events. Some people support the monopod between there legs whilst holding their other camera, some people drop their long lens on their laps, or rest it against a advertising board, but my way of working is resting the lens with the monopod attached against my shoulder. Each way is personal preference and whatever is comfortable for you.

The technique that I use when using the long lens with the monopod on is 1 movement, which I will break down into 3 points for you.The reason why I use my method is because I am over 6ft 3in tall and it feels the most comfortable way for me to work. With this in mind the main benefits of working this way is to rest the long lens on my shoulder, which leaves both hands free to operate the short lens. Be considerate when doing this, for instance, if you’re at a busy event and there’s not a lot of space, if any, between you and the other photographers this can proven to be extremely difficult. Always be considerate and have the long lens on you shoulder nearest the goal. The reason for this being if you have it on the outside shoulder then the person on the outside of you has to lean out further and that leads to a wave effect down the line and people cant see. I like to work on the right side of the goal as you are looking at it from behind. This is more comfortable for me in my shooting positing. I do sit the other side of the goal when I have to, but you have to remember to use the other shoulder, which takes practice. Try both ways of shooting and find out which side suits you best, for the side that you don’t like, work on it because you will always have to make a decision at a match on where to sit, and if that is the side your not comfortable with you will have a lot of angry photographers shouting in your direction, and boy can they get angry.

1. I hold the camera in my right hand and have my left hand on the focus ring of the lens (this provides the best stability when using along lens). Make sure your camera is at eye level and not a bit below. It’s ok being slightly above. A good way to measure this is to have the top of the monopod with no lens on so its level with your shoulder. When you attach the lens and camera it should level off to your eye.

2. You might think this sounds weird but let go! Yes let go! And lean forward ever so slightly to catch your long lens on your left shoulder and as doing this use your right hand to bring your short lens camera to your eye and the left hand on the Zoom. Got that ? The weight of the lens with the camera on the mount should naturally make the lens fall back because of the weight distribution.

3. Then you should be in position to capture the short lens action on your camera. To capture the goal and celebration.

It’s all about timing when using this method. You can be photographing a nice action picture in the center of the pitch and then a pass is played through and a fast centre forward is straight onto the pass and the ball is in the back of the net and if your’re not quick enough, the ball is in the back of net. Practice this standing up and sitting down. The Majority of the matches I cover you are sitting on benches or stools alongside fellow photographers. When I have travelled abroad some people do stand up, so practice this both ways.

You often see photographers walking around the side of the pitches, golf courses, etc. carrying their long lenses on their shoulders. This is what the monopod is also good for. When carrying make sure you have the lens pointing downwards to the ground and camera pointing up. I use this way because if it’s raining the glass on the front of the lens does not get wet. Ok you might get some on the eyepiece of the camera but that is only a tiny piece to clean instead of a whole piece of glass on the front of a lens.

Tips on choosing the right monopod for you.

1. Make sure it can hold the maximum weight of the heaviest lens you want to use on it.
2. Try and get one that is level with your shoulder or higher at full extension.
3. When it’s at full extension make sure it’s stable.
4. At the shortest extension make sure it can fit in you luggage for travelling.
5. Wrap some cushioning round the top of the monopod below the collar for cushioning, for example a BMX handle bar protector.
6. Make sure the thread, which connects the monopod to the lens, is a good size, especially if you’re using long lenses.