- Alisha Lovrich – Firsthand Experience with the EOS R1
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Canon Ambassador, Alisha Lovrich hares valuable insights into both the technical aspects of high-speed sports photography and the human side of working in the industry by highlighting her firsthand experience with the Canon EOS R1. From capturing iconic sports moments to navigating challenges on the job, her expertise offers a glimpse into the world of professional sports photographers.
The International launch shoot in Europe for the EOS R1 was an incredible experience, both as a photographer and as ‘talent’ on the other side of the camera. It was eye-opening to be directed, which gave me a better understanding of the challenges and dynamics involved when directing others. The Itch Media team was fantastic—extremely talented and a joy to work with. We all bonded right away, and it was amazing to see how big teams collaborate on a project.
As a stills photographer, it was awesome to see the film side of things in action. The shoot itself was a high-energy, three-part series created for an ad campaign featuring sportswear, sports cars, and sports teams. We shot in three different locations: London for basketball, Amsterdam for tennis, and Norway for football. Each location had a mix of photographers, with two shooting basketball, two for tennis, and one for football. We spent one day reccing the locations and two days shooting. The first day was focused on capturing the key shots for the ad, while the second day was dedicated to getting our stills and educational content. I also had the chance to talk about the camera, which you can see on the Canon NZ website. Recording the voice-over was a fun experience, especially as a New Zealander. Our accent and rapid speech made it an entertaining challenge, and I learned a lot about voice-over production!
Settings and techniques vary based on the sport, but I generally shoot wide open unless I’m going for an artistic effect like panning, in which case I’ll use a slower shutter speed and adjust the aperture accordingly. ND filters can be a bit of a hassle when shooting sports because you need to quickly switch back to a fast shutter speed, and you don’t want to waste time fiddling with filters.
The flexibility of the Canon EOS R1 was a game-changer, especially its ability to switch between high-speed and slower shots with ease. For fast-paced sports like tennis, I use a shutter speed of 1/2000 or higher to freeze the action. For athletics, 1/1000 is ideal. The Canon R series cameras also handle high ISO very well, making them perfect for low-light conditions. One feature that stood out was the camera’s auto settings for servo case modes, which I typically adjust manually. Having these automated was a huge time-saver and helped me capture more moments without worrying about settings.
Athletics is my favourite sport to photograph because it offers such a wide range of events and disciplines. The Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games are at the top of my list. The energy at these events is electric, and the emotion captured in these moments is unparalleled. There’s nothing quite like photographing athletes competing on the biggest stage, especially when you're in a packed stadium!
Timing is everything. You need to anticipate the action and position yourself in the best spot to capture the perfect shot. Understanding the sport is key to predicting what might happen next. For example, in tennis, knowing when its match point allows you to focus on the player likely to win. In athletics, recognising the positioning of the top runners or jumpers can make all the difference.
Autofocus and Performance:
The autofocus on the Canon EOS R1 is outstanding. It never misses, even in the fastest-paced moments. The camera's ergonomics and build quality are fantastic, making it easy to transition from my previous gear. Another major advantage is its customisation options, which allow me to tailor the camera to my shooting style. With 40 frames per second (fps), I was able to capture so many more potential ‘winning’ shots.
I took a risk during the shoot and asked the players to feed the ball close to me. This allowed me to get dynamic wide shots of them hitting the ball right in front of me. The autofocus was crucial here, as I had no time to adjust before the moment passed. The result was a series of detailed, high-action images that exceeded my expectations.
Frame Rate Flexibility:
The R1’s ability to shoot at 40fps is incredible, but what really sets it apart is the ability to customise a button to switch between 40fps and any other frame rate you set. Shooting everything at 40fps can be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of images, so having the ability to quickly switch to a slower frame rate for portrait shots or less intense moments was incredibly useful. This flexibility made my workflow so much smoother, especially when paired with the right shutter speed and aperture settings.
Efficient Deletion and Editing:
Another standout feature was the ability to delete entire sequences in-camera. This makes it so much faster to clear out unwanted shots without having to go through each one manually. The built-in crop and upscale features are also super handy for quick adjustments on the go. Additionally, marking images for easy retrieval later was a huge time-saver during the hectic shoot schedule.
Sports photography is tough work, and there are a lot of challenges that many outside the field may not realise. You often have to work through extreme weather, long hours, and intense physical demands. There's little time to eat, use the bathroom, or even find a decent coffee—especially at multi-day events. The pressure of staying alert for extended periods and working around broadcast cameras can also make things tricky.
On top of this, balancing the need to upload images live while capturing the action requires quick thinking and seamless coordination. Despite all these challenges, capturing the perfect moment makes it all worthwhile.
I had the opportunity to work with British photographer and Canon Ambassador Chloe Knott, which was fantastic. We spent the day shooting together, sharing tips, and exchanging experiences. The project wasn’t just about creating great images; it was about showing off the capabilities of the new Canon camera. Working with the Canon Europe and Itch creative teams was an excellent experience, and it was a lot of fun getting to explore a new city like Amsterdam during my free time.
I’ve found that in sports photography, no one really cares about your gender; they care about the quality of your work. That said, increased representation of women in sports media could inspire more women to pursue careers in this field. Right now, being a woman in sports photography can actually be an advantage—there's less competition for things like bathroom lines, and I’m often more memorable since there aren’t as many women in the field.
I’m proud to be part of New Zealand, which is making great strides in sports media equality. At the Tokyo Olympics, only 12% of accredited sports photographers were female, but for the Paris Games, New Zealand achieved a 50/50 split. It’s an exciting time to be in this industry, and I hope to inspire more women to pick up a camera and take advantage of the opportunities out there.
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