Dave Holland is a professional winter sports photographer. “I’ve been to three winter games as well as countless other world championships,” he says. “My daily life is at the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta, the training center for most high-level winter athletes at some point.” When it comes to capturing action in challenging conditions, Holland relies on what he calls a killer combination – the Sony Alpha 9 III and Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. He explains more below:
A9 III & 300mm GM –"A Killer Combination"
Whether it is the bright lights of competition or the daily grind of training, the Sony Alpha 9 III and the Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master are a killer combination in my daily work as a sports photographer. I couldn’t be happier with the A9 III and 300mm f/2.8 GM. This combination performs in virtually any condition – indoors, outdoors and even in the freezing cold, ensuring I go home with the photos I expect.
Photo by Dave Holland. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/2.8, ISO 6400
The Benefits Of Real-Time Autofocus Recognition
One challenge common to most winter sports is that the athletes wear helmets, cages, goggles, sunglasses, buffs, hoods and even motorcycle helmets. This is where the real-time recognition autofocus helps capture images when you only have one chance at it.
Photo by Dave Holland. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/1600-sec., f/2.8, ISO 2000
The World’s First Global Shutter System & IBIS
Many training venues can be challenging to work in. The Ice House, the bobsleigh training facility in Calgary, has a mix of lighting, including some daylight and a mix of new LED and old mercury vapour lights. This is where the world’s first global shutter system shines, taking care of that annoying light flicker from your images.
Photo by Dave Holland. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/2.8, ISO 6400
These darker training environments also benefit from 5-axis image stabilization, which allows you to use slower shutter speeds at high ISOs. I frequently shoot at ISO 6400 and 1/800-sec., which I try not to go below.
Best Camera & Lens For Sports Photography
At the 2024 youth winter games in Korea I was fortunate to work with pre-production models of the A9 III and the 300mm f/2.8 GM lens together. What a superb setup for hockey, figure skating and curling. The autofocus was snappy and the images had that crispness that only Sony cameras make.
Photo by Dave Holland. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/1600-sec., f/2.8, ISO 2000
At major events where there is often only one chance to get the photo, you want the best equipment for the job. It may be the big save or the moment of victory, which is why I rely on the Sony A9 III and Sony's amazing line of lenses.
See more of Dave Holland's work at daveholland.ca and on Instagram @davehollandpics.
See more videos like this one on the Alpha Universe YouTube Channel.
Learn more about the Sony Alpha 9 III.
Learn more about the Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master.
