A collection of photography equipment including cameras, lenses, battery packs, flash units, memory cards, and a laptop with a label that reads "Aboriginal Land Tread Lightly," neatly arranged on a wooden surface.
Three Australian rules football players contest for the ball mid-air during a match. One player is from the Bulldogs and two players are from the Crows. A red ball is visible above them.
Silhouetted figures stand in a stadium with flaming torches on both sides and a lit floodlight against a dramatic cloudy sky.
Tennis player in white and blue attire serves the ball on a sunlit blue court as a crowd in hats watches from the shaded stands.
A tennis player in a red shirt and white cap prepares to serve the ball, illuminated by a narrow beam of light against a dark background.
A cricketer in a West Indies uniform dives horizontally with outstretched arms to catch a ball during a match.
Silhouette of a person mid-air during a high jump against a dramatic sunset sky with a tree in the background.
Two mixed martial artists are engaged in a heated fight in the octagon, both showing signs of injury and exhaustion. One fighter delivers a powerful punch to the other's face.
Soccer players in uniforms are tussling; one player in an orange jersey is being restrained by teammates while appearing injured with blood on his face.
A tennis player serves the ball, holding a racket overhead with an intense focus. Their hair is tied back, and they wear a headband and sleeveless sportswear. The background is dark.
A cricketer in a yellow uniform dives to break the stumps as a player in a black uniform slides on the ground.

Darrian Traynor

Sports | Last Updated: September 12, 2024

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Hey, my name is Darrian Traynor. I’m a freelance photojournalist based in Melbourne, Australia.

I’ve worked in the industry for fifteen years, covering sports, major events, and feature documentary work.

The work featured with Shotkit looks at my sports photography and the gear I use to cover major sporting events.

Since the beginning of my career, I have used Canon equipment.

When I started in sports photography, it seemed most of the best photographers had big white lenses, and I believe this influenced me when I made my first purchase.

Being a freelancer and owning all your equipment is a significant investment. While switching brands is expensive, I find the customer service and backup provided by Canon to be one of the main reasons I have continued to use their equipment over the years.

Sports photography requires long lenses, especially in Australian sports like Australian Rules Football and Cricket. Knowing what I’m covering will depend on my choice of the long lens.

Either the Canon 400mm EF f/2.8 L IS II or the Canon 600mm EF f/4.0 L IS II

My short lenses are Canon 70-200mm EF f/2.8 L series, Canon 16-35mm EF f/4 L series and Canon 35mm EF f/1.4 L series.

I currently use two or sometimes three Canon cameras with a remote setup.

The Canon EOS 1D MK III is an absolute workhorse and the flagship Canon camera until the release of the R1.

I also use a Canon R3 Mirrorless Camera. The move to mirrorless technology will require me to upgrade to RF lenses soon.

When I’m not remote sending to an editor straight from the camera, my sideline workflow consists of using Sandisk CF Express Memory Card with editing, captioning, and filing done on my Apple Macbook Pro using Getty Images and Adobe Photoshop.

Sports photography is highly competitive and can be incredibly stressful at times, with the need for high-quality images that capture athletic moments and newsworthy stories.

The emotion and drama of sport are essential to capture and relay the moment’s mood.

Sports often occur in trying weather conditions, including rain, snow, extreme cold, and extreme heat. It will take place at unsociable hours like evenings and all your weekends.

Considering all this, it’s still one of the best jobs on earth!

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