In Action: Sports Photography at the Milan Marathon

The Milan Marathon is as exciting as it is frenetic, with runners, fans and bystanders meeting in some of the most characteristic corners of the city. Covering an event of this magnitude is an experience within an experience, and having lightweight, highly functional and reliable equipment is the key to being able to shift quickly between pre-set locations and unexpected intuitions to capture the international elite professionals and amateurs of the most democratic sporting discipline of all.

Everything moves at a dizzying pace in this kind of event, and even the visual production, together with the statistical data of times and victories of outstanding athletes, like Titus Kipkosgei from Kenya and Tigist Memuye from Ethiopia (first in the men's and women's races with 2h07'12" and 2h26'32" respectively), fade into the background with the astonishing wonder of a parade of more than 8000 participants that puts the whole community taking centre stage. Milan is a fast-moving city, but for the occasion, the waves of runners that erupt on its streets reveal a different place, where you can take a deep breath and be inspired by sights that are all too often snubbed in the usual hustle and bustle of everyday life.

To capture this celebration of running and its tangible effect on the morphology of an entire city, it was essential for us to be able to convey the endeavor, dynamism and speed of this event.

In our photo report on the Milan Marathon, we decided to experiment with different styles to capture the energy and dynamism of the race and so we included some blurred shots taken with the panning technique alongside the classic static pictures.

The panning technique

Panning is a technique in which the camera is moved during the shot. The aim is to follow the moving subject, keeping it sharp in the middle of the frame while the rest of the image appears blurred. The technique creates a sense of speed and action, perfect for capturing the intensity of a marathon.

Using the right equipment is essential to get sharp images with panning. We chose Manfrotto products, known for their quality and reliability. Their tripods and panheads allowed us to follow the runners easily and get the smooth shots we wanted.

Shooting settings

Using a monopod for photo shoots in events like these is crucial. First of all, it helps to avoid unwanted micro-blur when using telephoto lenses above 200mm and provides good support for longer exposure times for panning shots.

Also, the photographer's rucksack is often underestimated, yet it plays a key role in the economics of sports coverage on this scale.

Constantly moving to follow the action and quickly changing equipment to suit the scene increases the risk of not finding some of your tools at the right time, or worse, misplacing them.

Used equipment

The light-weight and easy-to-use was a remarkable assistant and provided the support we needed on the sweeping avenues of Milan to the iconic final destination, just a few steps away from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

The same can be said for the , which ensured the production of smooth footage with excellent visual quality. By making the most of the stability and security of the XPRO and Video Monopod, our team could focus their lenses on aesthetics and narrative exploration, rather than wasting energy managing the frenzy that can surround every shot and every take.

The Pro Light Backloader as the whole Pro Light backpacks collection , keep their equipment organised and streamlined, avoiding confusion or loss of individual instruments. 

Manfrotto and its products were the ideal partners for managing the many logistical and time unknowns of the Milan Marathon, ensuring correct and smooth video and photo production. In the midst of chaos, it is always safe to rely on certainties, and the synergy with Manfrotto proved to be an indispensable paradigm for our photographers and video makers during this event.

Gear Used