Freeze rapid action with Alpha Professional Jiggie Alejandrino and Sony flashes

For dynamic sports photography, one can turn to the HVL-F60RM2 GN60 Wireless Radio Control External Flash — a compact yet powerful tool that helps him balance lighting in unpredictable outdoor conditions. Want to elevate your action shots? Read on for Jiggie’s tips and favorite techniques for capturing crisp, high-speed moments with confidence.

How to freeze intense action: Jiggie’s tips

As a Sepak Takraw enthusiast, Jiggie aimed to capture the action and intensity of the sport through photos. The challenge? Shooting under harsh noon lighting. Armed with his Alpha 9 III and the HVL-F60RM2, Jiggie took his photoshoot to the streets to pay homage to the sport’s origins as a street game. With the HVL-F60RM2’s ability to Flash Sync with the Alpha 9 III, 120fps Burst Mode Shooting and Quick Shift Bounce, Jiggie was able to overcome the blazing backlight with ease.

1. Flash Sync with High Shutter Speeds

Conducting a photoshoot outdoors can pose a challenge. Jiggie’s primary concern was the intensity of the blazing noon sun, which can cause harsh backlight, so he decided on an external flash which allowed him to overcome the sun’s rays. In addition, the Sepak Takraw players were moving in fast motion as they got into the game, making it even more challenging to freeze them in action.

In tricky lighting conditions like these, photographers should opt for either a lightning-fast shutter speed or a short, controlled burst of flash. Jiggie recommends pairing a powerful flash like the HVL-F60RM2 with a camera that supports full flash sync at any shutter speed, such as the Alpha 9 III. For best results, use manual flash settings and keep flash duration short to ensure sharp, blur-free action shots.

2. Burst Mode Shooting

When shooting sports photography, shooting in bursts helps to freeze crucial moments that define the intensity of the game. Jiggie used one flash positioned directly above his subjects, set at 1/32 power to capture the game.

To do this, Jiggie had his lighting assistant positioned to the right of his camera, holding the light stand with the flash mounted about 12 feet above his subjects.

3. Effortless light direction with Quick Shift Bounce

When shooting fast-paced action, you’ll need gear that keeps up with your shooting speed. Quick Shift Bounce allowed Jiggie to quickly angle the flash head 90 degrees to the left or right, 150 degrees up, or 8 degrees down, adjusting the shape of light from horizontal to vertical without a hitch.

Vertical light

Horizontal light

This was done by positioning the flash by the side of his subjects for vertical light and above his subjects for horizontal light. The same settings were applied for the set of vertically lit photos, which makes it a breeze to capture different compositions quickly without having to toggle your camera’s settings. All you need to focus on is the game.

Why Jiggie uses Sony flashes

As a professional photographer, Jiggie needs a reliable flash and camera combination to keep up with his pace. The HVL-F60RM2 has a seamless connection with his Alpha 9 III, which not only keeps up with the high speed he was shooting but also unlocks flash sync at any shutter speed.

This seamless communication between flash and camera eliminates lag and provides Jiggie with precise control over lighting while he concentrates on composing his shots on the go, turning his visions into reality.

Whether you're battling tough lighting conditions or looking to add more drama and style to your shots, a Sony external flash opens up a world of creative possibilities. If you've only relied on ambient light or your camera’s built-in flash, now’s the time to upgrade your lighting game with Sony’s flashes.

Check out Jiggie’s video here!