| Author | Thread |
|
|
06/03/2006 05:01:49 PM · #1 |
On the way to the village pub this afternoon I sat down to watch a little cricket and try out the new lens. After 30 minutes I got bored (as non Cricket fans do) so wandered to the pub. I only took 30 shots and have uploaded the best five (you may get as bored as me).
The reason I started this thread is twofold, 1. A work colleague is well into Cricket and has asked me to do a 'free' shoot. He is well known in Village Cricket life and would push my services (oh, it would be good to get paid to watch cricket).
And 2. I have learnt already that images of cricket can be very boring, does anybody have any tips on shooting a cricket match?
|
|
|
|
06/03/2006 05:36:42 PM · #2 |
now I love Cricket but I am well aware that non fans find it very dull, especially 5 day test matches. The problem with cricket is that it seems a very slow sport, what other game can be played for 5 days and still result in a a draw, but when something happens which is exciting it happens so quickly you'll be hard pushed to catch it.
In football or rugby a player with the ball makes a run for the goal/try line, you can vaguely see smething is about to happen and get ready, but with cricket you've got to be patient because a ball that knocks off the wickets looks pretty much the same as any of the other hundreds of balls bowled that day and you only know its exciting when the wicket is already tumbling so if you want to snap a pic of the bales tumbling, you'll have to shoot every single time a ball is bowled.
Another exciting thing to snap is a catch, but in theory anyone of the 11 fielders could be catching, the best way is to probably pick one player who is likely to get a catch (wicket keeper or slips are a likely choice), or if you know abit about the game you can keep an eye on how the captains and bowler set the fielder, they know where they want the ball to go and will engineer the situation to get someone on the end of the ball.
An easier way to get a good shot is to get the bowler as he bowls, ideally from directly behind the batsman. Some of the more colorful fast bowlers have the most incredible facial expressions when they let go of the ball!! |
|
|
|
06/03/2006 05:45:22 PM · #3 |
Thanks cbonsall, for me the wicket keeper would be a good choice as well. As you can see I was pretty static today but may well move around to the wicket end and keep by the side of the screens. I used the monopod today so had to be active, maybe I'll take the tripod next time and use the remote release after pre focussing?
|
|
|
|
06/03/2006 06:59:45 PM · #4 |
sounds good, just be careful not to distract the batsmean!!
One of the best photographed catches of last years ashes series was taken using a remote camera so theres definately soemthing to be said for it. I can't find the exact shot but it was basically this shot but from the other side of the pitch
Its quite disturbing now, I watch cricket on the TV but find myself as excited by watching the lenses belonging to the pros as by the cricket, I'm becoming addicted to this photography game. |
|
|
|
06/03/2006 07:46:33 PM · #5 |
Now, I'd love to take a pic like that. Mind you, remotes around a local village match is overkill! When I go back I'll concentrate on the bowler, batsmen and wicket keeper. When I get them right I may try for the fielders as well.
|
|
|
|
06/03/2006 08:02:08 PM · #6 |
You may also try the following exercise.
1 Game, focus on the wicket keeper. THE WHOLE MATCH. Get a feel for the pace, the flow, and the timing of shots on that end of the pitch. Next match, focus on the batsman, next bowler. It may be a bit boring, but I've done that with some of the events I like to shoot. I find that it's a similar exercise to using a particular lens. It teaches me to look in the right place for the action.
|
|
|
|
06/04/2006 09:02:28 AM · #7 |
Players can get a bit bored in village cricket, too. I'm sure they don't want you selling candid crotch-adjustment shots to the local rag, but both the light(er)-hearted banter on the field and off, as well as some fair old idiosyncrasies in the spectator(s) etc...
Think of your photographic documentation as you may of radio commentaries, or the Guardian OBO, with all the incidental tittle-tattle that's thrown in. John Arlott's recollections of times that are gone and his observations of members of the crowd were always worth the while of tuning in, even when rain prevented cricket. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/17/2025 09:38:26 AM EDT.
