Shooting the Soccer Season - DPChallenge Forums

04/11/2009 01:08:25 PM · #1

I have a Canon 50D with a EF 70-200mmL F/4 lens...
Would someone give me advice on how to shoot my sons games? I need to work on freezing the player and the ball... Thanks!

04/11/2009 01:15:51 PM · #2

Find the best light and wait for the action to get there, rather than trying to run after the action.
Shooting from behind the goal line to the side of the goal give you nice compression , if the light is right.
If everything is right you can get the moment before the goal and that is nice, but some of the best shots are the reactions after. After every shot either the offense or the defense will be celebrating with high fives and hugs.

04/11/2009 01:26:02 PM · #3

Is there certain settings I should use? You know, which mode should I use Av or Tv?

04/11/2009 02:08:41 PM · #4

Originally posted by kdogg628:

Is there certain settings I should use? You know, which mode should I use Av or Tv?

Depends on the conditions. Not that I know what the hell I'm talking about, but generally you want a high shutter speed to "freeze" the action, in the 1/500 and faster range. That might mean bumping up your ISO or opening up your aperture on a cloudy day. Last year, with that very same lens, I used the Av mode almost exclusively, and on the bright sunny days I was usually at 7.1 or 8 with the ISO at 200. All you really can do is experiment with all your settings and modes, and try to show improvement in your images as the season progresses.

edit: The 50D has a better burst rate than my 450D, but I always shot in straight JPEG, so as not to miss something due to a half-dozen RAW files filling my buffer.

Message edited by author 2009-04-11 14:11:24.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/11/2009 06:02:41 PM · #5

Check to be sure that the High ISO noise reduction custom II - 2 is either disabled or on Low or Standard. The High ISO reduction option feature uses the cameras buffer heavily, and reduces the number of shots you can take continuously (jpg or raw). Failure to disable this feature will result in dramatic loss of frame rate, and most likely lose critical shots. Put the shot setting in AI Servo, and shoot in aperture priority as open as possible. This will serve to get the freeze the action, but equally importantly it will blur the parents, picnic coolers, backstops, trash cans ect. behind the action

MattO

Nikon D4

04/11/2009 07:33:38 PM · #6

I haven't shot any soccer this spring, so I uploaded some samples from the last game I shot last fall on the boys side. Here are some samples.

Here are some pointers take them for what you want, they work for me.

If its a mix of clouds and sun try to position yourself so you aren't shooting backlight. Try to shoot with the sun to your back or to one side where they faces are light or partially with the sun. Shoot in AV mode and remember to keep your exposure compensation to keep the faces properly exposed. Watch your backgrounds as usually there will be either really bright or really dark backgrounds can easily fool your cameras meter in AV mode. Dial + or - into the camera to keep it correct.

If its full sun or full clouds shoot in manual mode again setting exposure for the faces.

Aperture I'll never stop down past F4 and most times I'll shoot at F2.8 for sports, I want to blur the background but I also want to keep my SS up and my ISO down if I can. Don't chase the action, let it come to you. 200 is really short for field sports. I generally shoot with a 300MM with or without a 1.4X teleconverter. I keep a 70-200 on a second body for when things come too close for the long lens. Get down low to shoot, the lower perspective gives a much better angle of any sport. I usually sit on my butt, or kneel and put my but on my feet. I'll generally shoot at the end line for a bit, then shoot from one side or the other, taking in consideration the sun angle and the background, to get some goalie action and defensive shots.

Most importantly don't rely on bursts of shots, learn to time your shot and take smaller bursts. I have never run any of my cameras to fill the buffer. If you can't get the peak in 3-4 shots you aren't going to get it in 30. Your AF will also have a tougher time keeping up with the action if your mirror is always in the way. Either way best advice is to shoot often, learn the game and the players and anticipate where the action will be and go there.

Matt

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

04/11/2009 07:43:07 PM · #7

heres a bit of advice im surd you've heard already.

~keep the sun behind you
~shoot as fast as you can (usually about 1/800-1/1200 in bright sun) with 100 or 200 ISO
~keep as zoomed in as possible(it gets easier the more you shoot)
~keep the f/stop at 4, you get more shutter speed that way(im sure others will disagree, but that's what i do)

oh, and that is with the camera on manual(i have no idea why anyone would shoot on any other setting)

Message edited by author 2009-04-11 19:44:41.

Prof_Fate

04/11/2009 10:32:28 PM · #8

Tv mode - you pick the shutter speed and the camera will deal with the rest
you want SERVO mode for focus so it will auto-track the subject. One_shot focus will not work for action shots.
Keep the shutter button 1/2 pressed and it keeps focusing.

I find that moving the focus to the Af-On button (via a custom function. I have 40/5 bodies not a 50 so you'll have to look up where that cf/n is). Keep the AE lock as part of the shutter button. You'll hold the Af-on button and the follow the action, the camera will focus (you can use all points or center point depending on what you like best). When you want the shot push the shutter button and the camera will meter and expose. I do recomend drive mode too.

fldave

Pentax K5II

04/11/2009 11:27:04 PM · #9

Sorry for a non-Canon person to barge in, but on another tack entirely... don't forget extra batteries. Burst shooting and servo / continuous focus (vs. single shot) will use batteries faster.

04/12/2009 12:50:17 AM · #10

Originally posted by fldave:

Sorry for a non-Canon person to barge in, but on another tack entirely... don't forget extra batteries. Burst shooting and servo / continuous focus (vs. single shot) will use batteries faster.

and extra memory cards. those are super important

04/12/2009 02:49:50 AM · #11

good looking out on the battery and memory card suggestions... i didn't even think about that. I'm a new Canon person so don't trip on it fldave! Wow, in this stream I got a Av, a Tv, and a Manual mode shooter... show me pictures!!! I really wanna capture this season... thanks too all btw...

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/12/2009 11:48:21 AM · #12

this is joaquin shot in very bright fall afternoon sun at 1/1600s, 200 ISO, and f/5.6

i shot on manual because i generally shoot in abnormally dark settings(evening soccor games, night football games, indoor basketball) and i dont need my camera making bad decisions for me.

MattO

Nikon D4

04/12/2009 12:03:52 PM · #13

Originally posted by kdogg628:

I pulled some from a gallery and linked them in my previous post. Did you see them or were you referring to others?

Matt

04/12/2009 12:20:57 PM · #14

Mr. Lucky heading in on a breakaway. 1/1600, f/8, ISO 800 (don't ask me why, must have forgot it there).

04/12/2009 12:24:03 PM · #15

Originally posted by MattO:

I pulled some from a gallery and linked them in my previous post. Did you see them or were you referring to others?

Matt

Pick the best one and thumbnail it!

04/12/2009 12:30:16 PM · #16

If you are looking for ideas to steal from the best,Dave Black is one of the great sports shooters

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/12/2009 12:47:39 PM · #17

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

If you are looking for ideas to steal from the best,Dave Black is one of the great sports shooters

i wish i could say i took ONE of those images, they are amazing

MattO

Nikon D4

04/12/2009 12:57:45 PM · #18

Originally posted by david_c:

Originally posted by MattO:
I pulled some from a gallery and linked them in my previous post. Did you see them or were you referring to others?

Matt

Pick the best one and thumbnail it!

I'm not looking for C&C, I'm pretty comfortable shooting any sport, he is looking for help shooting a sport. Posting one photo isn't going to help him do that.

Matt

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/12/2009 01:21:59 PM · #19

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by david_c:

Originally posted by MattO:
I pulled some from a gallery and linked them in my previous post. Did you see them or were you referring to others?

Matt

Pick the best one and thumbnail it!

I'm not looking for C&C, I'm pretty comfortable shooting any sport, he is looking for help shooting a sport. Posting one photo isn't going to help him do that.

Matt

Clearly, your best action shot is

.

All kidding aside, although there isn't much posted in his profile right now,

MattO has routinely posted excellent sports photos and given excellent and prompt response to any asking, and simply choosing one photo wouldn't explain things well.
Here is a side challenge thread from last November with photos and critiques that would be worth your time to peruse. thread

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

04/12/2009 02:08:10 PM · #20

Originally posted by MattO:

I pulled some from a gallery and linked them in my previous post. Did you see them or were you referring to others?

Matt

Matt, I know its a pain in the butt, however could you post up your EXIF data on a few of these so folks could see what your settings are on some of these? i think thats the sort of info the OP was looking for.

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/12/2009 02:14:15 PM · #21

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Originally posted by MattO:

I pulled some from a gallery and linked them in my previous post. Did you see them or were you referring to others?

Matt

Matt, I know its a pain in the butt, however could you post up your EXIF data on a few of these so folks could see what your settings are on some of these? i think thats the sort of info the OP was looking for.

If you (or anybody else) uses Firefox, all of the Exif data is intact and can be extracted at your leisure if you d/l an exif extractor plugin. There is likely one for IE too, but I use FF myself so can't say.

Message edited by author 2009-04-12 14:15:39.

04/12/2009 03:49:19 PM · #22

Originally posted by MattO:

I'm not looking for C&C, I'm pretty comfortable shooting any sport, he is looking for help shooting a sport. Posting one photo isn't going to help him do that.

...but it will make this thread exciting! (please note smiley face!)

:-)

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/12/2009 03:50:44 PM · #23

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Clearly, your best action shot is .

LOLCATS!

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

04/12/2009 04:04:48 PM · #24

I've only tried shooting a football game once and I what I found was that it is so easy to get caught up with the idea of shooting the action that
it's easy to miss what's happening in the background. So when you get home you find your best action shots have all sorts of stuff in the background that
not only you have no recollection of but also that you really don't want like, ugly buildings, litter bins etc.

This example shows a house that I hadn't noticed when I took the shot.
Ok the shot is no good as the shutter speed was too slow but it demonstrates what I'm trying to say... I think lol

So I would advise finding a spot where the background is going to be ok for you.