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06/11/2006 03:30:41 PM · #1
There has been a good bit of sports photography discussion here over the weekend. I thought I would start this thread as a place to post and dicusss specific images.

Rule: Do not post old photos. Post only photos that you have made after the beginning of this thread!

Please post your photos here as thumbnails. If you MUST post old photos, please post them as links rather than thumbnails.

One good lesson to start with here is to post a 'cut line' with your photo. This is the text that would be included under the photo if it was published in a newspaper or magazine. Generally, this cut line should be one sentence that tells who is in the photo and what/when the event is. Also, for the sake of this thread, post this information below your photo as well:

Date of Photo
Camera make/model
Lens make/model
Lens Accessories (teleconverters/filters/etc)
Flash (if used)
Focal Length (if known)
Aperture
Shutter Speed
ISO setting

The best way to learn sports photography is to get out and do it :)

Message edited by author 2006-06-11 15:31:54.
06/11/2006 11:22:03 PM · #2
Thanks for starting this thread, I'm sure it'll be a good resource for those of us who want to shoot sports. I don't really have access to any team sports to shoot, but whenever I do get the opportunity, I'll post it here.
06/11/2006 11:26:22 PM · #3
As someone who has recently gotten into sports phtoography I'll be watching this thread.
06/11/2006 11:29:52 PM · #4
watching...soccer starts here again soon :)
06/11/2006 11:29:54 PM · #5
I have seen some great sports images. I took basket ball shots back in college for the paper, and nothing since - till my son started T-Ball. Not easy to get the good the pics - as in I want one of a specific kid (mine perhaps?) in mid swing..even in drive mode and the wee ones get lots of swings it can blow off 400 shots and not get one good one. some fair ones, but nothing good.

got a 70-200 2.9 and 1.4x tc, pretty free access, 5fps on a 30D...any suggestions?

I did shoot some motorsports over the past weekend, and that turned out well considering the access issues.
06/11/2006 11:52:53 PM · #6
So, I guess I am going against the thread rules here...but, I have been uploading pix to my sports blog.

I will be uploading more this week as it progresses.

Sorry John, not trying to hijack...more like going in the back door with muddy boots.

Here is my blog if people can give comments.

Sports Photog: A Study on Sports Photography

I will post in this thread when I have fresh images to share.
06/11/2006 11:55:54 PM · #7
Prof_Fate:
Hear the shutter, Feel the shutter, BE the shutter.

Actually, I'm full of !@#$. Shoot a lot of single exposures and try to get the feel for timing, you'll get better at it. Burst mode is OK for sequences where you need to show a play or a line, but for something as fast as a swing you kind of have to rely on a well-timed single shot.
06/12/2006 12:17:22 AM · #8
I had no probs with the bikes and cars.


more at //www.pbase.com/cpphotography/thurnderday
06/12/2006 12:17:54 AM · #9
Study #01:



Hickory Crawdads third baseman, Eddie Prasch, prepares for a slide into third base during Sunday night's game against the West Virginia Power at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina.

June 11, 2006
Canon EOS 20D
Canon 70-200L f/2.8 @ 150mm
Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter
f/4
1/1000"
ISO 200

I chose to post this photo from tonight's sports shooting to highlight a few flaws as well as a few strengths.

Flaw: The hand is cut off on the right side of the frame
Flaw: The background is rather busy (but out of my control)
Flaw: The horizon is tilted (I should have tilted it even more here)

Strength: The camera angle on this photo is excellent.

Getting the camera low to the ground in sports shooting is not always easy, but it generally produces much stronger photographs. It creates a larger than life mood to your subject and it keeps things like hats, caps, and helmets from obscuring your subject's face as much. I shot this photo from the dugout. I can get my camera at ground level from there if I want to. These dugouts are below ground level by about 4 feet. I can work on the steps as well and adjust my height to wherever I may need it to be.

This photo also illustrates another concept that is very difficult to work with. When a subject is running towards you very quickly, you will run into several problems. You can NOT pause any or much between the time the focus locks and the firing of the shutter. With a long lens and a wide aperture, your depth of field is very shallow. If the subject moves 2 or 3 feet closer to you between the time you lock focus and fire the shutter, your subject will normally be out of focus. I intend to do some experimenting with AI Servo focus mode in this scenario and see what my results look like on a burst. I don't have much confidence that I can track a subject between second and third base in a continuous burst, but I plan to find out :)


06/12/2006 01:17:40 AM · #10
My contribution from tonight:

Sorry, I'm not a paying member of DPC anymore so a link will have to suffice.

June 11, 2006 - DeAndrew Rubin (#3) of the Orlando Predators gets tripped up during a tackle while playing in the ArenaBowl XX at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Date of Photo: June 11, 2006
Camera make/model: Canon 1DMK2
Lens make/model: Canon 300mm 2.8 IS
Lens Accessories (teleconverters/filters/etc): None
Flash (if used): None
Focal Length (if known): 300mm
Aperture: 2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/320sec.
ISO setting: 1600
Program Mode: Manual

Notes: This is a personal crop. I have been trying something different recently, in that my personal edits are cropped to a 16:9 aspect ratio. This works well in some images and not so well in other images.

-The ref in the right corner I am about 50/50 on. One side of me likes, the other does not.

-In general I think this image has potential but...
1) You can't see the runner's face
2) You really can't tell why he went flying up in the air
3) The ref is blocking a lot of the play
4) Sharpness is hurting due to a slow shutter speed

P.S. - I know the copyright notice is wrong (should read 2006), I just got my edit laptop back from the shop and I forgot to update that action before saving the image. :)

Message edited by author 2006-06-12 01:21:03.
06/12/2006 01:39:25 AM · #11
Originally posted by Jason:

My contribution from tonight: ...

...

-In general I think this image has potential but...
1) You can't see the runner's face ...

Ok, I have a question about this -- does the name on clearly visible on the back of the jersey compensate for the lack of visible face? It does for me, but does it for others?

David
06/12/2006 02:07:48 AM · #12
Originally posted by David.C:

Originally posted by Jason:

My contribution from tonight: ...

-In general I think this image has potential but...
1) You can't see the runner's face ...

Ok, I have a question about this -- does the name on clearly visible on the back of the jersey compensate for the lack of visible face? It does for me, but does it for others?

David


That would depend on who you ask and what the photo is being used for. That particular photo shows great 'action' but the player facial visiblity is probably not strong enough for editorial use. Facial expression is a strong element of sports photography, unless you are Jason Jenkins who specializes in auto racing :)
06/12/2006 10:00:17 AM · #13
Originally posted by MadMan2k:

Prof_Fate:
Hear the shutter, Feel the shutter, BE the shutter.

Actually, I'm full of !@#$. Shoot a lot of single exposures and try to get the feel for timing, you'll get better at it. Burst mode is OK for sequences where you need to show a play or a line, but for something as fast as a swing you kind of have to rely on a well-timed single shot.


With an 8fps camera, you can generally get what you want in a burst from a baseball swing. 3fps won't generally get you much and 5fps will get it sometimes. When I was shooting with my 10d, I was able to get that shot maybe once in 15 or 20 tries.
06/12/2006 10:07:11 AM · #14
The first base pickoff attempt:

The First Base Pickoff Attempt

This shot is fairly easy to come by if you just position yourself and wait for it. A low camera angle is important on this one. The player's face gets hidden quickly.

The same play from another angle

One more angle on that same play

My next post will cover some methods of catching the steal attempt at the second base side...

Message edited by author 2006-06-12 10:07:27.
06/13/2006 01:08:33 AM · #15
Okay....here's one of my attempts from over the weekend. This was shot at one of my son's recreation league games.


Catcher Andrew Smith of the HCYP Raiders waits for the pitch in Saturday's playoff game.

Date of Photo: June 10, 2006
Camera Make/Model: Canon XT (350D)
Lens Make/Model: Canon 75-300 mm. USM f/4-5.6
Lens Accessories: UV Filter
Flash: None
Focal Length: 300 mm
Aperature: f/10
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
ISO: 400

Background blur added in post-editing. (I need that f/2.8 or faster lens....LOL)! Any feedback is welcome!
06/13/2006 01:12:10 AM · #16
The Feature Photos...



Hickory Resident and Special Olympian Greg Brunt throws out an honorary first pitch before game two of tonight's double header between the Hickory Crawdads and the Kannapolis Intimidators...

(Stats not included because they really don't matter here)

Don't forget to shoot these photos when you are covering a sporting event. Fan/Feature art is very important to the team organizations and the press.
06/13/2006 01:16:28 AM · #17
Canon's AI Servo Focus Tracking:

I did some experiments tonight with burst photography using the AI Servo focus. I did several 10-15 shot burtst at 5fps with the 20d. I wanted to track a base runner running towards me to see if the focus could keep up with the subject moving that quickly towards me. I didn't think that it would work particularly well, but I was surprised. It worked great :)

The only thing I noticed that was not just perfect was that the camera burst firing would occasionally pause slightly. I'm assuming it was waiting on the autofocus to catch up...


06/13/2006 09:51:55 AM · #18
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Canon's AI Servo Focus Tracking:

It worked great :)

The only thing I noticed that was not just perfect was that the camera burst firing would occasionally pause slightly. I'm assuming it was waiting on the autofocus to catch up...


On my body, in the custom features peramaters, I have my AI set to fast, and I usually use the high burst rate at 8 fps. I like this set up because there are no 'hick ups' between frames with the auto focus. The trade off is battery life, but for me I like the options of which frame to choose from during the editing phase.

Originally posted by amandak:





Focal Length: 300 mm
Aperature: f/10
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
ISO: 400

Background blur added in post-editing.


Amanda,

For what you are doing with parents this is a great picture. Good blur effect, nice job.

For an editor however, 3 things come to mind.

1)more frontal on the face to see more of it.

2)looser on the comp.

3)NO post processing effects, unless the magazine/paper/internet site is some sort of special effects for the cameras publication.

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

The first base pickoff attempt:

The First Base Pickoff Attempt

This shot is fairly easy to come by if you just position yourself and wait for it. A low camera angle is important on this one. The player's face gets hidden quickly.

The same play from another angle

One more angle on that same play


The first pix is a nice clean image, but for me it doesn't tell me much.

The other two are great shots, and portray what you want me, the viewer, to know what is going on at first base.

Message edited by author 2006-06-13 10:21:51.
06/13/2006 12:53:22 PM · #19
Thanks for the feedback.
06/13/2006 02:24:24 PM · #20
The Swing:



Kannapolis Intimidators Fernando Valenzuela watches his pop fly head for center field on a pitch from Hickory Crawdads Nic Suero during the first game of Monday night's double header...

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 70-200L f/2.8
Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter
@ 280mm
1/1600"
f/4
ISO 200

This is another example of the low angle shot. My camera was just a few inches above ground level. With a right-handed batter in the box, this shot is possible from the thrid baseline area. This photo isn't particularly nice, but it shows the possibilities from this angle. When a left handed batter is in the box, this side of the field is no good for the photo. This was a Monday night double header and the crowd was weak :)

Fernando Valenzuela is the son of the great Fernando Valenzuela who pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers...


06/13/2006 02:26:39 PM · #21
Originally posted by American_Horse:


The first pix is a nice clean image, but for me it doesn't tell me much.

The other two are great shots, and portray what you want me, the viewer, to know what is going on at first base.


My sports editor prefers photos like the first one. It accomplishes two tasks in one shot. It features a specific player with a good facial view and it captures action at the same time. That first photo was the feature shot on the sports page the next day...
06/13/2006 02:48:15 PM · #22
Originally posted by amandak:

Okay....here's one of my attempts from over the weekend. This was shot at one of my son's recreation league games.


Catcher Andrew Smith of the HCYP Raiders waits for the pitch in Saturday's playoff game.

Date of Photo: June 10, 2006
Camera Make/Model: Canon XT (350D)
Lens Make/Model: Canon 75-300 mm. USM f/4-5.6
Lens Accessories: UV Filter
Flash: None
Focal Length: 300 mm
Aperature: f/10
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
ISO: 400

Background blur added in post-editing. (I need that f/2.8 or faster lens....LOL)! Any feedback is welcome!


I see that you added blur in post processing but the photo was shot at f/10. If you shot that at f/5.6 you would likely get more natural blur on the photo. I'm not sure why you may have chosen f/10 unless you were shooting in the point and shoot mode or something. That 75-300 lens will shoot at 300mm @ f/5.6 if you force it there with aperture priority mode.

I think this is a good composition as a player feature. It wouldn't necessarily work well for an action photo of the game.

I shoot at catchers quite often, but there are specific things I look for to create that action.

1. You can try to catch the ball coming into his glove in this same composition.

2. You can also try to catch a small dust cloud rising out of the glove after the ball is caught.

3. I like to shoot at the catcher when they are throwing to 2nd base on a steal attempt. There are good horizontal and vertical compositions that come out of that play...


06/13/2006 03:11:39 PM · #23
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by American_Horse:


The first pix is a nice clean image, but for me it doesn't tell me much.

The other two are great shots, and portray what you want me, the viewer, to know what is going on at first base.


My sports editor prefers photos like the first one. It accomplishes two tasks in one shot. It features a specific player with a good facial view and it captures action at the same time. That first photo was the feature shot on the sports page the next day...


that's great that that image made it, but, my first impression compared to the other pix is that is has less info, but more feature.
06/13/2006 03:22:42 PM · #24
Originally posted by American_Horse:



that's great that that image made it, but, my first impression compared to the other pix is that is has less info, but more feature.


The other two photos have a good bit of empty space. My sports editor and the head editor do not care much for that.
06/13/2006 10:26:22 PM · #25
Simple Candids:



Hickory Crawdads pitcher Jean Garavito (left) and infielder Tony Mansolino spend a few moments relaxing prior to the start of Tuesday night's game, which was held at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls, North Carolina...

I thought this particular opportunity was to 'cute' to pass up for obvious reasons...


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