Beach soccer star.

[Bruce A]

This guy was playing beach soccer with his pal, spotted me and my Nikon and accomodated with a self choreographed pose. Made me laugh.

However, does this look like just a snapshot? Although it doesn't comply with the rule of thirds, I think I got away with the crop to get a reasonably framed shot. Any opinions on this or other critiques? Thanks.



beach_soccer2 by banphotography, on Flickr


Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 200 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[3bayjunkie]

he looks like he is about to grab the soccer ball.

[BigFuzzy]

I think by your own description of how you got this image would qualify it as a snapshot wouldn't you say?
To me, it does feel like a candid snapshot as it's clearly a captured spontaneous moment.

Also, even with 1/640th shutter speed there's still motion blur especially on the subjects head.

As for the crop, it's not bad but I personally would have liked a bit more space to the left implying movement. It's often considered a good idea to leave space in the direction your subject is either looking or moving and his body position would imply he's moving to the left.

In the end, it's not a bad image, but it also doesn't do anything for me as it feels, as you feared, like a snapshot.

[Bruce A]

Thanks for your input Al, yeah basically it is a snapshot. I think the motion blur on the head is wind - it was quite gusty - well, maybe. I agree with having open space to the left and that's how the original was framed. But I just didn't like it. Funnily enough, he was never going to move left. he chased the ball to that spot, saw me, and froze into that pose for an instant, and went back to the right. Doesn't mean the open space to the left was wrong though.