Local rugby team

[AndrewPDX]

Well, I came to shot some soccer, but the only game on at the time was a local rugby match. I don't know much about the sport, but I think this is a pretty decent shot. "Guy passes ball as he gets tackled." The action is a bit spread out on the horizontal axis, creating a few different focal points. Does it still work? Anyone actually know what a good Rugby shot should look like?



Nikon D5000
70-200mm f/2.8
200mm @ f/2.8
1/4000 s
ISO 220
0EV
No Flash

[lputman]

I think it is a very good shot. The end usage of a sports shot dictates how it should be taken. I like to see some of the game in a sports shot too therefore I shoot for that, like in your photo here. I can't help with rugby as I've never shot it myself and don't know anything about the game.

[FerryV]

I think the shot is very good; full of action and very well focussed.

The problem with rugby is that you have to be on the side line, exactly at the players position, to have a good shot of a passing action. That's because one of the rules in rugby is that you're not allowed to throw a ball forward. It's a very tactical game where the whole line of players has to move forward to gain terrain by throwing a ball backwards to a team mate. When I look at your photo, it looks like the ball is being thrown forward, which would suggest this action was a foul. When you look for rugby pictures on the internet, you will see that many photos are about the 'scrums' or close-ups of the tackles.

Anyway, technically you have a good shot there, hopefully my little contribution will help you to capture those typical rugby scenes.

[AndrewPDX]

Thanks. Good point about shooting from the sidelines, FerryV. This shot is actually from the endline, as I was positioned more for a good soccer shot. The pass was definitely a legal backwards pass, but the angle really hurts the perspective. Next time I'm at a Rugby Match, I'll try to grab a spot on the sideline.

[OkNewbie]

I like the shot. You have captured the action with good focus while showing the what's happening in the game. I agree with Iputman, I like to see a little of what is happening in the game in the photo. Good shot.

[karen_s]

Good shot. The ball suspended between the two players creates a nice sort of tension and it's great that you got a couple of faces ... Moms love that :-)

Take this advice for what it's worth as I just started shooting rugby myself and am far from an expert ... I've found that the scrums make for some nice pics. That's where the players kinda huddle up and face each other, then another player rolls the ball into the group and they all push back and forth till the ball comes out. Another interesting play is when the ball is tossed in from the sidelines. Players hoist a teammate into the air by their shorts (I still don't understand why that doesn't hurt just a little) and they fight for the ball as it's tossed back into play. One other thing about Rugby, it is a sport of both grit and camaraderie. Faces, sometimes bloody, are a big part of this sport as far as I can tell so close ups can work well to capture that aspect. I started shooting the games with a 70-200 but found the 300 also worked well. 300 is a bit close at times (i shoot with a crop body) but I love how it lets me get deep into the action and capture the faces and expressions of the game. And I shoot from both the sidelines and end zone, just depends on the game, the field, and the lens I'm using.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. If you are bored some evening I have a "rugby collection" on my Flickr page (link in my signature). They are far from the finest examples of Rugby photos and I'm sure you can find better but they might give you a visual of more things to look for while shooting. You could search Google images or Flickr too, I sometimes turn to the them to see a variety of how others shoot different subjects.

Cheers.

[andrewdt]

Rugby is a hugely physical contact sport, so I find the best images are not of the passes or kicks, but close-ups of the tackle situation. You really want to see the facial expressions, sometimes a bit of blood can add to the image (happens often in the game). Behind the deadball line (as opposed to the sidelines) can make for better shots imo but obviously you have to wait for the action to get your side of the field. Sideline in rugby you have to be really careful as the linesman is up and down a lot, and if you are not entirely familiar with the game, you might not anticipate their movements and get in their way.

[CaptainNH]

Originally Posted by andrewdt

Rugby is a hugely physical contact sport, so I find the best images are not of the passes or kicks, but close-ups of the tackle situation.

I agree Andrew. I find that shots of balls being passed or kicked tend to freeze the game, whereas you can still retain the "motion" in tackling shots.

Here are a couple of snaps from my son's Under-8s team from the weekend as [average] examples.

As for positioning, if you watch where the pro sports photogs position themselves (and their 400mm f/2.8s), they are generally on the wing, but behind the tryline, positioned to shoot the tackles head-on and capture the tries.

Anticipation is the key too, it's much easier to photograph a sport that you have played, or follow closely and love.