Baseball Pitching

[Karinu]

I got some great shots during a baseball tournament this weekend. I really like this pitching shot. However, I was shooting through fence so his face is a little less sharp than I'd like. What to you think? Any suggestions?

Shot w/ Nikon D90 w/70-300mm lens
Shutter: 1/1500
Aperture: f/5.3
ISO: 200 (I had it set to auto)
Focal length: 220mm

[Jim Bryant]

Not bad...crop tighter and get rid of the wasted space to the right of the pitcher.

[ceichrodt]

I really like the shot as it is. With the sign in the back it gives it depth

[Jim Bryant]

You don't need the sign. There's depth already from the umpire to the pitcher and to the out of focus player and fence line in background. I know..why, I'm a pro sports shooter. Why....your eye automatically travel back from the pitcher to the sign. Remember your eye goes to the lightest part of the photograph and the sign takes away from the subject area, which is the pitcher.

[Karinu]

Yes, I do like the crop because it's even more attention to the subject-the pitcher. Jim-would there have been a way to change the settings to make the baseball in focus without changing the rest of the photo? If so, do you think it would have made the picture stronger? My thought was that the focus would then shift to the ball (& of course, I didn't know how to do it anyway

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Karinu

Yes, I do like the crop because it's even more attention to the subject-the pitcher. Jim-would there have been a way to change the settings to make the baseball in focus without changing the rest of the photo? If so, do you think it would have made the picture stronger? My thought was that the focus would then shift to the ball (& of course, I didn't know how to do it anyway

Not so much of the settings, but you have to anticipate as to when the ball is about to leave the hand. All that takes is practice, practice and more practice. I have, however, managed to capture only the ball in focus from time to time Most of the luck I have in capturing the ball in focus is to get to either side of the team dugouts from either the right or left hand side of the home plate area. I'm not sure as to what camera you're using or how many frames per second, but you got to start snapping pictures as soon as the pitcher's arm is starting to go forward and hope you manage to get a shot of the ball leaving his fingertips. Just take practice and timing. Believe me it's hard and I to sometimes don't get just "released" ball. Most of my daytime ballgame pictures are taken using ISO 400, shutter speed of 5000th to 6000th of a second at f4.0. With that high a shutter speed, it certainly stops the action.

[Browncoat]

I have to agree with Jim on this one...the tighter crop does make for a better image.

Depth is shown in 3 stages here:

• The out of focus catcher, umpire, and ball
• The in focus pitcher (subject matter)
• The out of focus background

In the original image, I found myself trying to read what the sign said, though it's completely irrelevant to the composition.

[Karinu]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

I'm not sure as to what camera you're using or how many frames per second, but you got to start snapping pictures as soon as the pitcher's arm is starting to go forward and hope you manage to get a shot of the ball leaving his fingertips. Just take practice and timing. Believe me it's hard and I to sometimes don't get just "released" ball. Most of my daytime ballgame pictures are taken using ISO 400, shutter speed of 5000th to 6000th of a second at f4.0. With that high a shutter speed, it certainly stops the action.

Jim- I have a Nikon D90 & was using a 70-300 mm, handheld-no tripod. Unfortunately, I had to also shoot through the fence this game. I am really pleased with the composition--I love the ump & catcher blurred in the foreground-- despite the blurry ball. Luckily my sons team is playing 6 days a week so I'll be able to get plenty of practice!

[Jim Bryant]

I also shoot through the fence at high school games. But with the big 300 & 400mm lenses at f2.8, I don't get any part of the fence at all. THey just focus past the links. Remember...practice, practice and practice. I expect to see a capture of the ball leaving the fingertips soon.

[Karinu]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

I also shoot through the fence at high school games. But with the big 300 & 400mm lenses at f2.8, I don't get any part of the fence at all. THey just focus past the links. Remember...practice, practice and practice. I expect to see a capture of the ball leaving the fingertips soon.

Well, this was as close as I could get last night. Had a tough time shooting into high sun & getting the focus right with all the reflection. But my son pitched a great game and we won 5-0