Nice play! (For a softball game)

[AndrewPDX]

D5000
70-200mm f/2.8 @
70mm f/2.8
1/3200s
ISO 800

In beer league softball, there aren't too many great plays. Still, I was lucky to get this nice pick-up and toss by the shortstop. I was on continuous shooting, so I've got the other end of the play where the 1st baseman is stretching for the out. However, I thought this was a more interesting shot because of the shortstop's body shape mid-throw.

General critiques are welcome, but the main question I'm curious about: Is the action from the shortstop enough to make this an interesting shot?

[RecurrentNerve]

As you say, the real interest in the image lies with the shortstop, so I would try cropping it just to show him. Position it so that he is in the right third of the picture and take the left edge up to just before the other guy so there's two-thirds of space for the shortstop to 'throw into'. Try and keep the dust cloud around his feet in there. While you're at it and if you have the software, try blurring the background a little to get more separation. I think it would look pretty awesome.

[BigFuzzy]

I like the shot.. mostly because I can relate as I play as much as I can.
Two points..
1) in the future, if you think that this sort of play is more dependent on the SS, then the focus should be on him. In this case since the 1b is in focus, maybe you should have chosen the one with him stretching. I assume the ss is still in that shot?
2) where the hell is the beer? Pfft!

[AndrewPDX]

Well, here's the end of the play. You can see that the shortstop's cool throwing action has been completed. Do you guys think the tension of the runner/ball arriving toward the stretched glove of the 1st baseman is better than the action of the throw itself?

Thanks!

[RecurrentNerve]

Yes, I think the last shot is more balanced and tells a better story. I'd still like to see the shortstop cropped down though, as it's a great 'frozen in time' moment.

[hmcgrael]

Not sure if this is bothering anyone else..but in the first shot it looks as though the guy in the background has a softball head..lol.. I would try to blur him out somehow, without losing the ball..can't really explain how to do that..so that shows you just how far you should take my opinion..lol....As for the second shot..awesome capture..the intensity is really amazing!

[wamplers]

Originally Posted by hmcgrael

Not sure if this is bothering anyone else..but in the first shot it looks as though the guy in the background has a softball head..lol..

Yep, I noticed the same thing.