another critique on a football shot

[robinmichaels]

I forgot how to pull the camera settings off of the shot to be able to show what this was shot with but I was trying to check into getting something a little clearer and brighter. This was taken from opposite side of field with the standard camera flash. I have used some of my photoshop software to clean it up and get it viewable but would love to get more advise on being able to work in the 'darker' environments.





Here is what I have been able to pull off of the raw image

Aperture F/5.6
Shutter 1/200s
Exposure Mode: Shutter Priority
Exposure Comp: +0.3EV
ISO Sens: Auto (ISO 3200)
110mm

[windrider86]

Dont forget to post your exif information!

[wamplers]

You need a longer lens, larger aperture, and faster shutter speed. Working with what you have, maybe make a vertical crop of the receiver and it will improve the shot greatly, IMO.

See this post for an example of what I mean.

[Jim News]

Good timing to get the shot at all. Was this a lone shot, or part of a series? It's not easy to know when to "pull the trigger" on an action shot and you nailed it.
On the technical end, 5.6 is way too small to shoot at night under bad lights. You'll have much better luck with a 2.8, although you may not enjoy the cost of such glass. With a larger aperature, your depth of field, in this case the stands in the background, will blur, leaving your eye to focus on the player. It will also allow you to pull in much more light, meaning less PP. You also would like to use a faster shutter speed to "freeze" the action, resulting in a much sharper focus. With your rig, it's hard to ramp up SS, due to the smaller aperature you are using. IMO
Having said all that, you have the "eye" and "feel" of how to caputure action.

[gturner]

I can only repeat the info above. Even at f4 you could double you shutter speed. At 2.8 you could half your ISO and double your shutter speed

Also drop the WB (temperature a touch) and maybe the saturation. It is looking pretty orange on my screen.

[robinmichaels]

Originally Posted by Jim News

Good timing to get the shot at all. Was this a lone shot, or part of a series? It's not easy to know when to "pull the trigger" on an action shot and you nailed it.
On the technical end, 5.6 is way too small to shoot at night under bad lights. You'll have much better luck with a 2.8, although you may not enjoy the cost of such glass. With a larger aperature, your depth of field, in this case the stands in the background, will blur, leaving your eye to focus on the player. It will also allow you to pull in much more light, meaning less PP. You also would like to use a faster shutter speed to "freeze" the action, resulting in a much sharper focus. With your rig, it's hard to ramp up SS, due to the smaller aperature you are using. IMO
Having said all that, you have the "eye" and "feel" of how to caputure action.

Thanks, this actually the best on a burst of 3 shots. It was lightened in photoshop to get a better look. I was bouncing through several settings trying to get some good, clear shots in the dark. It did get down to just doing one shot with the camera flash because it was so dark. I will absolutely use the advise to work on better settings at the next game. Thanks everyone.