Red Sox GS swing

[Rossi42080]

I got this shot at a recent Red Sox/Yankee game. I think I got a pretty good angle on this. I love the fact that I can see Youk looking down the third base line. This happened to be the pitch with Tek hit a grand slam.
Anyway, I'm wondering on thoughts of how I could have made this better. How is the composition? How is the contrast and lighting? Anything at all that you think could have made this photo better?
Thanks.



Camera: Nikon D60
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
Photometric Interpretation: RGB
Date and Time (Modified): 2009:04:25 17:47:49
Exposure Program: Manual
Max Aperture Value: 4.9
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio: 1
Focal Length In35mm Format: 202 mm
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal

[ericw]

I'd like to see the pitcher and the ball. They're both important to what's going on in the photo. I definately like how you have the crowd included though so I'd suggest landscape shot wide enough to include the same vertical field of view you have right now.

Feels underexposed/lacking contrast/saturation to me. And the larger versions on flickr look out of focus or maybe just soft? I don't know.

[Rossi42080]

Thanks Eric. I agree that it seems like it could be a little sharper/more in focus. I went with the vertical shot becasue I liked how it looked right up the third base line and thought the focus might be a little more on Youk being ready to come home.

I did get a couple others horizontally:

[ericw]

I like the framing best in the last one you posted, and the timing seems great. Nice job!

[smc1377]

I know you guys probably love that green monster out there, but it just looks so ugly to the rest of us. It's almost as if they ran out of money when building the stadium and said, "Umm, build a wall." Or as if they mis-planned the stadium and were like, "Oh crap! Where did that street and building come from? Let's just build a wall instead."

Sorry, I know it wasn't constructive criticism. Just an observation on the green monster.

[Jim Bryant]

What sets these photos a part from others is if you had gotten the ball in the frame and him swinging the bat. In number three photo I like your chosen f-stop as it gives an interesting aspect where you can see the fans in the background watching the action. This is somewhat different approach than that of mine, where I don't care about the background and use 2.8, a higher shutter speed and selective focus to isolate the batter swinging and hoping to hit the pitch.

[Rossi42080]

So something more along the lines of this? I usually do try and blur out the back, but I think I was too focused on trying to get the whole scene.
Thanks for the feedback. Last one I promise.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Rossi42080

So something more along the lines of this? I usually do try and blur out the back, but I think I was too focused on trying to get the whole scene.
Thanks for the feedback. Last one I promise.

As the Hawaiians say, "Much more better brah!: