Trying to make it in sports photography

[rkinsey]

Ok so I have really enjoyed shooting sports the most and I think that it is something that I want to really get into so I asked one of the local leagues if they would allow me to come out and take pictures and they were fine with it. So I wanted to get y'alls opinion on if I had something going or not. I have posted one here and have some more on my flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/richard...7619413285356/) so any help would be great or any opinions that you may have. Also, on flickr are some other sports shots in other groups. FYI for the most part these are all straight off the camera no adjustments other than some minor cropping on a couple I believe. Thank you in advance for the help.




Camera: Nikon D90
Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 150 mm
Focal Length: 151.0 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

For this photo maybe some input on the composition, angle and the actual action itself.

thanks again.

[smc1377]

Took a quick look at your flickr album.

I'd like to see you use a larger aperture so that you get less depth of field. I don't care to see cars and buildings in the background. I'm guessing you're limited by equipment, but if you're serious about it, I'd get something like a 70-200 f2.8.

I'd also like to see much tighter crops and more landscape shots. Give the pitcher room to throw into.

I notice you like mid-throw shots. I don't like them at all. I know this isn't politically correct to say, but it makes the kids look physically challenged. Their bodies are usually contorted in such a way that is not pleasing. With pitchers, I tend to like the pictures taken right as the pitcher's throwing arm is pointed straight forward or already on the wind down.

I also like to frame more than one player in the shot. If there's a runner on first, move so that you can take a picture of the pitcher and be able to see the first baseman holding the runner on first. It provides for suspense and tension. It better conveys the emotion of the moment.

If there's no one on first, stand directly behind home plate so that you can get the batter in the picture to provide that same emotion.

In general, cropping down would also be beneficial to bring the viewer into the game.

Have you seen the featured blog post currently? Have a read. It's written by a pro sports photographer.

http://digital-photography-school.co...graph-baseball

[AlanWillis]

I looked at this and your others; I think for catching the drama of the game, your shots of the slide-in at home plate were your best. I might have cropped them closer, but they are very nice shots.

I agree on the depth of field issue.

Consider -- for pitchers -- getting them just before they enter their wind-up and capturing the intensity in their eyes. I find this one causes the eye to bounce between the pitchers face and his hand.

[mikedugganphotography]

A couple of things that I see that could improve this image and others to follow. The crop need to be tighter here to keep the eye focused on the player and not wonder around the image. Secondly, a shallower DOF would provide a smoother blanket for the background and help decrease the distraction of the cars and trees. Decrease the ISO a little. You have an exposure of 1/4000 so you can drop the ISO to at least ISO 200 and still have a good shutter speed. Glass is import with controlling the DOF so use the largest aperture possible (f2.8 if possible). On the positive side you did catch the ball right as it is leaving the pitchers hand which is a major plus for baseball photography.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by mikedugganphotography

A couple of things that I see that could improve this image and others to follow. The crop need to be tighter here to keep the eye focused on the player and not wonder around the image. Secondly, a shallower DOF would provide a smoother blanket for the background and help decrease the distraction of the cars and trees. Decrease the ISO a little. You have an exposure of 1/4000 so you can drop the ISO to at least ISO 200 and still have a good shutter speed. Glass is import with controlling the DOF so use the largest aperture possible (f2.8 if possible). On the positive side you did catch the ball right as it is leaving the pitchers hand which is a major plus for baseball photography.

Yup...all thoe true. Now why were you shooting at iso 800 on a bright sunny day. Normally on days like that I use 200-320 range. The higher the iso the more contrasty it becomes.

[rkinsey]

I gave it another try using some of the suggestions, just wanted to know what y'all thought.



Camera: Nikon D90
Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 130 mm
Focal Length: 130.7 mm
ISO Speed: 1000
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[Jim Bryant]

You need to crop tighter, so that you eye goes to the pitcher and not to the background. Crop out all distracting elements. See my crop.

[mikedugganphotography]

Cropping in sports photography to draw the viewer directly to the subject is critical. In the case you have presented you can see the background very distinctly which can be a distraction to the viewer. Note the fence in the background and how it tilts to the left. This give the viewer the feel that the entire photo has a tilt. By cropping below that line you have drawn more attention to the pitcher and his motion and not allowed the eye to wonder. The tighter crop provides more power and impact to the image.
Also the tight crop draws attention to the form and the release of the ball. Having caught the ball in the shot and the fact that it is sharp is a great focal point. Just my thoughts.

[Montec]

The old saying for sports photography is

"Shoot tight and crop tighter"

[waynbo]

I have been shooting sports for over 10yrs and from a buyer veiw your right on the money. All but the background won,t go into that everyone has covered that. From artist point of veiw I would say the others are right but from a sale veiw they are good pics to sell to the parents pr family.Crop tighter keep the junk out of the back ground you will do great!