actions shot

[donny1]

Hi this is a shot from one of the first baeball matches i shot recently. IT was getting quite dark when i shot, hence the high iso. I took the shot with a sigma 50 -500mm lens, i am not sure the shot is as sharp as i would like, but i am not sure, if this is the AI servo autofocus on my camera, lens or this is simply the due the speed of the shot. Any comments on how to improve it would be appreaciated.

shooting data, 1/640, f6.3, ISO 1600, pattern metering shot in aperture priority.

[PhotogChic]

What kind of focusing did you use...spot or auto? It looks like the photo is sharper over the pants of the 3rd baseman compared to the rest of the photo.

[PhotoPhix]

Originally Posted by donny1

Hi this is a shot from one of the first baeball matches i shot recently. IT was getting quite dark when i shot, hence the high iso. I took the shot with a sigma 50 -500mm lens, i am not sure the shot is as sharp as i would like, but i am not sure, if this is the AI servo autofocus on my camera, lens or this is simply the due the speed of the shot. Any comments on how to improve it would be appreaciated.

shooting data, 1/640, f6.3, ISO 1600, pattern metering shot in aperture priority.

A little unsharp mask gave it that extra crispyness that it needed.


Armando

[donny1]

Unsharp tool, i take it that is in photoshop..... the mask you did in photoshop has mad it look so much better. i am a complete novice, i can crop and thats about it.

Photochic, as for focus i dont remember, i took quite a few that shots, some were atuo,while on some i tried to pre focus.... what do you recommend whe it comes to focusing?

thanks scott

[Jim Bryant]

Using the center point focus method is always better for sports.

[alphasco]

Originally Posted by donny1

Unsharp tool, i take it that is in photoshop..... the mask you did in photoshop has mad it look so much better. i am a complete novice, i can crop and thats about it.

Photochic, as for focus i dont remember, i took quite a few that shots, some were atuo,while on some i tried to pre focus.... what do you recommend whe it comes to focusing?

thanks scott

Yes, a little post-processing can make a world of difference. You don't have to have the big expensive $700+ PhotoShop program either. PhotoShop Elements 7 (now 8 is out) for about $80 will take you a long way.

Also, if you will use something like Flickr or Picasso to pose your images, we can see more information about you camera settings to make better recommendations.