Timing takes practice, practice, practice

[lauderdalems]

Here is one pictures that I took in 2009. I've had a lot of people ask how I took these pictures....it takes practice and more practice.

[wamplers]

Good timing. Too bad about the background clutter. That's where the pros have the advantage with long lenses and large apertures on the longer lenses. Makes for a nice background blur.

You might try a vertical crop and crop close to cut out the guy carrying the 2 balls in the background, or perhaps some blur in photoshop.

[AdamR]

Great timing... Like wamplers said, the distracting background is too bad

[lauderdalems]

Since it is impossible to plan your background in advance (and at the time the only lens I had was a 70-200 2.8) I considered using PS to remove the guy with the footballs. It would greatly improve the picture.

But once you start using PS to 'change' the image taken, who is to say you did not PS all your other great pictures. That is my concern.

If the player wanted that picture to hang on his wall then I would use PS - at his request.
Any images that I have manipulated lowers the actual quality of my work.

Thanks for your comments.

[Sterling]

So what exactly did you want critique on?

Besides the distracting background, this shot seems to have a white balance problem. Looks like too much magenta.

edit: nevermind, the monitor I'm using is out of whack.

[nathanbarlow]

Originally Posted by lauderdalems

But once you start using PS to 'change' the image taken, who is to say you did not PS all your other great pictures. That is my concern.

Any images that I have manipulated lowers the actual quality of my work.

so according to this logic, shooting in RAW and then manipulating the exposure and the contrast using PS raw converter "lowers" the quality of your work..... hmmmm ....

Also by the way, a 'fake' background blur looks different to a real background blur using apertures, so it is obvious what is PS and what isnt in that case....

PS is no more 'cheating' than dodging and burning in the darkroom. Only difference is the tool used(PC vs chemicals)

[lauderdalems]

Using PS to bring out more detail is not the same (in my book) as removing or adding objects in the picture.

[JohnnyA]

Not only is timing important. Knowledge of the game you are photographing is paramount.
I like your picture. Nice timing. I do have to agree that the background is a bit distracting. I don't mind the ball boy in the picture. But the dude behind the fence doesn't even look like he is watching the player in the photo. I would edit him out. Maybe even edit everything and have the background as flames or something. Be creative.
Good Job!!!

[wamplers]

Originally Posted by lauderdalems

Since it is impossible to plan your background in advance (and at the time the only lens I had was a 70-200 2.8) I considered using PS to remove the guy with the footballs. It would greatly improve the picture.

But once you start using PS to 'change' the image taken, who is to say you did not PS all your other great pictures. That is my concern.

If the player wanted that picture to hang on his wall then I would use PS - at his request.
Any images that I have manipulated lowers the actual quality of my work.

Thanks for your comments.

I didn't say to "edit him out." I said to crop him out. Big difference and is still considered ethical for journalism, whereas editing out would NOT be.

[lauderdalems]

Ok, I got you now. Thanks.