Soccer (Football) Shooting Strategies

[cwphoto]

Do any of you pro sports photographers use your selected focus point or do you do you let the camera pick the focus point?

One focus point only for me (without expanded points activated). I find auto select to be too slow and sacrifices too much control.

[samsen]

All makes it a winner image are that capture of:
- Action
- Emotion
- Ball
- Background
- Void cropping the subject
- Void awkward positions of body that are not so uncommon to capture
- Angle of view
All are self explanatory but to add a word on last one, just lie down on the grass, keeping a wider lens, close subjects and keep foreview from grass to a right upward tilt to see the action in far back. Now compare this "Ante view" with a shoot taken from higher location for an "Eagle or at least a bird on tree view". See for yourself how much they can add as to everyone else Eye, Waist level angle pictures.

Have fun.

[PaulChokota]

Thanks Samsen. I use a IDS Mark III w/ a Sigma 120-300 and I just get aggravated because I miss a great shot because it just isn't tight. I don't remember the film cameras being as slow. Do you have the the tracking mode at the default setting?

[jamesb84]

I'm using Manual exposure (minimum of 1/640), wide open, spot metering, custom WB, single spot focus point (no expansion), fastest AI Servo tracking speed.

That's my basic settings for "soccer". Works in daylight and floodlight for me, just keep an eye on the exposre, then use shutter speed and ISO to adjust when necessary.

Works like a charm for me.

James.

[nicmo]

Do any of you pro sports photographers use your selected focus point or do you do you let the camera pick the focus point?

99.99% of my sport shots are Center Point.

[bobbyz]

Thanks Samsen. I use a IDS Mark III w/ a Sigma 120-300 and I just get aggravated because I miss a great shot because it just isn't tight. I don't remember the film cameras being as slow. Do you have the the tracking mode at the default setting?

Slowness and not being tight are different things. With FF, I would use atleast 400mm. Also don't know why you say 1dsmk3 is slow.

[dcsmith40D]

One focus point only for me (without expanded points activated). I find auto select to be too slow and sacrifices too much control.

One thing I find myself struggling with is when I set my focus point on the center point I cut the feet and legs off. I change the focus point to the top and shot across the field end up resulting in too much grass at the bottom. Center point top seems to work best close while center point seems better farther away. When the action is moving, I don't know how to allow for it. I end up with a lot of pictures of players with no feet. I like to shoot at or near wide open so I try to focus on the face so as not to miss focusing those important features.

Does anybody have some suggestions?

[Dave__C]

One thing I find myself struggling with is when I set my focus point on the center point I cut the feet and legs off. I change the focus point to the top and shot across the field end up resulting in too much grass at the bottom. Center point top seems to work best close while center point seems better farther away. When the action is moving, I don't know how to allow for it. I end up with a lot of pictures of players with no feet. I like to shoot at or near wide open so I try to focus on the face so as not to miss focusing those important features.

Does anybody have some suggestions?

Beware that not all of the sensors are equal. the center one in most cameras will be designed to work with both horizontal and vertical image data while others may only be effective on one axis. There may also be a difference in light sensitivity. So there may be more to consider than just the position aspect.

[dcsmith40D]

Beware that not all of the sensors are equal. the center one in most cameras will be designed to work with both horizontal and vertical image data while others may only be effective on one axis. There may also be a difference in light sensitivity. So there may be more to consider than just the position aspect.

If that was a recommendation, it went over my head.

[cwphoto]

One thing I find myself struggling with is when I set my focus point on the center point I cut the feet and legs off. I change the focus point to the top and shot across the field end up resulting in too much grass at the bottom. Center point top seems to work best close while center point seems better farther away. When the action is moving, I don't know how to allow for it. I end up with a lot of pictures of players with no feet. I like to shoot at or near wide open so I try to focus on the face so as not to miss focusing those important features.

Does anybody have some suggestions?

Focus on the body rather than the head, or change focus points on the fly depending on the shot (ie; top point for near field, centre for otherwise).

[cwphoto]

Slowness and not being tight are different things. With FF, I would use atleast 400mm. Also don't know why you say 1dsmk3 is slow.

Maybe it's the lens. :confused:

[ldreher]

One thing I find myself struggling with is when I set my focus point on the center point I cut the feet and legs off. I change the focus point to the top and shot across the field end up resulting in too much grass at the bottom. Center point top seems to work best close while center point seems better farther away. When the action is moving, I don't know how to allow for it. I end up with a lot of pictures of players with no feet. I like to shoot at or near wide open so I try to focus on the face so as not to miss focusing those important features.

Does anybody have some suggestions?

Forgive me if this is too basic, but are you shooting in portrait or landscape mode? It's been drilled into my head by several experienced sports photograpers that they always shoot soccer in portrait mode. Since I've switched I've had much better luck.

http://dreher.smugmug.com/photos/397922726_5LyN6-XL.jpg

[dcsmith40D]

Forgive me if this is too basic, but are you shooting in portrait or landscape mode? It's been drilled into my head by several experienced sports photograpers that they always shoot soccer in portrait mode. Since I've switched I've had much better luck.

I tried that a couple of times recently. I didn't do good. I didn't know that it was recommended; I just thought I was tring something new. But I can try again. I don't have the grip on my camera.

[VladDracule]

ive also tried to shoot soccer portrait mode with not a much success, the main advantage to it is not having to crop as much of the image and it does tend to reduce the chances of cutting off feet or heads, but i still have much better luck in landscape orientation

[Roy Webber]

ISO 400, F 6.3 and 1/1500

[canadianbacon52]

I've shot a few soccer games, and the one thing I am struggling with is capturing goals. I usually stand on the sidelines about 20 yards in from the corner. Unless the person who is scoring is really close, it is difficult to get both the shooter and the keeper/net in the shot, which I think is important. Is there a better place to stand, or any general tips? Thanks.

[cwphoto]

I've shot a few soccer games, and the one thing I am struggling with is capturing goals. I usually stand on the sidelines about 20 yards in from the corner. Unless the person who is scoring is really close, it is difficult to get both the shooter and the keeper/net in the shot, which I think is important. Is there a better place to stand, or any general tips? Thanks.

Try standing at the corner or behind the end-zone instead. These positions tend to narrow the angle down.

[Dave__C]

If that was a recommendation, it went over my head.

Sorry. I'm an engineer.

I'm just pointing out that for cameras like the Canon xTi (400D), not all of the points have the same performance.

The 40D, however, uses "crosspoint" sensors for all 9 of the AF points. However, I believe the center one works in lower light situations with F2.8 lenses.

Here's a useful tip to help you switch among points quickly on 40D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxHjSzacCN0

Here's another useful thread on the topic
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=591723


For soccer, I always stick with the center point only.

[jamesb84]

I've shot a few soccer games, and the one thing I am struggling with is capturing goals. I usually stand on the sidelines about 20 yards in from the corner. Unless the person who is scoring is really close, it is difficult to get both the shooter and the keeper/net in the shot, which I think is important. Is there a better place to stand, or any general tips? Thanks.

Ah, now that is the million dollar question...

I shoot Pro games here in the UK, and still find it a challenge to actually get a goal shot... I think I have 2 from the dozen or so games I've done this season.

Being positioned where you are could be an issue. I sit on the goal-line, about 10-15yds in from the corner and that will allow you to see the attacking players face (a must in my view) but you'll only get the goalkeepers back.

Even then though, you'll still probably miss it, just not that easy...

Take a look at Getty Images and see how many actual goal shots there are from a game!! Even a high-scoring one. More often than not, it's celebration pics that certainly sell, or are the best...

Just my advice.

James.

[samsen]

still find it a challenge to actually get a goal shot...

I tend to disagree with you. Secret is surely at angle but though I like it, face of attacking forward is not what I want. Well you can't have both worlds but IMO a 30 degree angle (Almost half way from goal line to midfield is a place where you can capture both goalie and attacher if there are not too many people on the way yet you have a good way to show the action all in one. Advantage; even when goal is not made but shoot is early toward it, you still can have a picture looking like goal (Cheating or technically exciting image).

Other point deserve attention is to use wider than what you like focal lens to give you a good cropping opportunity. If FFs bodies were fast enough, would be good to use them but I still prefer fast burst sequence of cropped format bodies.

[jamesb84]

I tend to disagree with you. Secret is surely at angle but though I like it, face of attacking forward is not what I want. Well you can't have both worlds but IMO a 30 degree angle (Almost half way from goal line to midfield is a place where you can capture both goalie and attacher if there are not too many people on the way yet you have a good way to show the action all in one. Advantage; even when goal is not made but shoot is early toward it, you still can have a picture looking like goal (Cheating or technically exciting image).

Other point deserve attention is to use wider than what you like focal lens to give you a good cropping opportunity. If FFs bodies were fast enough, would be good to use them but I still prefer fast burst sequence of cropped format bodies.

See, i'm shooting for papers, and they want the face of the attacker...every time. Ball and face in same shot, if you can get the keeper and the goal too, bonus...but not easy.

Again, for the papers, if it's just a shot on goal, then they'll know it's not actually a goal...so if you market it as it being one...they will not be impressed.

James.

[rovers_Andy]

yep i agree, first thing i learnt from a very helpful guy from Action Images called Keith Williams is its the celebrations that sell. Though you do sometimes see in the galleries of sites like bbc sport with shots of the attacker as they score, but as james mentions, to get the attacker and the ball crisp and in the same shot is no easy thing. out of this season ( about 20 games) i have 1 decent "goal" shot and plenty that were out of focus or at the wrong end of the pitch so not worth anything.

[mattyv53]

I am new to this site and have picked up some great information for shooting sports. I would really appreciate it if you all would take a look at some of my recent stuff and let me know what you think. Any tips/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22597539@N03/

Thanks.

Matt

[jamesb84]

yep i agree, first thing i learnt from a very helpful guy from Action Images called Keith Williams is its the celebrations that sell. Though you do sometimes see in the galleries of sites like bbc sport with shots of the attacker as they score, but as james mentions, to get the attacker and the ball crisp and in the same shot is no easy thing. out of this season ( about 20 games) i have 1 decent "goal" shot and plenty that were out of focus or at the wrong end of the pitch so not worth anything.

Ah, I see you've been rubbing shoulders with the likes of Keith and the rest of the AI rabble then have you!!

I thought he was winding down his work...that's what someone had told me!

Haven't gotten a single goal yet this year (and seen quite a few)...got some good cele's though. I'd concentrate on them more than anything else, even at kids level...nothing shows the emotion like a player going mad that they've scored.

[3thirteen]

I find that getting low gives an entirely different perspective as well. I've been ran over a few times because I've been prone a little too close to the line.

[samsen]

IMO a good image should tell the story easy with help of no word.
Look at image below;
You have Victorious emotion on the face of forward player, Golly in his territory and the ball showing the action and what happened clearly.

[nicmo]

Ah the Airplane... Always a good one!

[jamesb84]

IMO a good image should tell the story easy with help of no word.
Look at image below;
You have Victorious emotion on the face of forward player, Golly in his territory and the ball showing the action and what happened clearly.

That pretty much sums up what both Andy and myself were saying a few posts ago! If that was a pro game (or even if not) then you'd be looking for 2 or 3 different shots (or at least different crops) of the celebration, and you'd be sending them ASAP.

As it is, I would imagine those would be the popular shots with parents as well! Spot on, and illustrates the point about celebrations excellently.

[AZAlphaDog]

Can I get in on this thread?

[samsen]

Can I get in on this thread?


You're most welcomed and what a good entrance.

Are you sure your second shoot is not President Obama when a bit younger?

[AZAlphaDog]

You're most welcomed and what a good entrance.

Are you sure your second shoot is not President Obama when a bit younger?

Thanks for the welcome, there is a ton of good info. in this thread. It is too bad I didn't see it until after I started shooting soccer.

The second shot is of the goalkeeper and to be PC he is a bit more Hispanic that African American, but maybe a second cousin twice-removed or something like that.