First Baseball outing of the Year - Image Warning

[Croasdail]

Well Jerry (fslshooter) inspired me to get out there and dust off the old cobb webs so I grabbed the boys and we headed off to Duke to shoot some Baseball. I played around with the teleconverters... learned a little more and tried to apply what Jerry put in his note. It was a 3 pm start, but the light still started to fade quickly. Not much in the way on field action, but that is the way it goes sometimes. Anyway - here is game one if the 2006 season. As always - I am looking for critique so I can get better. These were shot with a combination of 1.4 and 2x TCs coupled with the Sigma 120-300 f2.8.

#1 (image 1 of a 3 part sequence)

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall002_edited-1_small.jpg

#2 (2 of 3)

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall003_edited-1_small.jpg

#3 (3 of 3)

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall004_edited-1_small.jpg

#4

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall036_edited-1_small.jpg

#5

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall069_edited-1_small.jpg

#6

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall095_edited-1_small.jpg

#7

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall210_edited-1_small.jpg

#8

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall245_edited-1_small.jpg

The last few are with the 2x TC... I should have started with it but didn't think about it until the sun and started to get low in the sky... not the best testing conditions for it. At f5.6 - we are loosing color saturation in the given light. Lesson learned.

[RacingMoose]

Those are some nice photos. The Teleconverters don't seem to affect that lens too much. I'm thinking of trying some baseball with the Sigma 70-200 2.8. What brand of teleconverters did you use?

[chrishunt]

Hey Mark. I like these a lot. I've never shot baseball before, so I can't really offer a critique. I will be shooting my first game tomorrow at 12 and would be very happy if I could snag shots as good as these.

#6 is interesting and makes me wonder if the runner made it to base in time.

[fslshooter]

Mark - You nailed the focus on these but they look a bit underexposed to me. #7 is your best shot IMO -- perfect timing and composition. Too bad the base runner got in the frame in #6 otherwise it's an excellent action shot. I like the 1,2,3 sequence too and #2 is the best of them -- his facial expression and contorted body make the shot for me. Good stuff and a great start for the season!

[Palladium]

Top Original - Bottom has the image layer duped and opacity mode changed from normal to screen (at 75%) then added mask to the new layer and masked out everything except the pitcher's face. The result brings out some of the facial features ;)

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall210_edited-1_small.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7510/setonhall210edited1small1so.jpg

[liza]

Seeing these makes me want that big Sigma lens just that much more. These are so excellent! Do you use a monopod when using this lens? I heard it was a beast.

[cargo123]

These are ready for any sports magazine. They are very nice. Are you using the 2X TC on the 120-300? They are perfect. Where are you positioned to take these pictures? Nice Job. Mike

[Croasdail]

Those are some nice photos. The Teleconverters don't seem to affect that lens too much. I'm thinking of trying some baseball with the Sigma 70-200 2.8. What brand of teleconverters did you use?

Both Teleconverters were Sigma brand. In real world shooting, the focusing was slower but I still didn't miss any shots because of it. Baseball isn't the most demanding sport for focusing anyway. I still think though I would start with the 1.4tc. It was just sharper. Thanks for looking and the comment.

[Croasdail]

Hey Mark. I like these a lot. I've never shot baseball before, so I can't really offer a critique. I will be shooting my first game tomorrow at 12 and would be very happy if I could snag shots as good as these.

#6 is interesting and makes me wonder if the runner made it to base in time.

Hey Chris... nope..... he didn't make it. Good luck with the games today.

[Croasdail]

Mark - You nailed the focus on these but they look a bit underexposed to me. #7 is your best shot IMO -- perfect timing and composition. Too bad the base runner got in the frame in #6 otherwise it's an excellent action shot. I like the 1,2,3 sequence too and #2 is the best of them -- his facial expression and contorted body make the shot for me. Good stuff and a great start for the season!

My wife can't stand numbers 2 or 7. She just keeps saying get it off the screen, that doesn't look right. And yes, I did some playinig around and did somethings I knew better then to do but was curious what would happen - like let the camera choose shutter speed and used all focus points. I only shot the first 20 in full manual, and what do you know, they were also the ones that turned out the best. The camera just does seem to nail focus better when that is all you ask it to do. I am going to try to get out again today or tomorrow. I have a fencing meet and wrestling to do... so well see. Thanks though for the critique... please chime in anytime.

[Croasdail]

Top Original - Bottom has the image layer duped and opacity mode changed from normal to screen (at 75%) then added mask to the new layer and masked out everything except the pitcher's face. The result brings out some of the facial features

Thanks - I need to spend more time on learning how to really use Photoshop.... my edits are always very simplistic. I am sure I would have more images I could save it I spent time learning some of these techniques. Many thanks for the demo.

[Croasdail]

Seeing these makes me want that big Sigma lens just that much more. These are so excellent! Do you use a monopod when using this lens? I heard it was a beast.

Hey Liza, yeah it was fun to be outdoors again. Even though it was chilly, feeling the sun again was nice. And yes, I don't go anywhere without the tripod. It has made a huge impact on the sharpness of my images. The lens is handholdable - the tripod mount has a very nice handgrip molded into it... but you just have to nail it so good to have it work out. Maybe I am just to old to care, but I swear by using my monopod - don't care how goofie I look.

[Croasdail]

These are ready for any sports magazine. They are very nice. Are you using the 2X TC on the 120-300? They are perfect. Where are you positioned to take these pictures? Nice Job. Mike

Thanks Mike. The second half are with the 2x TC. There was a difference with it. When lighting was perfect - I couldn't really complain too much. But as the sun went down and increased the shadows - you could really see the difference in the shadow detail. Everything became harsher. Still usable, but there was a difference. As to position, I was almost dead straight on for half, about 1 row over, and the other half I split the difference between home and 1st. I had my 3 year old (4 today!) with me so I wasn't able to move around enough to get good batter shots.... those come next.

Thanks for looking and the comments. Cheers!

[Croasdail]

Here is another one of the Seton Hall pitcher with his arm a little further back... I think I like it better then the first one.... oh well.

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall010_edited-1_small.jpg

[fslshooter]

My wife can't stand numbers 2 or 7. She just keeps saying get it off the screen, that doesn't look right.


:) :) :) ! I've suggested to several pitchers that they never show some photos to their moms if they want to stay in the game. One pitcher who was here a couple of years ago didn't believe his leg bent like it did until I showed him several similar pics. When he delivered it looked like his leg broke at the knee.

FYI, 2 and 7 are the sort of images that the baseball mags and card companies want.

[Palladium]

Top Original - Bottom has the image layer duped and opacity mode changed from normal to screen (at 80%) then added mask to the new layer and masked out everything except the pitcher's face. The result brings out some of the facial features - then saved fot POTN (100K)

http://www.buzzershot.com/images/SetonHall010_edited-1_small.jpg

[Briancd]

Too bad the base runner got in the frame in #6 otherwise it's an excellent action shot.

I like no. 6 - shows some action. From the angle I guess it was the second baseman making the play. Would have been a close call.

[Croasdail]

Palladium.... thanks. If I am going to shoot baseball this summer I am going to need to learn to do this because of those dang hats. Thanks for the demo.

[Croasdail]

I like no. 6 - shows some action. From the angle I guess it was the second baseman making the play. Would have been a close call.

Thanks..... I kinda liked that one..... I am really trying to get shots that tell more of the story then just a good picture of an athlete. Unfortunately it takes me sometimes into areas that are outside the norm for coverage of that particular sport....... still learning. Thanks again for looking and the comments.

[Palladium]

Palladium.... thanks. If I am going to shoot baseball this summer I am going to need to learn to do this because of those dang hats. Thanks for the demo.

It's only confusing the first time - time spent under 2 minutes. Steps are easy.

1 - Open image in PS and dupe the image layer (a couple of seconds)

2 - Change the visibility mode on the new duped layer from it's normal setting to screen (again a couple of seconds).

3 - Evaluate how the image is looking with the new screen visibility setting at 100%. I'm focusing on the face area - generally 100% is too strong so look to lower the percentage ( 70-80%) to taste (again a couple of seconds).

The Baseball shots were great - IMHO I only thought they needed a little more light on the face. So I adjusted the screen visibility to a point where I thought the faces look OK. But the screen setting lightened the entire image - so to bring back the original and only keep the sceen effect on the face I used a mask on the new screened layer (adding a mask - a couple of seconds).

4 - Using a mask on the new screen layer I want to paint (using black) everything except the players faces. The results of this mask is that the original image is preserved everywhere you paint black. By leaving the face area alone you get the screen effect (brighter) ( 1 minute) :D .

5 - save your image.

[Croasdail]

Thanks - I'll give it a try. Cheers.

[sma65]

Number 2 for me is brilliant, Did the runner manage to steal the base?

[Croasdail]

No, he held up and returned to 2nd...... thanks for looking and commenting.

[williambeeler]

Mark,
I coach Baseball, can I use some of your pictures for visual demonstration? I am not sure if this is the correct forum to ask, but the pictures are so good.

[Croasdail]

sure... I am uploading some right now and will probably post a few more... feel free to use them. Probably 10 more minutes.

mark

[coryjohnson]

Mark...
I have shot a few U of Ala. baseball games this season during the day...this is the first baseball (or any other outdoor sport for that matter) that I have been able to use my 70-200 f/2.8 on...during brightly lit parts of the day their white jerseys seem to have a bit of a "flare" or something around them..just not sharp and clear like yours....I never have this problem inside for basketball or gymnastics..or outside under the lights....I used to have this problem a little with my cheaper glass but did not expect it with this lens...I've been shooting sports a while and am not completely ignorant about photography but still don't have a deep understanding of some of the most technical things...is it necessary to stop down in such bright light?....I really like the shallowest DOF possible...but I don't want the flare (or whatever it is susposed to be called) around the whites

[Sledhed]

Mark,
Love the shots, especially the first one. We need MORE baseball shots posted.

[anokastealth7]

These are awsome, great job!

[Croasdail]

Mark...
I have shot a few U of Ala. baseball games this season during the day...this is the first baseball (or any other outdoor sport for that matter) that I have been able to use my 70-200 f/2.8 on...during brightly lit parts of the day their white jerseys seem to have a bit of a "flare" or something around them..just not sharp and clear like yours....I never have this problem inside for basketball or gymnastics..or outside under the lights....I used to have this problem a little with my cheaper glass but did not expect it with this lens...I've been shooting sports a while and am not completely ignorant about photography but still don't have a deep understanding of some of the most technical things...is it necessary to stop down in such bright light?....I really like the shallowest DOF possible...but I don't want the flare (or whatever it is susposed to be called) around the whites

It sounds like you were getting purple fringe.... and it is a problem with almost any lens - just the extent varies from lens to lens. Duke has a lot of white uniforms and it is a constant issue I watch for. For me, stopping down to f4 usually will get rid of it - or I use a 1.4 tc which knocks it down too (also making f4). It can also be worked in post production...but I haven't found a good way to do it without ALOT of work. I think most if not all these were f4... so don't worry about it too much... f2.8 would be great... but it is what it is.

[coryjohnson]

thanks...that is exactly what it looks like...purple fringe