Santa Barbara Cricket Club, June 17th, 2006

[DwightMcCann]

I drove two hours plus from Buellton to Van Nuys on Saturday morning. I arrived Marder Field at the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex at Woodley Park about 10:10 AM just after play started. I was greeted by the team president, Atul Rai who introduced me to team captain Theo Mavro. We were batting so the whole team was sitting around, pumping each other up and joking mercilessly. There were heavy accents and a lot of discussion and cheering of the batsmen in several foreign tongues. The team is heavy with Indians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans ... I was glad my wife had not come as these guys are all good looking! :rolleyes:

The Santa Barbara Cricket Club was playing against the Pasadena Cricket Club as part of the Southern California Cricket Association (http://www.sccacricket.org/grounddetails.php?gid=50). It was a cloudless, bright and hot day. There are two ("The New Fields" ... 16 years old) fields that touch and two more across the road that touch. The ones across the street have beautiful oaks all around. Marder field is quite barren, bordered on one side with a tall chain link fence that closes off a field of tall weeds, on the far side by a few trees and a streambed out of sight, on our side by the dirt road and screen cloth covered team areas. There are stands under the cover but the few (less than ten) spectators sat on the grass beneath young trees, one couple smooching.

Just located the scores and review of the match: http://www.sccacricket.org/csdiv1scorecards.php?matchid1=1110&action=search&schedule=yes

I shot with my 1D Mark IIN, 300mm f/2.8L IS, 2.0 TC on Gitzo 1325 tripod with leveling head (for which I am eternally grateful I took the recommendation to purchase) and full Wimberley head. Using Gavin's advice I shot manual using f/7.1, 1/640th, ISO 400. I had left the white balance set to flash before chimping and discovering it ... I had shot Taylor Swift (16 year old country singer/songwriter girl) the night before and had used flash for some Meet N' Greet shots, sigh.

No collage at this point as this was not for the casino. :lol: So, finally, some American cricket:

#1 That's the Santa Barbara team under the sun screen covering in the background.
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/large/0007.jpg

#2
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/large/0009.jpg

#3
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/large/0015.jpg

#4 We had one unfortunate injury when a ball got between hat brim and face guard wire and an eyebrow area received a rather brutal but not life threatening cut:
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/large/0020.jpg

#5
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/large/0026.jpg

#6
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/large/0033.jpg

#7
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/large/0039.jpg

There are over 30 more images in the gallery on my website at http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/Cricket/SantaBarbaraCricketClub061706/index.html for the cricket fans. I was asked if I could photograph an upcoming international match event on July 1-3 ... I am available but I quoted $1000/day and hotel/meals so I don't expect to be attending as a paid photographer but I might drift down one of the days ... all depends, sigh. :cool:

[taygull]

Fantastic shots Dwight!

I really like #7. So how did you notice the WB by chimping? Did you just see the flash symbol or something you saw in the histogram?

oh...5 is wonderful as well.

[SurfKahakai]

I had no idea that anyone in the US knew how to play that game. Do you understand it, Dwight? I used to watch it in Kuwait but never understood what I was watching.

[DwightMcCann]

Fantastic shots Dwight!

I really like #7. So how did you notice the WB by chimping? Did you just see the flash symbol or something you saw in the histogram?

oh...5 is wonderful as well.
Chris, I noticed that they were a little yellowish ... I would have noticed even sooner but it was so bright I couldn't see the images ... I only looked at the histogram to make sure the exposure was good ... I did the "push to the right" although as Gavin told me I went maybe 1/3 stop too far.

Oh, and thank you! :D

[DwightMcCann]

I had no idea that anyone in the US knew how to play that game. Do you understand it, Dwight? I used to watch it in Kuwait but never understood what I was watching.
Had I not mentioned when you were here that I was #2 on the all Indian National Cricket Team for five years? Just kidding! :p Gavin Ellis and several others worked on me all last year during the season ... I had made so much fun of cricket that they bullied me into learning the rules, well some of the rules, well actually they sent me to a tutorial for Americans (it is well known world wide how "slow" we are) and I got most of the basics. So I now understand most of the basics such as why there are two batsmen and two bowlers on the field, how they get out, runs, overs, 4's and 6's, fast and slow bowlers and why one team chases the other. I am not sure where the Silly Legside Whumpfielder plays however! :lol: And I have no sense of strategy ... other than that there clearly is strategy. It is clearly a duel between the bowler and the batsmen.

[taygull]

I did the "push to the right" although as Gavin told me I went maybe 1/3 stop too far.



huh...please explain as you know what I'm up to and I'm hoping to have a ton of shots in bright sun!

[Croasdail]

Nice shots Dwight.. I looked at shooting some stuff around here but the venues were not as nice as you are showing here... basically public parks with normal park grass. So - to date I have passed on it But maybe I should give it another look.

I am very impressed that you could get or even think of getting $1000 T&E a day for a club level event. I am hoping you get it... it would be good for all of us. I know some larger soccer\football tournaments you can get this... but that is soccer moms. Anyway... good luck with it.

Nice shots.

[DwightMcCann]

huh...please explain as you know what I'm up to and I'm hoping to have a ton of shots in bright sun!

Just means that the histogram should have its hump nearer to the right than left.

[DwightMcCann]

Nice shots Dwight.. I looked at shooting some stuff around here but the venues were not as nice as you are showing here... basically public parks with normal park grass. So - to date I have passed on it But maybe I should give it another look.

I am very impressed that you could get or even think of getting $1000 T&E a day for a club level event. I am hoping you get it... it would be good for all of us. I know some larger soccer\football tournaments you can get this... but that is soccer moms. Anyway... good luck with it.

Nice shots.
I am told that the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex fields are the premiere cricket fields in North America.

I have no expectations that they will be willing to pay me that much but it is simply not worth it to me to go to Van Nuys (two hours + drive each way), sit in the 100+ degree sun with $20K worth of camera equipment by a dusty field for eight hours or so, and then have 500-1000 pictures to post process for less than that. I neither need the money nor to prove myself. Perhaps if we establish some sort of relationship and could sit and discuss it including rights to sell images online to the players but they are really in a rush to get someone for the July 1,2,3 timeframe and I don't even know who the "they" are actually. If they should be willing to pay me this rate, I will buy a 400mm f/2.8 before I go, which is $6600, so they won't even pay for a lens, sigh. :rolleyes: And I will certainly update this thread with the news. :cool: It is, by the way, the lowest day rate in the range that I have published on my website and at PhotoShelter.

[mikegoat]

Love your shots of this sport I am wholly unfamiliar with. You can get away without the tele extender and crop away!

[michael_]

wow wasnt aware cricket was played in the US very cool.

[DwightMcCann]

wow wasnt aware cricket was played in the US very cool.

Woodley Park has four cricket fields in the Leo Magnus complex. This is just southern California but I think there are ten or fifteen teams ... you can check the SCCA website for the list. One of the Pasadena players is a UCSB student. Even if they don't hire me to shoot their tournament I may go down one day and then post images on Printroom or somesuch for sale. I saw no other photographers and it is clearly a sport with good photo-ops.

[DunnoWhen]

I am not sure where the Silly Legside Whumpfielder plays

17 ft S.S.West of second base on the 45 yard line:)

[DwightMcCann]

17 ft S.S.West of second base on the 45 yard line:)

ROFLMAO!

[NordieBoy]

17 ft S.S.West of second base on the 45 yard line:)
It's a trick question :rolleyes:

There's no such position as "Silly Legside Whumpfielder".

Just the "Legside Whumpfielder".

HTH

[QUASIPHOTO]

Good Lord these are EXCELLENT!!!!!! Dang nice work for across the pond........LOL.

[DwightMcCann]

Good Lord these are EXCELLENT!!!!!! Dang nice work for across the pond........LOL.

Thanks, QUASI! They decided not to hire me to shoot ... I exceeded their budget. :lol::lol::lol: But to drive 125 miles each way, shoot in 100+ degree sun without shade for ten hours, post process 1000 images a day and burn CDs, $1000/day seemed very reasonable to me.

[superdiver]

I dont know these to me are ONLY FREAKING GREAT!

Wonderful shots!

How fast are they "pitching" the "ball" at the "batter"? They seem to put some sereous heat on it....

[DwightMcCann]

I dont know these to me are ONLY FREAKING GREAT!

Wonderful shots!

How fast are they "pitching" the "ball" at the "batter"? They seem to put some sereous heat on it....

Thank you. I was pleased with myself for a first timer.

There are fast bowlers and slow bowlers ... there also seem to be some in between as near as I could tell. The ball must bounce before getting to the stumps. The batsman is trying to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps and knocking the bails off among other things. The fast bowlers start about 20 to 30 feet back and run faster and faster until they bowl. The slow bowlers start much closer, several approaching from an angle (like a soccer kicker) and put much more spin on the ball so that when it hits the pitch is bounces wildly. The bowlers seem to stick to one style.

[WyzMan]

How fast are they "pitching" the "ball" at the "batter"? They seem to put some sereous heat on it....

The fastest of the fast professionals bowl at speeds approaching 100mph, slow bowlers at about half that. Having said that, I would imagine that club cricketers bowl somewhat slower - say 70mph max for the quicks and 40mph or so for the spinners. When you are a batsman just 22yds away - that is quick enough (for me anyway!).
Top shots Dwight - was hoping to study the EXIF but couldn't find any!
I use a 300mm f2.8 with a x2 TC at our local club but am able to get quite close to the action. I use the same lens for football - soccer - but no TCs.

Alan

[DwightMcCann]

The fastest of the fast professionals bowl at speeds approaching 100mph, slow bowlers at about half that. Having said that, I would imagine that club cricketers bowl somewhat slower - say 70mph max for the quicks and 40mph or so for the spinners. When you are a batsman just 22yds away - that is quick enough (for me anyway!).
Top shots Dwight - was hoping to study the EXIF but couldn't find any!
I use a 300mm f2.8 with a x2 TC at our local club but am able to get quite close to the action. I use the same lens for football - soccer - but no TCs.

Alan
Alan, thanks for the info. I just got the same bowling information from a New Zealand co-worker who also liked my images. The EXIF gets deleted by the Porta application that I have taken to using for quickly creating these galleries. I would really like to find a tool to create galleries that are a little slicker with more control over options but don't have time to look ... cost is no object.

Anyway, they are all ISO 400, 1/640th, f/7.1, 600mm, manual, no flash ;), shot from a tripod. :lol: I shot from the very edge of the field (and perhaps was onto it for two or three feet in one spot.) How would you get closer?

[WyzMan]

How would you get closer?

Sorry Dwight - what I meant was that our club has a relatively short boundary which allows me to get closer to the action than at say a major league type game. (At a County ground). The size of a cricket ground varies so much but generally a rope is used, (a boundary rope), to mark out the limits of the playing area. Fielders stay inside the rope. If a ball reaches or crosses the boundary after being hit by a batter, he./she scores 4 runs - six if the ball goes over the boundary without hitting the ground first.

Alan

[dewmuw]

Dwight you are addicted! :)

Great to see some shots of cricket in the US - even better when they are of this quality. You'll do have an essential item missing from you gear though - All Serious Cricket fans Have One!! (http://www.onestopcricketshop.com/product_detail.php?prod_group=Hats%20%26%20Caps&product_id=124)

[DwightMcCann]

Alan, I didn't realize the sizes were very varied. :-) I know about 4's and 6's. The boundary at the Leo Magnus grounds is a slightly depressed dirt "path". On one side there is a tall chaing link fence and a ball managed to roll under it ... to retrieve it one guy had to shimmy under the fence ... I have pictures but didn't think they were interesting. Another side goes into "jungle" into which a couple of balls rolled ... but were somehow retrieved. The last two sides are another field and the spectator/team enclosure area. I will get better images of the field and grounds next time.

Damian, well at least it is better than baseball, but somehow I prefer participation to observation in sports ... except boxing, of course. If you want to send me one of those hats I will put it on my hat rack! :-)

[DwightMcCann]

Just found out that the organizers of the three day cricket event in Van Nuys, California on July 1, 2 and 3 have budgeted $1000 (plus fluids and meals) for photography. So, that's three ten-hour days in 100+ degree heat without shade plus post processing and the like. I do not know what they expect for a product. If anyone is willing to do this please let me know and I will pass your information along to the organizing committee.

[allyv]

Great timing with the players jumping. The colours and sharpness are awsome. Great shots.

[DwightMcCann]

Great timing with the players jumping. The colours and sharpness are awsome. Great shots.
Yes, the bowlers as well as the batsmen all seem to think they can fly! ;)

[MAH]

Great timing with the players jumping. The colours and sharpness are awsome. Great shots.

What would a Scotsman know about cricket ;) :lol:

I agree fantastic shot... but for me the square leg umpire distracts from the shot, my eye keeps getting drawn towards him.

Next time you need to get the bowler in the frame with his bowling arm towards the pitch and his eye looking up[1]... It's a simple request :D

On a serious note, very well done the more people that understand cricket the better it is for the game.

[1] This is a request from a cricket fan, I'm someone who would have no chance of catching that sort of shot.

[DwightMcCann]

What would a Scotsman know about cricket ;) :lol:

I agree fantastic shot... but for me the square leg umpire distracts from the shot, my eye keeps getting drawn towards him.

Next time you need to get the bowler in the frame with his bowling arm towards the pitch and his eye looking up[1]... It's a simple request :D

On a serious note, very well done the more people that understand cricket the better it is for the game.

[1] This is a request from a cricket fan, I'm someone who would have no chance of catching that sort of shot.

What is "square leg"? Did you look at the rest of the images on my website as noted at the beginning? You know the moderators will have unkind words for me if I embed too many image links in here!

[Croasdail]

Dwight... after looking at these I decided to look again at the local action.... and again decided to take a pass on it. The venue isn't even as nice as a normal city park. I have a feeling my images would come back soooooo bad that I would abandon the sport for good. So I will waite until I can go to a proper pitch and take some proper images.

[DwightMcCann]

Well, I am hoping to get a ride to the LA 20/20 International tournament on July 3rd. I got word they may have found a photographer for the event for their price. I'll be curious to see how the images turn out!!!

[superdiver]

Remeber to wish me a happy birthday whith you are holding that amazing lens...cuz the 3rd is my birthday!...yeah 41....

[gmen]

Great stuff Dwight.... pleased you finally tracked some cricket down... and impressed with the end result.

You've tracked down some good angles... and the exposures look pretty good as well... 1/3 of a stop here and there makes all the difference in bright sun.

Sorry for delay in replying to this thread... but I've been away for a couple of days and been working over a 3G connection :lol: so not much chance of posting here.

---- Gavin

[DwightMcCann]

Remeber to wish me a happy birthday whith you are holding that amazing lens...cuz the 3rd is my birthday!...yeah 41....

Just a kid!

[DwightMcCann]

Great stuff Dwight.... pleased you finally tracked some cricket down... and impressed with the end result.

You've tracked down some good angles... and the exposures look pretty good as well... 1/3 of a stop here and there makes all the difference in bright sun.

Sorry for delay in replying to this thread... but I've been away for a couple of days and been working over a 3G connection :lol: so not much chance of posting here.

---- Gavin
You had mentioned that you would be away. I was not saddened to not be hired for their July event. BTW, looks like muls and I will be shooting together at the end of July.

[DwightMcCann]

Just contacted by the local newspaper, Santa Barbara News Press, saying they want to use my images in an article about the cricket team. I think they are hard up for news! :-)

[taygull]

We've got lots of crickets here during the Texas summer! I guess I'll have to start shooting them instead of stepping on'm!

[DwightMcCann]

I have been asked to quote a rate to shoot an invitational cricket meet next spring in Van Nuys, California, for 4-5 days. Are there any experienced cricket togs who would be interested in shooting this event with me?

[gmen]

I have been asked to quote a rate to shoot an invitational cricket meet next spring in Van Nuys, California, for 4-5 days. Are there any experienced cricket togs who would be interested in shooting this event with me?:lol: Dwight...

Well...

You know I'd love to ;)

Budgets... budgets.... budgets... eh? :lol:

---- Gavin

[DwightMcCann]

:lol: Dwight...

Well...

You know I'd love to ;)

Budgets... budgets.... budgets... eh? :lol:

---- Gavin

Huh? I had expected if no one else was interested that I could count on you to show up for sure as my safety net! After all, this will be an ICC event, not just some little local festival. I could probably swing $300 a day for a qualified assistant with experience and their own equipment willing to work ten hour days in potentially hot/cold/wet weather. Oh, right, that wouldn't pay the airfare ... hmmm, well, do you know anyone qualified in the Los Angeles, USA, area? BTW, do they stop cricket for rain? :rolleyes:

[taygull]

Huh? I had expected if no one else was interested that I could count on you to show up for sure as my safety net! After all, this will be an ICC event, not just some little local festival. I could probably swing $300 a day for a qualified assistant with experience and their own equipment willing to work ten hour days in potentially hot/cold/wet weather. Oh, right, that wouldn't pay the airfare ... hmmm, well, do you know anyone qualified in the Los Angeles, USA, area? BTW, do they stop cricket for rain? :rolleyes:

You pickup the air fare and provide room and board and I'll do it!;)

[johnstoy]

taygull, you drive a tough bargain...

Just the experience, and the visit to Van Nuys and Universal City, Toluca Lake, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, and maybe even Woodland Hills and the Cheese cake Factory for lunches would be worth it...

[DwightMcCann]

taygull, you drive a tough bargain...

Just the experience, and the visit to Van Nuys and Universal City, Toluca Lake, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, and maybe even Woodland Hills and the Cheese cake Factory for lunches would be worth it...

Well, you've convinced me, John, I will have to be charging for the opportunity to shoot with me in this vast adventureland.

[johnstoy]

Well, you've convinced me, John, I will have to be charging for the opportunity to shoot with me in this vast adventureland.


I hear you Dwight,

Lets see what taygul thinks about visiting LA.

taygul? are you there?

[Trevi]

Dwight, I would offer ... but... our cricket season is just starting here..

Sorry mate...

Trevi

[DwightMcCann]

Dwight, I would offer ... but... our cricket season is just starting here..

Sorry mate...

Trevi

Well, that's perfect ... ours doesn't start for about 6 months! :-)

[Trevi]

Well I suppose I better send in some "audition" shots
20D + 400 f2.8 L IS
The "uh oh.. I missed it" shot
http://www.theredexcel.com/Extras/cricket/21_10-0072.jpg

Strong forward defensive shot
http://www.theredexcel.com/Extras/cricket/21_10-0002.jpg

[johnstoy]

I like the action shots...the bokeh looks pretty good for athletics...Composition wise these two are sound, and sharp too...

Personally, I know the Burbank Holiday Inn has two hotel towers, one with suites, and both are very reasonable for long term stay...One month's cost, would be very reasonably compared, to several individual days' stay...It's right near Hwy 101 and Ventura Blvd...Just a short drive by way of several avenues too, from Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley, (North Hollywood Area), CA...

Maybe Dwight wasn't kidding about recruiting help for the shoot...

How's that, for my $.02?..

[DwightMcCann]

I think air fare would preclude your participation at $300 a day for four or five days but I could put you on the list. :-)

[Trevi]

hmmm lets see ..

Max earnings.... 5 X 300 = 1500
Return Flight ... Aprox 1800
Accomodation... Aprox 800ish.. (unless there is a comfortable lounge at the McCann residence)

So in reality it will only cost 1100ish for a week on the west coast... Still sounds ok...
Now my big prob is convincing Mrs Trevi :)

[DwightMcCann]

hmmm lets see ..

Max earnings.... 5 X 300 = 1500
Return Flight ... Aprox 1800
Accomodation... Aprox 800ish.. (unless there is a comfortable lounge at the McCann residence)

So in reality it will only cost 1100ish for a week on the west coast... Still sounds ok...
Now my big prob is convincing Mrs Trevi :)

Well, the McCann accommodations are excellent and priced right. The days will be a two hour drive, 12-16 hour shooting day, and two hour drive back, so that's a piece-of-cake. :-) But we don't have the job yet. Oh, and there's a Mrs. Trevi, eh? Now there's the rub!

[Trevi]

I thought of telling Mrs Trevi like this...

Dear, We have to talk.. I have met this man on the internet and he wants me to go to America.......

hmmm might have to think about this for a while huh ?????
:)

[DwightMcCann]

I thought of telling Mrs Trevi like this...

Dear, We have to talk.. I have met this man on the internet and he wants me to go to America.......

hmmm might have to think about this for a while huh ?????
:)

Oh, yes. And I'll loan you my 300mm f/2.8 so you'll also have to tell her, "And, dear, he's got one as big as mine but he'll loan me one a bit smaller!"

[DiscoLizard]

Great shots Dwight. Cricket season is just about to start here, I'll have to bring the camera along to my games :D Not sure the reach of the 70-200 is quite going to cut it, but I'll give it a go. Any tips are welcome :)

[DwightMcCann]

Great shots Dwight. Cricket season is just about to start here, I'll have to bring the camera along to my games :D Not sure the reach of the 70-200 is quite going to cut it, but I'll give it a go. Any tips are welcome :)

My best tip is to read Gavin Ellis' Q&A over in the Talking About Photography forums! :-) As for the 70-200mm it will depend on the size of the pitch I would guess.

[DiscoLizard]

My best tip is to read Gavin Ellis' Q&A over in the Talking About Photography forums! :-) As for the 70-200mm it will depend on the size of the pitch I would guess.

I'll check it out, thanks.

Oh, and if you need any help working out what a whumpfielder does, or any other terminology, feel free to ask :D

Hoping to catch some of that 20/20 tournament on tv here, but I'm not holding my breath.

[DwightMcCann]

Yes, well, as near as I can tell the whole group has one focus ... to have a great time with friends and everything else is quite secondary including winning! The Brits have kept me quite on the straight and narrow ... last year we had ongoing discussions for the whole season the benefit of which was this thread this season. Next year I will do better with the new lens.

[gmen]

Yes, well, as near as I can tell the whole group has one focus ... to have a great time with friends and everything else is quite secondary including winning! The Brits have kept me quite on the straight and narrow ... last year we had ongoing discussions for the whole season the benefit of which was this thread this season. Next year I will do better with the new lens.Dwight... I simply can't wait for the next cricket season! Not that I'm bored with the football season yet :lol: but I'm already planning my approach for 2007 as I know I can improve on this year's efforts, both photographically and from a business perspective.

I shall look forward to sharing our experiences when the players don their whites again ;)

---- Gavin

[DiscoLizard]

Yes, well, as near as I can tell the whole group has one focus ... to have a great time with friends and everything else is quite secondary including winning! The Brits have kept me quite on the straight and narrow ... last year we had ongoing discussions for the whole season the benefit of which was this thread this season. Next year I will do better with the new lens.

Absolutely. What better way to spend a summers day than to spend it playing sport (one which everyone can be good at) especially when you can have a bbq on the sideline and a beer at half time :D I like to win tho. And to hit the batsmen with the ball. But then I used to be a fast bowler (until I broke my back :rolleyes: ).

Look forward to your shots with the new lens!