some amateur baseball pics

[olson_24]

I decided to go take some pics at my Wife's Brother-in-Laws' baseball game. All the pics, except the one behind home plate were shot using a Tamron 200-500 zoom lens and lens hood. They lost the game. It was close though. It's funny when you go to an amateur game with a huge lens...all day long, I was asked if I worked for the Press-Gazette and when are these gonna be in the paper? lol!

[olson_24]

some more. The catcher is my wife's brother-in-law. He plays in the Home Talent League for Evansville, Wisconsin. Good Player! Intense!

[olson_24]

2 more. How can I change it so I get more than 2 available?

[olson_24]

no comments? any advice? help?

[vetkrazy]

Some good pics, I like #2 the best, very intense. Looks like most were from the stands, looking down. Any chance you can get closer to the field? After looking at your exif data I would suggest keeping your lens wide open if possible. Also try and keep your SS above 1/1000 for baseball, as there was motion blur in a couple. Don't be afraid to shoot ISO 800 your camera can handle it. Next, shoot tight and crop tighter. Too much green in some of the pics. On #2 crop to his chest and then you can concentrate on the intesity in his eyes. In the last one crop to the bag and lose the ump. Also shoot through the play, let the runner slid to or past the bag and then get reaction shots of the runner, thirdbaseman and the ump. Last, watch your horizons. Good luck and lets see smoe more.

Bruce

[olson_24]

I appreciate the advice. Thank you very much! I'm going to watch the team again on the 18th. I'll post what I get there. I'm always unsure about motion...is it good or bad? Do I want to show movement or freeze a moment in time? Unsure when to use what. I also love this lens (tamron 200-500). Thinking about getting a focal extender for it.

[vetkrazy]

For me motion is a no no, but others may have different opinions. I shoot for the college and they want sharp pictures for media guides. Good luck on your next shoot.

Bruce

[rabidcow]

You have some good captures there, but #4 really bugs me. It is a great butt shot, but tells little about the game being played.

Maybe try another angle to get that shot, I captured this one standing on the scoring table shooting in between the links of the chain-linked fence behind home plate. The background sucks, but what could I do? :)

Good luck on the 18th!

[rabidcow]

After looking at the exif on your images, I see that you are shooting Shutter Priority, which is great, but...for an outdoor daytime event shooting at a faster shutter speed is your best set, unless you need all of that DOF from a smaller aperture.

Your 1/1000 sec images are much sharper than your 1/500 sec images, due to less movement being captured from camera shake and subject movement. I really beieve that 1/1000 or more is best for these events.

ISO 400 is great, I shoot ISO 400 for all of my outdoors sports, so anyone who tells you to go to ISO 100 (not that anyone has) remind them that 2 more stops of light can make or break motion freeze.

Your aperture (in my opinion) should stay above 5.6 for best subject-based DOF (distance dependant of course, f/8 if the subject is really close), if it drops below that, up your ISO before you drop your shutter speed.

[olson_24]

Thanks a bunch, rabidcow!! I will take your advice. Here's a few more. I regret not getting all of the batter in the first. It was shot from the left of home plate, with the lens between the chain link fence. I did try to get my truck near the fence to get some shots from above the field line fences, but was asked to not do that by local officials. Bummer! I just noticed I didnt crop enough in the second (catchers hand in corner). Also, horizon is all wonky in the first. Thanks again! Keep the advice coming, I'm eating this up!

[rabidcow]

That's what I'm talking about! Nice images!

[PhotoJourno]

I personally like to shoot at eye level with the player. This allows for a better play with lines and background. With 9 year olds I kneel a lot, but with grown ups, I try to be as elevated as possible.

Very nice shots. The first few are cropped, if you cropped 50% of the photo, you may want to start looking at lenses, which to use, when to use them, and better places to stand.

As a personal rule, 20% crop is generous for my own work, if I feel I need a confidence boost and I had a bad day. Otherwise, I expect no more than 10-15% cropping. It is another challenge of the craft of photography. 10 years ago, my cropping tools were so rudimentary -those at my level anyways- that it was less work to just get the photo right.

In no ways I am discarding your work though. You have an eye for the moment to press the shutter, and for the most part, where to stand. I like the one where the blue player is diving back for the bag, and the black/dark blue player is trying to tag him out. The umpire running into the photo makes it all the much better.

Anyhow, just my thoughts.

Cheers,

[troutbreath]

I like 'em. I agree with the above comments about freezing the motion, but I am no expert at that myself.

I like the idea of the shot from behind the umpire, but it doesn't seem to be really in focus for some reason (maybe my eyes?). It has potential. My favorite is the baserunner sliding into third. Catching the ump running to the base is a nice touch. The blue jerseys really pop in your shots, too.