Football Half Over :-(

[MazerRakhm]

We're more than half way through the HS football season here in IL! Some teams look good, others don't. Just like some of my pictures look good, and some dont.

I havn't posted any action since the start of the season, so I thought just over the half way point would be a good time for some more posts.

What a change this year, I don't remember there being any where the ammount of HS football posts here last year!

I've started to change the way I shoot, trying to get a higher keeper count, with better action, and a bit more of a face which means not only have I changed where I shoot but the camera settings as well.

I went from shooting a lot of AV mode to an all Manual mode, a process that was made a lot easier with the 30D over my DRebel.

Sometimes change is a good thing, and as I get used to my new methods the pics come out better.

http://KSmith.smugmug.com/photos/93996588-M.jpg


http://ksmith.smugmug.com/photos/95587756-M.jpg


http://ksmith.smugmug.com/photos/95587240-M.jpg


http://ksmith.smugmug.com/photos/97237411-M.jpg


http://ksmith.smugmug.com/photos/97238647-M.jpg


http://ksmith.smugmug.com/photos/97239638-M.jpg

[bhuckabee]

Nice shots. I like #5 the best, good timing. How have you changed where you shoot?

[Sledhed]

Excellent as always Kevin. See if you can pick up a Saturday game, being able to shoot around 1000th at 100 ISO sure beats 250th at 1600 ISO. I'll be shooting at Oak Forest Friday night, if your somewhere in the area let's meet up for a beer after the games.

[MazerRakhm]

Chris,

I'm shooting in Plainfield on Friday. I might go to the Hinsdale game on Satuday, but it's in flux at the moment.


Bhuckabee,

I was lining up either right in front of the line of scrimmage by 1-10 yards, or sometimes just behind. You can get some good shots of QB handoffs from this position. Now I've been lining up even further down the line maybe 10-20 yards down at times. It's harder to shoot from there becuase with only the 70-200 I don't have a whole lot of reach, and if I'm not on my game and paying attention it can be difficult to spot (Especially for someone who has only gotten into football in the past couple of years.) where the play is going with all the traffic in the way.

What I've noticed that I've been getting is a little bit more face time (Time where I can see players faces), especially with the running game, and some tackles.
It gives

[jonathans9]

I will share some tips a pro gave me about learning to shoot HS football. First watch as many plays as you can without the camera so you get a sense of how they run the offense. This is not the pros where they have dozens (or hundreds) of formations/ plays.
You will get a feel for who the likely back is to carry the ball on 3rd and short. Also the QB's eyes will tell you which receiver is getting the ball. Most high school QBs can't throw a long pass with the same motion they use to throw a short pass, so if the throwing arm is going back with upper body rotation there will be a long pass. Of course there are always exceptions. But watch a game from the stands if you can and you will very quickly figure out how the play will develop.
Hope this helps
Jonathan

[MazerRakhm]

Oh, I usually know who the studs are on each team, it's just that some times when I'm not paying attention; I get lost in the fake like the defense or there is someone in the way, and I can't see what in the heck is going on. Thanks though!

[jonathans9]

I still don't know how the SI photogs get their shots so consistently.
JS

[MazerRakhm]

I always go with the thought that they have tons of guys shooting tons of angles.

It makes me feel better if I think that there are a lot more of them, with better equipment.

They do have better lighting, which would be really nice! I got to shoot some HS night games at Soldier Field, oh what a difference that makes to a lowly HS field!

[Dean Humphrey]

Nice shots, I to like #5 the best. Here in Oklahoma we are on week 4 of the season. Last week I had the good fortune of shooting a 5pm game and was alble to do the whole game without a flash. Keep up the good work, when I get to the Chicago area it would be nice to take in a game.

[bhuckabee]

Kevin, I usually stand 10-15 yards from the line of scrimmage so I have a better chance of getting a ball carrier head on. With the bad lighting and not the best of equipment, that helps cut down on the blurring. When the team I'm covering is on defense, I'll sometimes stand 10 yards or so behind the line of scrimmage to try and get shots of defensive players in the backfield. I look forward to the day I have nice equipment and daylight football games:D With the basic equipment I have, this is about the best I can do.

[Croasdail]

I still don't know how the SI photogs get their shots so consistently.
JS

Easy... .better venue, better lighting, higher level of compitition, better equipment, better access.... it all adds up. That is the tough thing about comparing your stuff to SI. Trust me, I wish I could say there was some magical way they do the thing they do, but it isn't so. If you have the same access, equipement, subject and venue - you too would see a marked jump in your quaility. Not that these guys and gals aren't good.... where you or I would come up with a few "wow" shots, they come up with a lot more - the biggest thing they have goign for them is they can do it consistently. But in the end, usually only one shot gets published - the best - and you don't know if that was 1 out of 100, or 1 out of 10,000 shots. Anyway... don't be too hard on your self.

Maz... high school football is a tough nut to break. Low lights, less then ideal venues, hit and miss performances from the subjects.... it is a really hard one to get "the" shot from. As you know I am a big believer in the shoot tight thing too, but sometimes you have to look at what you can get given the circumstances. A tight dimly lit shot with heavy shadows just shows the flaws sometimes more. It's a tough call to make. But with the cool evenings coming on.... a cool black and white of the two teams in stance, breath showing, lights blaring, fans cheering in the background blurred, that's what high school football is all about to me. Yeah you need to mix it up... get the close up jub shot, get the player breaking through the hole, get the coach pushing his team forward... it all makes up the "high school football experience". The tight shots are just part of that and knowing when to use wide and tight shots is all part of it.

But to your shots this time... seems your getting the lighting and timing down well. No complaints. It is a lot better then some of those flashed shots the newsie's do. Man does the season fly by... keep at it .. it's all fun.

Cheers.

[MDJAK]

Nice shots, Kevin.

mark

[MazerRakhm]

Bhuckabee,

I feel your pain, I started out with almost the same equipment. That f4-5.6 is rough at night!


Croasdail,

I keep at it, and IMO I get better every year which is all a guy can really ask for I guess. I keep shooting the sport becuase I love it! I'm lucky enough to shoot for a guy that gets me sideline at every game, including the 3 that open up the season at Soldier Field.