Women's College Lacrosse shots

[cecilc]

Hello all ....

I've taken my first steps with RAW images ....
I shot the Ga/Ga Tech women's lacrosse game today as RAW images and processed them from that....
I gotta say, I'm really taken with that RAW format .....
I'm looking for critiques here: of technique; of post-processing; .... and anything else anyone has to say.

I think I'm like everyone else - trying to get better!

These are taken with a Canon 10D in RAW format with a 75-300 4-5.6 USM lens.

http://www.lassiterlbc.org/gameshots/gatech/photos/a11.jpg
http://www.lassiterlbc.org/gameshots/gatech/photos/a17.jpg
http://www.lassiterlbc.org/gameshots/gatech/photos/a35.jpg
http://www.lassiterlbc.org/gameshots/gatech/photos/a48.jpg

Thanks for looking ....

[Drk Orange]

They all look good, but the first one is the more traditional sports shot - the emotion and strain on the faces makes it. (Maybe a little to cropped along the top, it'd have been nice to have their baskets/sticks/raquets whatever in frame.)

Onto the main question I have regarding shooting in RAW format:

Shooting moving animals in RAW mode on my 300D left me missing a lot of shots as I waited for the full buffer to be written away. I guess it would be worse with sport photography. Are the 10D write times faster than the 300D?

Cheers,
Mick.

[maderito]

The first two shots are best with action isolated and fairly well framed. The colors are excellent in all shots - accurate, saturated and lively. All images are a bit soft. Probably the lens itself; possibly camera shake. What were the shutter speeds? Did you try any shots in portrait mode to get the full height of the players with their lacrosse sticks elevated? I'm not sure what post-processing you did, but the results (color and tonality) are excellent.

Keep sharing. In enjoyed. :)

[manncer]

:D

I like one and two. Number two is sharp and creates tension and anticipation as the player manuvers for the shot and the goalie tensely sets up. Nice job

8)
manncer

[cecilc]

Thanks for the comments so far - I appreciate people taking the time to look and to respond ....
Let me try to address some of your specific comments and questions:

Are the 10D write times faster than the 300D?

Drk Orange, I really don't know - I've got a 1 gig RiData card that's supposed to be pretty fast as far as write time goes. I was shooting 3 and 4 frames at a pop sometimes; then would shift, recompose and shoot another shot without having to wait. I don't know if that answers your question or not, but I had no problems and never had to wait on the camera.

All images are a bit soft. Probably the lens itself; possibly camera shake. What were the shutter speeds? Did you try any shots in portrait mode to get the full height of the players with their lacrosse sticks elevated? I'm not sure what post-processing you did, but the results (color and tonality) are excellent.

I had the camera mounted on a monopod - and while that doesn't rule OUT camera shake, I'm hoping it was kept to a minimum. Shutter speeds ranged from 1/1000 to 1/1500 as it was pretty bright out there today. I did no portrait mode shots today - thought about it, but I would've had to abandon the monopod to take 'em. Post-processing consisted of exposure compensation in the conversion from RAW to jpg (most shots seemed to be underexposed by 1/3 to 1/2 stop) and some unsharp mask in PS7 - actually, I thought I had oversharpened them, but you still see some softness in them. Is it possible that they just aren't as sharply focused as I thought they were? Or, as you suggested, it may be the lens itself contributing to that "softness" ....

I do appreciate the comments ....

[CyberDyneSystems]

These look great the colors look spot on natural.. and yet brilliant.. not too subdued.

Very good work. Your definately taking advantage of the RAW files advantages with contrast and color.

[Jewel]

I love the first shot. Great color in all of them though. I also just got the Canon 10d and am loving it. I don't do alot of sport photography, but did try some windsurfers recently with my 400mm. Isn't digital great!!

Jewel