Boys Soccer form today

[Greg_C]

A few shots from my sons soccer match(es) today. Let me set the scene, Brisbane is a sub-tropical climate, except for those rare days when we do get a little dose of winter. Today it was 8dec C outside and blowing a gale. Add to this that the start time was 8am. Aaron plays in the 5A's (10yrs) as keeper and the boys came back to earth after a magical game last week where they won 8-0. Not so good this week it was a 5-1 loss, but they all played well against a team that is 1 year older than them. My son wears an articulated knee brace, which can be just seen in some of the shots, as he currently has a ruptured ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament).

Shot with either a 70-200 F2.8 IS or a 100-400 Comments Welcome, Some yucky backgrounds I know.:(
No.1 Penalty shot
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image21853.jpg

No.2 Top corner - a little OOF I know.
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image21854.jpg



The 5B's playing straight after were short so my son backed up to play another game. This time he played Centre-Midfield and managed to score his first goal. His team eventually won 2-1. I got heaps of comments about missing this shot from the other parents. I missed it as I was too busy being a dad and not a photographer, my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Aaron's not as nimble since his knee injury but manages to hold his own most times.

No.3 Can't catch me
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image21855.jpg

No.4 Tackle
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image21856.jpg

No.5 Corner Kick
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image21857.jpg

[asysin2leads]

Greg, please don't take this the wrong way, but shouldn't the DOF be deeper? I would think those 2 lenses are notorious for good DOF. Just curious. I'm sure you've shot more sports than I have.

Kevin

[Greg_C]

Greg, please don't take this the wrong way, but shouldn't the DOF be deeper? I would think those 2 lenses are notorious for good DOF. Just curious. I'm sure you've shot more sports than I have.

Kevin
I guess you mean shallower, not deeper? I was wondering if someone would pick up on this. I'm only just learning about shooting sports. Yep normally there would be more OOF area and both on these lenses can do a lot better. I was shooting the 100-400 in AV at 6.3 (stopped down a tad) and then when I swapped to the 70-200 I forgot to open up a little. 3 & 4 were with the 70-200. Today was the first time I'd used the 70-200 at a game and only used it for 3/4 of the match as I wasn't getting in close enough.

Is this more like what you were expecting?

Big crop on this one.
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image20124.jpg


http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image21431.jpg

[wakko]

Hi Greg...

I LOVE 2,3 and 5 the best!!! excellent capture of the action! :)

[asysin2leads]

I guess you mean shallower, not deeper? I was wondering if someone would pick up on this. I'm only just learning about shooting sports. Yep normally there would be more OOF area and both on these lenses can do a lot better. I was shooting the 100-400 in AV at 6.3 (stopped down a tad) and then when I swapped to the 70-200 I forgot to open up a little. 3 & 4 were with the 70-200. Today was the first time I'd used the 70-200 at a game and only used it for 3/4 of the match as I wasn't getting in close enough.

Is this more like what you were expecting?

Big crop on this one.


Yes, that's what I meant. Sorry, it's been a VERY long day. I really like the last picture (one with the hat). All the pics are good, btw.

[Nick C.]

Nice shots, Greg. I agree about opening up the aperture and would probably recommend getting down a bit lower (for 3 and 4 especially) like the first pic in the second pair.

Love the expression in #4!

Poor little fellas must have been eager to get out there and start running around this morning.
I bet Aaron enjoyed his first goal.

[MCTuomey]

I like these, Greg. #1 needs big-time cropping, assuming you want to center attention on the keeper rather than the gaping goal. #2 looks like focus locked on the pickup. That horizon on #5 is dizzying, no? Heavier crop, maybe? And I agree with shooting with the widest aperture possible. Knocks out some of those tough backgrounds, or at least helps a bit.

I'm amazed your son's playing with that ACL. Hope all goes all well for him.

[Greg_C]

I like these, Greg. #1 needs big-time cropping, assuming you want to center attention on the keeper rather than the gaping goal. #2 looks like focus locked on the pickup. That horizon on #5 is dizzying, no? Heavier crop, maybe? And I agree with shooting with the widest aperture possible. Knocks out some of those tough backgrounds, or at least helps a bit.

I'm amazed your son's playing with that ACL. Hope all goes all well for him.
Thanks Mike, with no 1 i was actually going for the futility of a 10yr old trying to stop a penalty kick - the goal is a huge area for them to cover. No2 - exactly what I thought. When I edited no 5 I looked at the Horz. and ignored it:oops: - I straightened for the field to prevent it looking like he was kicking up hill (which he probably was:confused:).

As for the ACL, his specialist was keen for him to try to get active again, as were we. There are limits to what he can do though, he loves Ice Skating but this is way off limits. Basketball season is soon and this a bit of a grey area. They don't want to do the ACL repair until 14 or 15 as this will allow him to be more fully grown, any repair now would just have to be redone at 15 we've been told. He was on crutches for 6 weeks last Oct. after the initial surgery to repair the torn meniscus that happened at the same time as the ACL, he hated that.

Anyway thanks for the comments.

[MCTuomey]

Greg, your son's prognosis is similar to my son's relative to MCL damage: rest, heal, moderate activity, monitor. No surgery at a young age (until growth is much further along). Best of luck to him - he looks confident over that ball!

Re: PK shooting - not that I'm expert but for PKs I always try to situate myself along the touchline at the top of the 18. The angle dramatizes the diving of the GKs that usually occurs. Except only 50% of the time do they dive in the right direction :lol:

[Greg_C]

Greg, your son's prognosis is similar to my son's relative to MCL damage: rest, heal, moderate activity, monitor. No surgery at a young age (until growth is much further along). Best of luck to him - he looks confident over that ball!

Re: PK shooting - not that I'm expert but for PKs I always try to situate myself along the touchline at the top of the 18. The angle dramatizes the diving of the GKs that usually occurs. Except only 50% of the time do they dive in the right direction :lol:

Cool, thanks for that tip. I can imagine that the angle would compress the posts more so you'd get both in the frame without the wide expanse of space I have.