Non-league footie (soccer)

[DarrenL]

I've not posted any images in a while so here are a few non-league footie images. I've not shot a day game yet this season, only night games and the lighting is pants. I don't think I've found my groove yet and am not hughly happy with the results.

Honest advice, comments are more than welcome. I've also open for night, noise removal tips. I've been playing around with Neat Image on some.

Exif should be intact for those bothered.

#1
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/290920071.jpg

#2
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/290920072.jpg

#3
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/290920073.jpg

#4
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/290920074.jpg

#5
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/290920075.jpg

#6
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/290920076.jpg

#7
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/290920077.jpg

Darren

[ArcticEOS]

I'm seeing alot of pixeltion here, most likely due to the low lighting I assume. I like that 3rd one alot.

[DarrenL]

Thanks Arctic,

The first 5 are very pixley due to extremly heavy rain (which I was also in) and ISO 3200. I use a 1D which is known for large amounts of noise after ISO 1000.

Darren

[gmen]

Very tough conditions Darren. Good to get any sort of result under that sort of lighting. Hope you find yourself at a Saturday match soon!

Won't be long before the hoops starts as well and some more great lighting to deal with :lol: However, I have to say I'm looking forward to it... I think my first scheduled game is on 22nd September (unless I'm despatched to a friendly match before then).

---- Gavin

[DarrenL]

Hopefully soon Gavin. I'm trying to get my name out this season and really push my self to try something new. I tried live uploading for the first time the other day. A steep learning curve and also need a new laptop battery, Photo Mechanic and Photoshop really punish it.

I also really need to streamline the entire workflow process and add a noise removal process into the mix for night games. It takes way to long at the moment and the results are far too inconsistent.

Also tried a few stadium photos, not happy so far but I need to try something new.

Shoreham FC
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/28082007shorvsseaf036.jpg

Southwick FC
http://dlactionimages.co.uk/forumimages/21082007soutvslitt038.jpg

I'm not sure if you know but you have 2 London based sides in the BBL now. United as always and the step across from EBL to BBL for the PAWS (London Capital). Hopefully you may get a few more bookings, fingers crossed.

Darren

[gmen]

Hopefully soon Gavin. I'm trying to get my name out this season and really push my self to try something new. I tried live uploading for the first time the other day. A steep learning curve and also need a new laptop battery, Photo Mechanic and Photoshop really punish it.

I also really need to streamline the entire workflow process and add a noise removal process into the mix for night games. It takes way to long at the moment and the results are far too inconsistent.

I'm not sure if you know but you have 2 London based sides in the BBL now. United as always and the step across from EBL to BBL for the PAWS (London Capital). Hopefully you may get a few more bookings, fingers crossed.

DarrenCheers Darren,

The pitchside workflow does a take a little time to develop - so practice at non-critical events will certainly help. A long-life laptop battery is also very handy!

I'd noticed that the PAWS had entered the BBL. Sadly their home venue is on the other side of London to me so it might not open up too many opportunities, but it will add a few local derbies to the London United schedule.

I had the pleasure of meeting Pops Mensah-Bonsu earlier this week - he's part of the GB team and usually plays for the Dallas Mavericks:

http://www.photoshelter.com/c/tgsphoto/gallery-show/G0000CaBhRiVLkts

Got me back in the basketball spirit ;)

---- Gavin

[DarrenL]

I did a double take and thought I saw Darren Bent, then I realised it was him.

Darren

[cpo13]

County League level grounds with a 1D in the pouring rain? - you did well to salvage anything in those conditions. I've used Neat Image on some 1DMkII shots from similarly poorly lit High School stadiums with some good results - didn't use much other than the default settings and it made a difference. This is where 6400 on the MkIII would come in handy :)

As for the stadium shots, I think you need to borrow the 15mm from Gavin or go high/low to get something a bit different. To be honest those 28 & 30mm shots just look like something you'd get from a P&S.

[DarrenL]

Thanks Chris,

A MKIII would be perfect, if only it were a wee bit cheaper! Oh well, I'll keep slugging away.

Thanks for the comments on the stadium pics. I was trying something different during half time, mainly so my body did not have a chance to realise how wet and cold I was!!

It's a case of trial and error I feel. I'm just trying new things. I agree a 15mm would be peachy. I plan to pick one up in Feb (along with a MKII) when I'm in the US.

Darren

[gmen]

It's a case of trial and error I feel. I'm just trying new things. I agree a 15mm would be peachy. I plan to pick one up in Feb (along with a MKII) when I'm in the US.At the smaller grounds, decent 'stadium shots' are a bit hard to come by. You might be able to find some interesting features here and there. I seem to recall an interesting turnstile block/entrance at Eastbourne Town (the Saffrons?) which was quite photogenic.

The 15mm certainly comes into its own at the larger grounds and I quite like the effect on a 1.3x crop body... it's not tooooo distorted:

http://www.photoshelter.com/c/tgsphoto/gallery-img-show?G_ID=G0000eeDRnvo5Ydo&start=12&pagtotal=60

It's a lens that I initially had my doubts about but I use it a fair bit nowadays. Sigma make one as well that gets good reviews and might save you a few pounds Darren.

---- Gavin

[DarrenL]

Thanks Gavin.

A 17-40 is another lens I'd considered as it will probally prove more useful than the fish. I agree though, non league grounds would look a bit pants with a ultra wide, lots of parked cars, buildings, railway lines and houses!

The Dons stadium looks wicked, hopefully the new Brighton stadium might look similar in about 3 years!

Darren

[KIPAX]

Darren I have the 17-40 stuck on my 10d luverly for ground shots.. I did have the sigma 17-35 but sold to get the canon 17-40l .. As all ground shots can be samey and as gavin says ya need to look for summat different.. I think night matches add a bit..

These with the sigma at 17mm and 10d.. the second one is gmen inspired :)
Bury, Darlington, Cambridge Utd and Wycombe wanderers (from car park)


http://www.kipax.com/gfx/portfolio/grounds.jpg

[DarrenL]

Nice images Kipax, I really like the 2nd one.

Darren

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Darren,

I think you have done well there....am well aware what challenges the 1D present in low light!! Importantly you're capturing some strong action (2 and 4 in particular) so once you have that mk2 you'll be flying.

With regards the comments that you made around noise reduction, I can't comment on Neat Image (only ever briefly tried the trial version) however it is probably much the same as Noise Ninja. The best advice I did get was to use the "Fade Noise Ninja" option after you have used it in Photoshop so lessen the impact slightly and reduce the likelihood of getting the "toy man" plastic effect.

Off onto wide angles, I'd seriously recommend the 17-40 Canon....just picked one up and its fantastic, great for stadium views especially. Was at the Challenge Cup Final last weekend and was astounded at the field of view that it has at the 17mm end. That said, as Gavin said, there is something fantastic about the distortion the 15mm gives.

Anyway, back to your photos - good work....can't wait to see the results when you get to a daytime match!!

[DarrenL]

Thanks for the comments Paul, as silly as it sounds, kneeing there in the poring rain, my knees sinking into the mud, trying to angle my cap so the water ran over my poncho and trying keep my laptop and rest of my bag dry it reminded me that I'm a stuburn bastard some times. I felt like a proper photographer! I must be delusional.

I really need my waterproof case to arrive, it means I won't forget to stool again and can sit on the case.

I was really trying to avoid the plastic 'toy man' look but it's a fine line between too much and too little. Thanks for the fade tips.

Darren

[snapzz]

Darren
I use CS for captioning with the NoiseNinja plugin. This means I crop edit & caption using one program. Works a treat and enables me to save to folder which I just upload with Cuteftp. You do get used to having a 300mm balanced over your shoulder with your second body & 70-200 hanging around your neck while trying to download and edit pics.All this with one eye still trying to follow the action. :D

I also use 16-35 f2.8L which I find just offers that little extra over the 17-40L.
With the Mk3 now available there should be some reasonable Mk2 & Mk2n's on the S/H market at good prices.

Easy to spend other peoples cash! :rolleyes: :D:D:D

[DarrenL]

Thanks for the advice Graham.

Spending money is somehting I've never had a problem with though!

Darren