Paintball Ball Break XPSL Fresno

[rampdphotography]

I had a chance to photograph a paintball tournament in Fresno, California called the XPSL. The tournament is held fri-sunday, sunday being the Playoffs and the finals. There were many teams that entered the tournament, i believe it was around teams total. There were 3 divisions, Rookie, Young Gunz, and Novice. The weather wasnt really that bad it was a steady 90 degrees and a really fun place to be if you were a paintballer. There were teams from Vegas, Los Angeles, and Arizona. Ages ranged from 13 years old to about 50 years old. I took some really nice shots but this one had to be my best.

This picture was taken at the young gunz level which is players under the age of 15. This player was the last of a 3 man team and when he came out and shot, he exposed himself a bit too much and the other player just tagged him rihgt on the guns feed neck and on the goggles. The shot was perfect, but with all that paint i think he got hit more than once. If you figure these guns shoot like 15 balls a second so if you get hit once your probably going to get hit the the other 2 that are following. Let me know what you think about the photograph. thanks in advance.

http://www.rampdphotography.com/images/potn_xpslf.jpg

[waveyuk]

I really like it, great timing. Can you let us know what settings / equipment you were using?

[Jimmyhickey]

Great timing good job capturing the paint splatter. It's a shame the kid didn't have better form so you could see a bit more of his mask and the paint would be splattering on his face rather off his shoulder but there is nothing you could have done about that, once again great picture.
The yg games at XPSL seem to go so fast:P

[dsul413]

Great shot. I agree with Jimmy, with better form who knows what the shot would have looked like. Either way, GREAT timing, good colors, I like it.

[rampdphotography]

Thanks alot Im glad you liked the image. Yes with better form it would of been a really nice shot but like you said nothing i can do about it. I am using a Canon 30d with a 70-300mm ultrasonic image stabalizing lens. Nothing too good. Just using what i got. The colors were nice on the player. Yes, those young gunz games go by really fast especially the 3 man.

[alien1993]

Nice. How was the tourney?

[PaintballPhotography.com]

Hi Christian....

All I can say about this picture is....WOW !!

[rampdphotography]

Thanks Gary, but its me Andrew Mendez I was the one that took the shot. I sent you an email with the larger image.

[flashmat2]

Cracking capture, and great colours too.

With better form, the player may well have not been hit ;-)

[PaintballPhotography.com]

Opps sorry about that Andrew :oops::o

I guess we all look alike with our paintball masks on

[Jim G]

Awesome splatter. Nice capture :)

[rampdphotography]

Thats true though if the player had better form then I dont think i would of gotten that nice splat. The players jersey was also great in color, yellows reds and blues.

[DwightMcCann]

I really like it, great timing. Can you let us know what settings / equipment you were using?
The information is in the EXIF data of the image.

[chrono300]

this is a killer shot, makes me want to get out there and try and get one. this one is just about as great of a breaking paint shot as you can get.

[DwightMcCann]

this is a killer shot, makes me want to get out there and try and get one. this one is just about as great of a breaking paint shot as you can get.
Yup, I finally had to order a 1DMIII today ... you guys are much too good and I can't compete without the latest/greatest! :oops:

[chrono300]

heck I only use a 30d and a Sigma 70-200 2.8 most of the time. Well that just changed I got my 40d last night and can't wait to get it on the field.

Andrew for the short time you have been doing this you are doing a great job, keep it up.

[DerekPb]

amazing shot

[rampdphotography]

Thanks alot, that really does mean alot to me. Especially hearing it from people that have been shooting for 5 years or even more. I got very lucky on this shot. The camera i use is a 30d also just like Mike, but now Mike got the 40d. I want to see that 40d in action. I just hoped that this shot could be seenn in more places than just a forum and a website. HhhaHA. All the input frm you guys has been really great. I got this image printed and wow it looks awesome, the colors are really vibrant.

[chrono300]

Thanks alot, that really does mean alot to me. Especially hearing it from people that have been shooting for 5 years or even more. I got very lucky on this shot. The camera i use is a 30d also just like Mike, but now Mike got the 40d. I want to see that 40d in action. I just hoped that this shot could be seenn in more places than just a forum and a website. HhhaHA. All the input frm you guys has been really great. I got this image printed and wow it looks awesome, the colors are really vibrant.

It is not luck when you get a shot like that, it is right place right time. You put yourself in the right place at the right time so you earned the shot. Keep it up and remember shooting for the magazine is not an end all be all that it sounds to be. I have shot for just about every paintball magazine out there in the past three years and it really is just an ego stroke....don't expect to get rich from it!

[rampdphotography]

Ya i understand. Thats true about the ego stroke. Im going to upload some more pics on this thread of the fresno event. Hey Mike, post some of your pics. Hey and what were the chances of that young gun player rocking both my stickers. HahhAh. I also just added some wallpapers to the website check them out and let me know what you think. just add a .com at the end of the name.

[jdev]

absolutely amazing shot.

definitely spot on with right place at the right time. I was out photographing today at a local field and focusing more on getting tighter on players as well as trying to watch the field to see who I thought was going to get shot. there were a couple of times I could have had something similar to your shot, I was just a hair too slow on the shutter. one day I'll get that illusive splatter shot ;)

keep up the good work.

[rampdphotography]

I actually dont go out there concentrating on a break shot. That one, like you guys said right place at the right time. I have other nice shots that i will post that i get in really tiight on the players and try to get more than 1 or 2 players shotting in the same direction and in the same frame. I also like getting dive shots, and getting shots when you can see the ball come out of the barrel. Sometimes you can get a splat but some paintballs dont give out that much paint, but on this pictures i think that he got hit with more than 1 paintball.

[jdev]

I actually dont go out there concentrating on a break shot. That one, like you guys said right place at the right time. I have other nice shots that i will post that i get in really tiight on the players and try to get more than 1 or 2 players shotting in the same direction and in the same frame. I also like getting dive shots, and getting shots when you can see the ball come out of the barrel. Sometimes you can get a splat but some paintballs dont give out that much paint, but on this pictures i think that he got hit with more than 1 paintball.

yea. if any paintball photographer stepped on the field for the express purpose of getting that splatter shot, they may be fairly unproductive during the day.

I do the same as you. Trying to keep tight on players and get multiple players in a bunker (though its a little different with east coast ball, most people will not double occupy a bunker, or be in the same frame with someone who is) and i've got a couple nice dive pics (check page 2 of sports for paintball - new england paintball league, plus later tonight I will have a new gallery up).

[rampdphotography]

Here are some more photos that i took while in Fresno Xpsl.
This is what i was talking about trying to get 2 players in the same frame. I took 2 pictures one was zoomed and focused in to the backplayer and the front player blurred and then I took a pic of the front player in focus and the back player blurred. Let me know what you think and which you like better. Or is there any other way to get both players in focus. thanks in advance
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_2.jpg
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_3.jpg
This shot is of the players right at the beginning of the game. People call it a breakout. I like taking these shots since it gives out a natural shot. They have no time to pose hahaha.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_4.jpg
This is a picture of a player wearing a mirrored lense. I like the effect that the mirror lens gives and i particularly like this players nice he uses alot of yellow and red. And i also like the red around the goggles.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_5.jpg
This is a shot of the same player from the first image but instead hes FLYING!!!!!! I thought this was a pretty funny image since the player is actually airborne like 3 feet.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_6.jpg
Here is a picture of Mike from Chrono 300. A hard days work.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_7.jpg
This picture looks like he shot 2 balls but the second balls hit the other ball making the 1st ball explode. Alil confusing.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_8.jpg

[rampdphotography]

Sorry there was so many images. I like to get feedback on the different types of photos I take. Let me know what you guys think.

Player laying down at the snake.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_9.jpg
Another player at the snake, but if you look carefully you can see the focus in his eyes.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_11.jpg
I wish i could have got that break on that guy. I liked the bright orange all over his face.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_10.jpg

[jdev]

Sorry there was so many images. I like to get feedback on the different types of photos I take. Let me know what you guys think.

Player laying down at the snake.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_9.jpg
Another player at the snake, but if you look carefully you can see the focus in his eyes.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_11.jpg
I wish i could have got that break on that guy. I liked the bright orange all over his face.
http://www.rampdphotography.com/potn/xpslfa_10.jpg

love all 3 of these. love how you get down to the players perspective to see it how an opposing player may see them. first picture is my favorite. the orange spectra lens always makes for a good picture.

[rampdphotography]

Sometimes players dont know that those lenses look really nice on camera. Those lenses are a magnet to photographers. I like to get some bounce images off the lenses. Very hard since i only have 1 body a 30d I have to keep changing from a smaller lens to my bigger lens. But sometimes its all worth it.

[jdev]

Sometimes players dont know that those lenses look really nice on camera. Those lenses are a magnet to photographers. I like to get some bounce images off the lenses. Very hard since i only have 1 body a 30d I have to keep changing from a smaller lens to my bigger lens. But sometimes its all worth it.


exactly, they are a magnet. maybe its my ADHD and shiny things.. ;)

I did the same thing today. In the ones I just posted there are some that have some pretty good reflections in them.

[rampdphotography]

I guess all photographers like shiny things hahahaha. I know i seen the pics they were nice but get a bit closer to the players. I left a reply on your other thread. If you want to see more pics of mine check them out on my homepage. I will try to find some cool pics that i took at the other tourneys.

[chrono300]

Ok I gotta have that picture of me it is perfect for my new site at the end of the year.

[rampdphotography]

hahaha. Ya will do. Ill send it over. What size do you want it in?

[rampdphotography]

Hey Mike any opinion on the 2 top photos? Which is better or how can i get them both in focus?

[DwightMcCann]

The picture of Chrono sures looks like Chrono! :-)

[chrono300]

The picture of Chrono sures looks like Chrono! :-)

Why thank you!

Lets see I really like the X-Bomb shot (maybe a bit closer same angle I like seeing the goggle frames in the shot) and the Rock Star break out shot is right on. All of the shots are fine it is just a small case of slightly off angles and you are trying to hard to get the entire body in the shot, in other words get closer.

It is really hard to judge them the way you want without seeing the full size image. Don't rush it trust me you are on the right path it just takes time behind the camera to find what works for you. Establishing your own style is very important to make you stand out. I am known for a certain style of action shot (I am talking about my magazine work not the filler stuff on my site) as Gary is know for his in the face style. Trust me it is just a time issue, you are already a year ahead of me in the learning curve, back when I started the old hats would not even talk to a new photographer. I am a bit different in that way because I really feel that I do not have any compitition because I do not make a living off of this.

You asked if I would post some of my stuff up and I will tonight but it is going to be the non used stuff from Boston (I am not allowed to post anything I submit until the magazine comes out). That is why you hardly see me post anything here because by the time I am allowed it is already old stuff....the didgital age is so fast.

[rampdphotography]

Thank you alot of good info. I tried to fill the frame with the player, but next tourney i will get closer and get those really close shots. I appreciate all the help your giving me Mike and everyone who has critiqued. Thanks. Cant wait to see your pics. I have some other shots that i took whre i just staged a lil shoot with paintballs ill post themup.

[OneEyedJack]

now im questioning my reason for not going to fresno :/

I need to get that camera of mine back on the field and off of all the cute girls

[~jouyoku~]

Fantastic shot

[rampdphotography]

Thank you. Hey sometimes cute girls are fun to photograph hahahaa