Newbie needs some C+C

[Kcussbuc]

I am shooting with an XTi and an 85mm 1.8. I've shot a few of my kids games, and, quite frankly, I am clueless.

I don't want to blame my equipment, because I am the sole and exclusive problem. My only complaint with the XTi is that I can't judge whether a picture is good or bad based on the XTi screen at all. As a result, I bounce around from setting to setting and return from a game with 200 pictures and 3 keepers.

I generally shoot in shutter priority with either sunny or auto white balance. Because I am using a prime, I am constantly moving around the field and this has me thinking about investing in a 70-200, but, again, I don't blame the lens, as it makes great pictures when I am in a more calm environment.

I am well aware that my composition is weak and my pictures are not good. I have read plenty on the web about how to do this right, but I am finding little success. Any comments (the truth never hurts!) or tips would be much appreciated.

Six example shots are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13648949@N04/?saved=1

[joe20d]

i think you'll get more c+c if you post pictures in the thread.
my only c+c is to crop tighter

[Kcussbuc]

Here are two of the files - I would post more but don't want to violate the TOS.

[eigga]

The first one is not bad, the second is focused somewhere in the background.

Try shooting from a lower angle.

I get much better pictures form the younger kids when positioned by the goals. Then you get faces as they run at you. IMO the younger guys are the hardest because they are always bunched together and rarley break away.

[vetkrazy]

Not to be picky, but it would also help to have the exif data for these shots. You should have zoombrowser on your camera cd's. You can check your focus point with this program. The 85 f/1.8 has a razor thin dof so you need to be careful with aperture. And as eigga said get down with the little kids. Either on your knees or on your butt.