Evening/night baseball...

[MT Stringer]

I shot two high school games yesterday evening. Lighting for the first game started with daylight and ended up under the lights. The second game was all lights.

The action in these two games was no where close to the games from last Saturday. It became obvious to me pretty quickly both games would be kinda lopsided...and they were.

Here's a few pics. All shot with a 20D and the Siggy 120-300 f/2.8.
Mike

Good pitcher - shut the opponents down.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Baseball/BB1-650.jpg

Lots of baserunning in this game...at least for this team.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Baseball/BB-2-650.jpg

He tried hard but was no match for the other teams bats.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Baseball/BB-3-650.jpg

A no-doubter! This ball jumped out of the park in a heartbeat!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Baseball/BB-4-650.jpg

[Carjo]

1. I like this viewpoint.
2. The runner's left foot is a bit soft. At 1/640, I assume it would be a DOF issue.
3. The fielder on 2nd Base is a bit distracting. It would have more impact if it was just the pitcher and the runner that is watching him as he is waiting for the right moment to steal.
4. Nice composition. :)

Generally, you did well. Nice work. :)

[bobbyz]

I like these. How do you like the Af on 120-300mm f2.8?

[Sledhed]

2. The runner's left foot is a bit soft. At 1/640, I assume it would be a DOF issue.

It's motion blur, not a DOF issue.





3. The fielder on 2nd Base is a bit distracting.

That's first base, not second.

[MT Stringer]

Yeah, the runner's foot is soft due to f/2.8. The bottom three pics wre all shot at ISO 3200 f/2.8.

I thought the second baseman (and right fielder) being partially in the picture added impact to the picture because it is obvious the runner is stealing third because the second baseman is still in his crouch. At 300mm, they are out of focus.

My favorite of these four pics is the pitcher checking the runner on first base. The light gave just a highlight hint on the first baseman's glove and he and the runner are out of focus. The nighttime shot was more dramatic than daytime. I attempted to reproduce this shot yesterday afternoon, but it just doesn't have the impact of the night time shot. This one is much better.

I got some more pitcher shots yesterday but none as good as the first pic.
Mike

[MT Stringer]

How do you like the Af on 120-300mm f2.8?

Here is an example of quick autofocus with a 20D and the Siggy. The picture ain't much to look at but...

I was standing at the end of the first base dugout. The batter hit a bullet down the first base line. I turned and shot as the first baseman dove and stopped the ball. It was hit so hard, he got up and easily trotted to the bag before the runner even got close.

This is the full image with no cropping. Obviously, I was too close on the shot - no time to react. Just turn and shoot. I checked the focus point. It is in between the bare hand and the glove, in the sand, just out from the knee towards the chalk line.

Even though the pic is kinda krummy, I was very happy that it focused so quickly.

It was a crummy day, overcast with rain threatening. The lights were on, thus the higher ISO.

ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/2000 sec., 209mm

Mike

[bobbyz]

Thanks Michael.