My First Try at Baseball

[MulesAFpilot]

Well I had my first shot at shooting some baseball today. I was only out there for an hour (had to run some errands too). I just wanted to take a few shots and see what yall thought. The lighting was tough as there were clouds rolling through. Sometimes bright light, sometimes the overcast feeling. Any tips or critiques are always welcome.

Thanks

[Click for Larger]


1.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2121/2305969037_f4deb5ccea.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2121/2305969037_f4deb5ccea_b.jpg)

2.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2305984845_a9b469f5aa.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2305984845_a9b469f5aa_b.jpg)

3.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2185/2305986373_68cc10f838.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2185/2305986373_68cc10f838_b.jpg)

4.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2305976963_901569f649.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2305976963_901569f649_b.jpg)

5.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2076/2305970795_6b0ec80d7c.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2076/2305970795_6b0ec80d7c_b.jpg)

6.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2305982061_062cc31127.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2305982061_062cc31127_b.jpg)

7.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2306774236_8b70e81dd1.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2306774236_8b70e81dd1_b.jpg)

[MJPhotos24]

Gotta love those days...shot one game that was dark rainy, bright sun, perfect light, raining while bright and sunny, well you name it!

Anyways, 1) Whats the exif info? 2) what focal point were you using?

[1downfall]

Gotta love those days...shot one game that was dark rainy, bright sun, perfect light, raining while bright and sunny, well you name it!

Anyways, 1) Whats the exif info? 2) what focal point were you using?
I would critique them if I could....but I think they look great.:lol:

[JeffCanon]

Those are very good, but I have 2 critiques, first with #1 the angle is bad because of the 3rd basemen, move to your left to separation him from pitcher; Next most are cropped or framed just bit to tight

[namasste]

Those are very good, but I have 2 critiques, first with #1 the angle is bad because of the 3rd basemen, move to your left to separation him from pitcher; Next most are cropped or framed just bit to tight

oddly, I agree with the crop critique. I am usually a huge fan of really tight crops but these might be too much. otherwise, I really love the shots and think they are well composed and the exposure and action looks very good.

[MulesAFpilot]

Thanks guys on the comments. What type of crop should be used for baseball. Up until now, I've done football and basketball, which are good for tight crops. Is the crop ok in #7? After I looked at #1 more, I felt that the crop was too tight.

[namasste]

Thanks guys on the comments. What type of crop should be used for baseball. Up until now, I've done football and basketball, which are good for tight crops. Is the crop ok in #7? After I looked at #1 more, I felt that the crop was too tight.

my opinion is that you are just slightly too tight. I wouldn't get crazy with it, just a a little wider would do it for me, maybe include just a little background to give a sense of the venue and what was going on.

[Chris Talley]

Thanks guys on the comments. What type of crop should be used for baseball. Up until now, I've done football and basketball, which are good for tight crops. Is the crop ok in #7? After I looked at #1 more, I felt that the crop was too tight.

I disagree with most of the people telling you to crop looser. Here's my $.02 on your cropping.

1) Too tight, I like to leave some leading space on pitchers when shooting from the side.

2) I would crop a bit top to bottom.

3) Crop tighter width wise.

4) You clipped his toe and heel which bugs me.

5) Crop tighter width wise.

6) Crop tighter height wise.

7) Crop tighter width wise.

[MJPhotos24]

In my personal opinion you need to up the shutter speed, drop the f/stop - without knowing the settings I can't tell and give a full evaluation to know if you did that or not since your gear goes to f/4. There's motion blur when there shouldn't be and with that background it's distracting (all the other players), mixed with the pics being in good light it looks like my guess is both are off. Colors and action are fine, though I'd delete the last one personally just because it's not good for the hitter and no client would use that....the other ones would be iffy just because no eyes. If at all possible (and sometimes it's not) to get lower and get those eyes I would try.

[MulesAFpilot]

Well for the f stop, I can't do anything about that, other than dropping some cash that I don't have. I had my lense wide open for the zoom that I was at and only got f/5 - 5.6. I'll up the iso so I can get the faster shutter speeds. The getting lower, isn't possible. I got as low as I could.

Thanks everyone. I'm really appreciative of these comments.

MJPhotos - do you photograph the Battavia Muckdogs? We had a player or two from my university (Central Missouri) play there a few years ago.

[JeffCanon]

Thanks guys on the comments. What type of crop should be used for baseball. Up until now, I've done football and basketball, which are good for tight crops. Is the crop ok in #7? After I looked at #1 more, I felt that the crop was too tight.
Cropping to 8x10s
(1) ½ inch more on both sides
(2) good as
(3) good as
(4) ½ inch more on bottom
(5) ½ inch more on top & bottom
(6) good as
(7) ½ inch more on top & bottom

[MJPhotos24]

Well for the f stop, I can't do anything about that, other than dropping some cash that I don't have. I had my lense wide open for the zoom that I was at and only got f/5 - 5.6. I'll up the iso so I can get the faster shutter speeds. The getting lower, isn't possible. I got as low as I could.

Thanks everyone. I'm really appreciative of these comments.

MJPhotos - do you photograph the Battavia Muckdogs? We had a player or two from my university (Central Missouri) play there a few years ago.

I started with a similar lens, shooting at 5.6 every game. What ISO did you have it at? Hard to critique not knowing the settings most of the time.

I've been the Muckdogs team photog since 1999/2000 (think 2000 officialy). I believe Josh Outman was from CM, but can't remember anyone else off the top of my head.

[MulesAFpilot]

Here's the EXIF data.

1.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 1/2500 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 235 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV

2.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 195 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV

3.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 195 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV

4.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 300 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV

5.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 185 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV

6.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 180 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV

7.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 210 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/2 EV


Yes, Josh Outman went to Central Missouri. Great pitcher. I guess that's why he's working his way through the minors towards the MLB.