2nd attempt at baseball - Final Home Game

[Aaagogo]

Finals are around the corner, so I took a break

30D with 70-200 2.8 IS, full in-field access, EXIF Data intact...

I want the 300 and 400 so bad for baseball

Fixed my watermarks :)

1.)This was a dangerous one, the batter lost his bat and it landed a couple of feet away from me. I was scared that it would hit my lens
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8029/img5999lk7.jpg

2.)Still new to baseball, saw this play develop, 3rd base coach told him to stop at 2nd, but he kept running.

Even though i saw this play developing, I couldn't get a good capture of this slide... CRAP
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9276/img6113af9.jpg

3.) Can I claim a BOB on this image, even though it's a Bunt :p
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/826/img6053fs5.jpg

4.) I'm going to try to practise timing swings and stuff, but i kinda like the "after the ball has been hit" images
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2487/img6054hz7.jpg

[Aaagogo]

The next 4 are just the pitchers, their timing is much easier than trying to get BOB shots.

5.) Our team starter, but he didn't get the Win cause he got switched out in the middle of the 5th inning for giving away 3 runs
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4811/img5832bl2.jpg

6.) Next came a series of relief pitchers, they gave away a run or two here and there
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5672/img6098vk4.jpg

7.) this left handed pitcher is hard to catch, cause of the way he throws, his hand gets in the way during the release.
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3075/img6032nr3.jpg

8.) I've got to learn more about baseball, this pitcher came up on the last inning, with 2 outs on the board, 1st and 2nd base filled, pitched the last batter out and got big credit for saving the team :confused:
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2278/img6134sx2.jpg

[pigtailpat]

Very nice - I'd do *practically* anything to get field access like this :rolleyes:

I know what you mean about #7 (lefty). I have a lefty son, and still trying to catch him properly.

Pat

[ChromeThunder]

All very nice images, but I'm finding the placement of your watermark to be distracting. Part of what I value in sports photography is the story the facial expression of the athlete is able to tell, and having the watermark in the center of the image takes away from this.

Very impressive regardless.

[Aaagogo]

Hey Pat,

I was looking at your posts, you have access to the infields too but in some of your posts, you mentioned restricted access.

I would assume that other parents know that you are taking pictures at the games, have the other parents seen your work? Personally, I feel that these mindless concerns of taking pictures of their kids at sporting events and possibly kicking up a big fuss and all that. It's these things that is making this country going gay very very fast - IMHO

anyway, show them your work, of your child and theirs, maybe do a meeting before the game, or do a little write up and hand a printed copy to the parents at the game.

As for field access, just do it, inch into the spots that you feel will give you the best angle AND AT THE SAME TIME, STAYING AWAY FROM DANGER.

My way is the "wrong" way of approaching things, many would say, but my character is such that I care more about results then the process.

I just showed up and did it, I post my images on facebook (popular among college kids) and the players saw the images, and probably showed them to the coaches and so, people know what I do and they let me do what I do.

I didn't ask for any permission or jump through the hoops to do all that, I just put myself out there and see where it leads me.

Very nice - I'd do *practically* anything to get field access like this :rolleyes:

I know what you mean about #7 (lefty). I have a lefty son, and still trying to catch him properly.

Pat

I'm still working on fine tuning of the placement of the watermarks, I put the images on facebook as well, so to prevent theft, namely from my college's Athletics department, and the possibilty of that whatever Orphan image Act... etc, I had to go with watermarks...

i value the facial expressions alot too, that's why till date, I'm not at all excited at getting that BOB shots

All very nice images, but I'm finding the placement of your watermark to be distracting. Part of what I value in sports photography is the story the facial expression of the athlete is able to tell, and having the watermark in the center of the image takes away from this.

Very impressive regardless.

[gromeo]

Hey Pat,

As for field access, just do it, inch into the spots that you feel will give you the best angle AND AT THE SAME TIME, STAYING AWAY FROM DANGER.

My way is the "wrong" way of approaching things, many would say, but my character is such that I care more about results then the process.

I just showed up and did it, I post my images on facebook (popular among college kids) and the players saw the images, and probably showed them to the coaches and so, people know what I do and they let me do what I do.

I didn't ask for any permission or jump through the hoops to do all that, I just put myself out there and see where it leads me.





I will have to argue your point of view, there are reasons rules are in place, main reason is SAFETY not only for the photographer but for the players. I just got done covering the FHSAA district softball and baseball in my area, I had to call ahead of time to get a media box painted in, just past 1st base and 3rd base sides where I would be shooting. This is needed as it is considered a dead zone, this area if ball comes there it is considered out of play, if I were to be standing there without this box and a ball came I would've been called for interference. I do alot of LL baseball for a action pic company, we had to get permission from those league commissioners to be on the field and we had to provide liability ins and proof.
So my feeling is get permission if something happens it makes you look bad and that trickles down to our profession.
My 2 cents

Roomeo

[pigtailpat]

Hey guys-

The only extra access I get is the part of the dugout the players go when they await their turn to bat (and only for my son's team - I've gone to the other side's dugout spot on occasion - they don't say - but I think they think I'm a spy or something). Never at any time have I gotten direct on field access. The safety thing is a big deal. At the time I started shooting the games, the very young minor league (professional ball) coach was killed by a freaky pitch/line drive last year. The safety concern is a big deal, and I won't push the issue. I just have to upgrade the equipment so I have longer reach to satisfy what I'd like to achieve, while maintaining safety for everyone.

Pat

[AdamLewis]

Ive got to second that you should never just "go ahead and do it". That will get you nothing but a bad reputation.
IMO, field access isnt worth it anyways. I never shoot from on the field except in Softball where I have to stand on the field somewhat to get any shots of action.

[Aaagogo]

no money to get the 300 2.8 and 400 2.8, else I can stay clear of the field.

I know, my way is the wrong way, maybe in my shoes, you guys will do the same?, but nvm, all is good. there's always more than 1 way to get things done.

but i'm wondering, while the top level sports have areas designed for photographers to be at, so that they can be at the optimum angle along with the appropriate equipment, how about those sports facilities that either do not have such designs when built or are just purely for recreational purposes? It has Catch 22 written all over it.

then you have the people that can give clearance, if they give you the clearance and if anything goes wrong, their butt is on the line, so the less they do, the less chance of getting into trouble.

I'm liking that Dead Zone idea and I will put it forward to my new photo editor for my newspaper.

New photo editor comes new changes and I will probably not have to do things my wrong way come next semester :)

[gromeo]

Aaaggo, the media box that is drawn against a fence has nothing to do with a photo editor these boxes are controlled by the home team and then it is up to them to either allow or not, but it is required by the ump and refs if a photog is to be on the field of play. A photo editor can just save the photog time by being the one that calls the team coach to let them know that a photog will be there to cover the game and ask for a media box.

[Aaagogo]

that i understand, that's why I'm happy that there's going to be a new photo editor for my college newspaper. The photo editor deals with the SID

it's a really really long story about my college newspaper and the old photo editor and EIC, even the kid that shoots regularly for NASA during shuttle launches (including remote setups) and various Space photography magazines feels the exact same way as I do about the out going photo editor and EIC, but i'm so glad that all is going to change come next semester, well, not certain of the changes but at least there will be an attempt to get things changed.

A photo editor can just save the photog time by being the one that calls the team coach to let them know that a photog will be there to cover the game and ask for a media box.

[vetkrazy]

Aaagogo:

Things must be pretty lax at your college. You try to "inch" on to our field and the SID will have security escort you to an appropriate area. And since he controls media access for the entire college you can kiss that goodbye also. There are solid reasons for the rules that are in place. If you want to be a professional act like a professional and then you will be treated as a professional.

Just my .02 also

[Aaagogo]

i understand that what I'm doing it not the right way, but if you were in my shoes, you would understand how messed up the out going EIC and Photo Editor is, along with the under table dealings they have with the SID.

If jumping through hoops would work, I would have. but it didn't and I had to do what I had to do to get my practice in.

I have noted all the advice given and myself and my new photo editor will work on doing things the right way.

Let's just stick to the images alrighty :)

[tim1960]

I guess that all schools have different rules concerning this. For the local HS that I cover, I get permission from the head coach and he lets the umps know. I've never had a problem with the umps and they are OK with me being on the field during warm ups. During the game, I have to stay in the dugout or to the outfield side of the dugout which is kind of behind first base or third base depending on which side I go on. I make sure that I wear a neutral color shirt and no team hat so that whichever dugout I'm in, there is no talk of me being a "spy" or anything of this nature.

I've been covering the team now for two years and have never had any issues with the umps or any coach with taking shots during the game. I do make sure though that I respect the coach's and ump's durnig this time so that I can continue this coverage.

[bobbyz]

Question about media box - Is this just some marking on the field where the photg can sit/stand for shooting purposes? Can someone show some picture.

[sponserv]

Hey Pat,

I was looking at your posts, you have access to the infields too but in some of your posts, you mentioned restricted access.

I would assume that other parents know that you are taking pictures at the games, have the other parents seen your work? Personally, I feel that these mindless concerns of taking pictures of their kids at sporting events and possibly kicking up a big fuss and all that. It's these things that is making this country going gay very very fast - IMHO

anyway, show them your work, of your child and theirs, maybe do a meeting before the game, or do a little write up and hand a printed copy to the parents at the game.

As for field access, just do it, inch into the spots that you feel will give you the best angle AND AT THE SAME TIME, STAYING AWAY FROM DANGER.

My way is the "wrong" way of approaching things, many would say, but my character is such that I care more about results then the process.

I just showed up and did it, I post my images on facebook (popular among college kids) and the players saw the images, and probably showed them to the coaches and so, people know what I do and they let me do what I do.

I didn't ask for any permission or jump through the hoops to do all that, I just put myself out there and see where it leads me.



I'm still working on fine tuning of the placement of the watermarks, I put the images on facebook as well, so to prevent theft, namely from my college's Athletics department, and the possibilty of that whatever Orphan image Act... etc, I had to go with watermarks...

i value the facial expressions alot too, that's why till date, I'm not at all excited at getting that BOB shots

WTF? Its what things that are making this country going gay very very fast? Just was wondering about your own humble opinion.