more H S Baseball

[jimmywires]

this is the next night game...C&C welcome
1.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/jimmywires/High%20School%20Baseball/Grafton-Poquosonvarsity01.jpg
2.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/jimmywires/High%20School%20Baseball/Grafton-Poquosonvarsity02.jpg
3.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/jimmywires/High%20School%20Baseball/Grafton-Poquosonvarsity07.jpg
4.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/jimmywires/High%20School%20Baseball/Grafton-Poquosonvarsity11.jpg
5.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/jimmywires/High%20School%20Baseball/Grafton-Poquosonvarsity26.jpg
6.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/jimmywires/High%20School%20Baseball/Grafton-Poquosonvarsity39.jpg

[manutd101]

Nice shots, you seem to have a special look to these night shots, good work!

[jimmywires]

I think they turned real nice... thanks

[cstewart]

Jimmy: These definitely provide a unique angle but some diversity would be nice. Let's see some batter faces from down the foul lines. Shot 6 and 3 don't really do much for me but they would if you could get them from the other side and see their faces. Also if you are going to shoot from this point, let's see some more of the pitchers and their delivery.

Cheers!

Chris

[hudsonp]

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/jimmywires/High%20School%20Baseball/Grafton-Poquosonvarsity02.jpg




if i were this kids parents this picture would be printed very large and framed, very nicely done!

[dmwierz]

if i were this kids parents this picture would be printed very large and framed, very nicely done!

I disagree.

I applaud your efforts, Jimmy, and your timing is good, but Chris is right - you need faces on these in order to make them much better shots.

Ever see anyone frame a portrait of the back of their kid's head? Or a family portrait of everybody turned away from the camera?

Well, this is pretty much the same thing. Sure there's action, and they might recognize their kid's number, or even recognize him from the way he stands, but as in most people photography, the face is the most important thing to capture.

Move farther down the foul lines, and don't focus so much on the ball. Ball in frame shots rarely yield a face. Try for the follow through, or get the batter coming out of the box, heading to first base.

[pigtailpat]

Jimmy -

This type of shot, to me, is like a school yearbook-type shot where they want action to demonstrate the team generally. Insofar as parents goes, and I speak as a mom, not a photog, I would never plop down money for a shot like this where my kid's face is not shown.

If you had a yearbook assignment, this type of work is good, for parents, no.

Pat

[hudsonp]

as a sports fan and a father, that picture is awesome and i would love to have an action shot like that of my daughter when she is that age. the face doesn't need to be in the picture to make it a great shot.

[cstewart]

jimmy and hudson:

To further my comment and that of Dennis's and Pat's, here are a couple of shots that we are talking about for reference purposes. Judge for yourself, but personally I would prefer to have my kids face in the shot, even without ball in photo (BTW second photo was a HR swing).

http://www.cjscons.com/ghbaseball/jun26/bin/images/small/IMG_8432.jpg

http://www.cjscons.com/ghbaseball/jun26/bin/images/small/IMG_8442.jpg

[Sledhed]

I agree totally with Dennis, the shots would have a lot more impact if they showed the players face.

As for parents, it always amazes me what they buy and what they don't. I don't think I'll ever figure that question out.

[namasste]

I too agree with Chris, Dennis, and Pat. I'll add that they seem a bit underexposed to me. I think you are off to a good start with these and hopefully the comments here help.

[alphonsis]

Looks like it was an early evening to night game. I'm about to head off to the same lighting condition for a game this evening. Any tips on how to handle the lighting?

I like #5 the best. Great mood to it.

[namasste]

Looks like it was an early evening to night game. I'm about to head off to the same lighting condition for a game this evening. Any tips on how to handle the lighting?

I like #5 the best. Great mood to it.

you'll have a tough time with your gear Im afraid. I'd get there as early as possible and shoot warmups too. You can get lots of what many of us call safety shots during that time. Watch your backgrounds and isolate the athletes and you'd never know they weren't in a game situation. This way, you have something to fall back on. You should have good light for a while but once it starts to drop, I'd put the gear away and enjoy the game. The 50mm is too short most likely and you will probably find light lacking for the 70-300 even at max ISO. That said, don't be afraid to try, you might surprise yourself or at worst, learn the limitations of your kit. A flash would also allow you to shoot into the night if you wanted.

[Sledhed]

A flash would also allow you to shoot into the night if you wanted.

Not for baseball Scott!

[alphonsis]

Thanks for the info namasste.

This is purely as an exercise for myself and not as a job, nor to commemorate the game, so I don't have to worry about taking safety shots. =c)

In terms of gear, I'm guessing something like a telephoto 2.8 would allow me to get some shots?

[bobbyz]

Something different. Are these from behind the fence?

[jimmywires]

thanks everyone for your comments. I agree this is not the best angle, and they don't make for a great pic but they do sell I just wanted to show something different. this was the second game to the semi finals there were tons of people there i had forgotten how big high school sports were. I counted 12 photographers with the 400mm 2.8 standing ladders on the fence line the backstop was loaded with parents and girlfriends with there low cut jeans, belly shirts,and a thong sticking out. this country is going to hell !!!and i LIKE it lol

[dmwierz]

Not for baseball Scott!

Eeeyah, I was gonna say that. Flash + baseball = BAD!

In terms of gear, I'm guessing something like a telephoto 2.8 would allow me to get some shots?

A f/2.8 would be better, but even at f/2.8 you're gonna end up shooting at ISO1600 or ISO3200 (if your camera can do this) in order to keep shutter speeds >1/400s.

FWIW, even MLB parks struggle to get shutter speeds >1/640s at ISO1600 and f/2.8 .

[pigtailpat]

thanks everyone for your comments. I agree this is not the best angle, and they don't make for a great pic but they do sell I just wanted to show something different. this was the second game to the semi finals there were tons of people there i had forgotten how big high school sports were. I counted 12 photographers with the 400mm 2.8 standing ladders on the fence line the backstop was loaded with parents and girlfriends with there low cut jeans, belly shirts,and a thong sticking out. this country is going to hell !!!and i LIKE it lol


I'm curious Jimmy - how high up were they on the ladders (how do you even climb anything with a 400 in hand anyhow), and when you say there positioned along the fence line, where exactly? Like in the outfield part, between home and 1st, or between home and 3rd? Isn't it amazing how high school sports still triumphs over stuff like music & art eh? When I was in school I thought (mistakenly I might add - my opinion has changed like 360) the jocks were weird because all they cared about was winning. Ironic that I married one and created 4 more of them? I'm STILL trying to figure that one out :D

[jimmywires]

pat they had those mid size kitchen ladders(stools) I don't leave home without mine any more

[namasste]

Eeeyah, I was gonna say that. Flash + baseball = BAD!


You're absolutely right on that Dennis, I know of some who do this but in retrospect its bad advice from me. I usually put the camera away if lighting is so bad during a ball game that I'd need flash anyway so I really wasn't in a position to offer that opinion in the first place.

[dmwierz]

how do you even climb anything with a 400 in hand anyhow

This ladder has a platform you can rest a monopod on - a great choice when having to shoot over fences or glass (at an ice arena). You can buy it at most Big Box home centers or even at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/TriCam-Skinny-200-Pound-Four-Step-HSS-PL4-Y/dp/B000I32EEY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1215013649&sr=8-1

It's even "skinny" meaning not only will it be easier to tote around, but it'll also fit in narrower places (like penalty boxes) more readily.

[Paul S]

This ladder has a platform you can rest a monopod on - a great choice when having to shoot over fences or glass (at an ice arena). You can buy it at most Big Box home centers or even at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/TriCam-Skinny-200-Pound-Four-Step-HSS-PL4-Y/dp/B000I32EEY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1215013649&sr=8-1

It's even "skinny" meaning not only will it be easier to tote around, but it'll also fit in narrower places (like penalty boxes) more readily.


200-Pound Duty Rating - I wonder - Looks like a death trap for us guys with larger belt size then 36" :lol: