Milb Baseball photos C&C please

[sportsphotos]

I took these with the 30d canon with the cheap 70/300mm f/5.6
I had the lens open to f/5.6 ISO 200 and Shutter betweeen 1000-4000

I dont know if the EXIF is inbeaded with the file but they were all shot in Manuel. It was a sunny day I didnt use a hood or filter. Yes they are wearing pink jerseys

please tell me what you think and What I maybe have to camera set at

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6231/052by0.jpg
By ncstateguy79 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/ncstateguy79), shot with Canon EOS 30D (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+30D&make=Canon) at 2008-07-30

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1729/050jn2.jpg
By ncstateguy79 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/ncstateguy79), shot with Canon EOS 30D (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+30D&make=Canon) at 2008-07-30

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3113/040sm8.jpg
By ncstateguy79 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/ncstateguy79), shot with Canon EOS 30D (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+30D&make=Canon) at 2008-07-30

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3174/005wg9.jpg
By ncstateguy79 (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/ncstateguy79), shot with Canon EOS 30D (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+30D&make=Canon) at 2008-07-30

[thescottandrew]

well, the pics are a little small to give a good c&c, but on the first one it looks the camera had a difficult time with the bright pink jerseys and the dark black backdrop. other than that, i would upload some bigger photos so we can get a better look ;)

[TheSportsGuy]

well, the pics are a little small to give a good c&c, but on the first one it looks the camera had a difficult time with the bright pink jerseys and the dark black backdrop. other than that, i would upload some bigger photos so we can get a better look ;)

Agreed, some bigger pics will help.

Two things, nice avatar......... and GO PACK! :D

[johndevane]

SportsPhotos,

I've looked at the posts that you've looked at, (by your comments) and you should be able to see where your photos are lacking. I think you're sincerely looking to improve, so I'd like to give you some harsh critique. I received much of the same from this forum, so I'd like to repay..

1. The crop has the pitchers foot cut off, and it's obviously during warm-ups based on the outfielder in the background. Way too much sky in the top of the photo. You've got that nice black background, and plenty of crop room, so crop smaller to eliminate the outfielder and the sky.

2. Basically the same.. crop out #9, the outfielder, and the sky. The pitcher is our focus.

3. Crop tighter to eliminate the players sitting, the catchers glove, and so much field on the bottom. Also, when we can't see the batter's eyes it detracts from the image.

4. Crop tighter. No need for all that field.

Now, to the more important issue... Don't crop now, crop before you take the picture. These all look a bit soft. The pitcher looks okay, but he's too far away in the picture to really tell. The batter and the outfielder throwing are both way too soft to be considered great. (Again, "great" is what I'm assuming you're after.) It seems you are too far away from the action and these photos have been cropped too much, which degrades the picture, or it might be your technique.

On the pitcher shots you were at 230mm, and obviously right behind the fence. Being relatively close to the pitcher helped your exposure to be sharp(er). On the batter shot you were at 300mm and obviously far away. (in your seat on the right field line?) On the outfielder you were at 230mm, and closer to the fielder than the batter. I'd be willing to bet your seat was somewhere behind first base, and the outfielder shot was of the right fielder throwing to his warm up guy between innings.

So why do I mention all of this? The lesson is to 'fill your viewfinder'. Your shots will look better. On the pitcher shots and the outfielder you could have been at 300mm. On the batter shot, you'd have to fill the viewfinder with your feet, by moving closer.

The guys said above, they want bigger pics... What they probably mean is to fill the viewfinder. That's step 1. You'll notice a huge improvement when you do. Enough for now. (My kids are screaming at me to watch 'So you think you can dance') How embarrassing.

Regards,

John.

[MJPhotos24]

#1 - Noone can tell you what settings beyond what you probably know - use manual or AV if necessary. It's not the pink jersey's throwing off the camera as someone suggested it's the fact they are exposed wrong. You can view the images after you take them so do so (chimping is not evil I proclaim!)

#2 - Framing is a big issue, as John said do it while you're shooting. Sure most pubs want crop room but there's such thing as too much. The pitcher/catcher shots you want to be to the side and not so much of the catcher, I think I know what you're going for but about 3-4 feet to the left would have been the best bet so the catcher is in the lower right hand corner.

#3 - the batter shot from that angle just doesn't work much. He'd have to pop it up and then that makes the batter look bad - so you get no face or him looking bad, either way it'd be a delete. Down the baselines are the best place to shoot batters.

OF shot is the "dead arm" look, not very appealing in pitchers and position players. I've only seen a few that look decent IMO. To much green as said, get closer if possible.