Group Shot @ Game

[1shot4u]

Deleted The Pic.

[cstewart]

Not sure what you were going for here, but this would have been better if you could have gathered them and posed them for more of a casual team photo, instead of just a random snapshot of most player's backsides as they are about to go on field. There is nothing happening in this photo so not sure why you are showcasing it here.

Also, what's with the vignetting? It really does not work in this case. Again, maybe if it was a formal or semi-formal team photo it could work, but in this case it just looks like you were using it to try and turn a bad snapshot into something more than it really was.
I assume you added this after the fact but if this is actually happening with the lens you are using then there is a problem there that needs looking after since it does not appear that this is a super wide or fisheye lens that was used.

[cecilc]

Yea ... I gotta agree with all that Christian said, and add ....

Waaaaaaay too much depth of field in this shot, too ... I mean, the fence in the background is in focus.

My opinion only, but this shot shouldv'e just been deleted .... There's nothing going on and nothing to really look at ...

There's only one face that you can see, and somebody is actually standing in front of one of the other guys that are presumbably on the team.

I think we'd all like to know what you see in this shot that would inspire you to post it here .... (at least, I'd like to know!) ....

[1shot4u]

First of all I hope the both of you are giving me constructive words. Sounds like your bashing me. I am really a beginner here, trying to learn. It's people like you two that screws the whole world up. I liked it, and I guess thats all that really counts.

[Harleypugs]

I don't think they are bashing....I see some good ideas in their posts.

I am not bashing you...so this is my advice:

You need to get closer to your subject. You need to get less backs in the shot. This is more of a snapshot then a photograph. Not real sure what happened with the vignetting but it doesn't work.

[1shot4u]

Thank you for your advice, I will take it to heart. I'm still trying to figure out the do's and don'ts. TY

[convergent]

I have to agree with the others... not sure what you were going for here. Maybe if you told us what you were trying to show with this shot it would help. When I hear "group shot" and sports, then I kind of think I'm going to see a team lined up in some pose or lose gathering that would let me see them all. As the others said, this is mostly backs of people from far away. What were you shooting for and what did you like about it?

[cstewart]

Ty:

Not bashing you at all and I take offense to your comment about "people like you that screw the world up"...you posted a photo in a forum that is by design a place where people go to get better at shooting sports. It was not clear to me why you posted the photo. From a sports perspective it tells no story, it shows no action and it hardly shows any faces or other identifying things that would make me, or anyone on that team more importantly say "hey, great shot". And my advice on the vignetting was a technical comment...it does not add anything so why use it. My apologies if you viewed these comments as anything but constructive. Stay around here long enough and you will learn a ton from some great folks who give freely of their advice and time. I know I sure have.
Chris

[cstewart]

Thank you for your advice, I will take it to heart. I'm still trying to figure out the do's and don'ts. TY

Here are some do's to keep in mind:

- get faces, grimaces, emotion etc.
- get a moment of key action
- get ball, puck, football, whatever object is being played with in shot
- get main subjects in focus and use a DOF that helps blur backgrounds and isolate main subjects (ie 2.8 - 4.0)
- get exposure correct
- get all of the above in one shot and you will have a nice sports photo!

[convergent]

Here are some do's to keep in mind:

- get faces, grimaces, emotion etc.
- get a moment of key action
- get ball, puck, football, whatever object is being played with in shot
- get main subjects in focus and use a DOF that helps blur backgrounds and isolate main subjects (ie 2.8 - 4.0)
- get exposure correct
- get all of the above in one shot and you will have a nice sports photo!

True, but I'm not sure that many of those are necessary for a sports "group" photo to be good.... maybe "get faces", "get main subjects in focus", and "get exposure correct".

[Viffer06]

Thank you for your advice, I will take it to heart. I'm still trying to figure out the do's and don'ts. TY


I have to agree with all the comments given thus far. Keep in mind that your audience here has advanced knowledge on basic photography - not the point and shoot types (nothing wrong with that of course).

However, there are some "guidelines" not RULES (IMHO) in Photography. Go out there and experiment.

For Guidelines, I'd suggest keep this on your top of your TO DO LIST:

There's a big difference between TAKING and MAKING PICTURES. Practice MAKING pictures and your shots will get better.

You're already there, Keep it up!! :)

[1shot4u]

Cstewart, I am sorry for the comment I made earlier. I guess I haven't been here long enough to realize you guys are helping me to get better. Again thanks.

[cecilc]

First of all I hope the both of you are giving me constructive words. Sounds like your bashing me. I am really a beginner here, trying to learn. It's people like you two that screws the whole world up. I liked it, and I guess thats all that really counts.

Ty:
Not bashing you at all and I take offense to your comment about "people like you that screw the world up"...you posted a photo in a forum that is by design a place where people go to get better at shooting sports. It was not clear to me why you posted the photo. From a sports perspective it tells no story, it shows no action and it hardly shows any faces or other identifying things that would make me, or anyone on that team more importantly say "hey, great shot". And my advice on the vignetting was a technical comment...it does not add anything so why use it. My apologies if you viewed these comments as anything but constructive. Stay around here long enough and you will learn a ton from some great folks who give freely of their advice and time. I know I sure have.
Chris

Ty .... I've looked through some of your other posts and threads where you've posted an image and people have commented on them ... And your response to any comment that was regarded as "negative" about your image was basically the same as it was here - defensive.

Look again at the responses here - no one has "bashed" you. What they have given to you is their perception of your image and what it lacks or what could have made it better ....

Chris is absolutely correct is his assessment of that image: "It was not clear to me why you posted the photo. From a sports perspective it tells no story, it shows no action and it hardly shows any faces or other identifying things that would make me, or anyone on that team more importantly say "hey, great shot"."

Other posters have given you much the same response ....

The quickest way to stop people from commenting on your work is to get defensive and then start insulting them for the comments they make ....

I personally don't think that either Chris or myself are screwing the whole world up ... and as much as I'm honored to be lumped in with Chris, Chris may be totally offended at being lumped in with me on that accusation! :)

But rest assured - I will not post any more critiques of any more of your images ....

[1shot4u]

Please read my last reply. I think I did say I was sorry for the remark, and as for you I am also sorry if I offended you. I realize I screwed up and for that I said sorry.