Early Season Boys HS Soccer

[Big Hands]

High School soccer has started up once again, so I was able to get out and shoot a couple of matches. It will absolutely take a little time to get back on track with regard to timing and composition.

All shots taken with the Canon 20D and 70-200 f/2.8L. Comments and critique welcome and appreciated.

1-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120208/IMG_4468a.jpg

2-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120208/IMG_4035a.jpg

3-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120208/IMG_4148a.jpg

4-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120208/IMG_3977a.jpg

5-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120308/IMG_4570a.jpg

6-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120308/IMG_4609a.jpg

7-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120308/IMG_4674a.jpg

8-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120308/IMG_4714a.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Regards,
Jeff

[thekid5]

Great pictures. Where do you set up for soccer for most of your shots?

Are these cropped? With the 20D and 70-200 I am thinking you would only be able to get these kind of close shots on action in a small section of the field. I have a similar set up and shots of the goalie never fill up the frame.

[Big Hands]

Great pictures. Where do you set up for soccer for most of your shots?

Are these cropped? With the 20D and 70-200 I am thinking you would only be able to get these kind of close shots on action in a small section of the field. I have a similar set up and shots of the goalie never fill up the frame.

It's a popular misconception (IMHO) that the 70-200 is too short for shooting soccer. I think that many that feel that way may be shooting with 1.3x crop bodies and it may be just that much more challenging for them, but it works for me on my 20D.

I am a bit of a slave to sunlight as I feel like I want the best, most even exposure to begin with, so I set up with that in mind. In this case I was probably about 1/3 of the way up the touchline from the nearest goal line.

Good goalkeeper shots are challenging for me too.

99% of my shots presented here are cropped to some degree or another (some more than others). The goalkeeper shot was taken in portrait orientation which should give you some idea of the least amount of cropping I did ;)

But to show that I can decently (again IMHO) cover quite a bit of the field, here is a shot from the same position of a play at the goal at the opposite end of the pitch.

http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhs120308/IMG_4787a.jpg

I also like to shoot from behind the goal line if the light is there and I can get good crops all the way past midfield before they get lower than my quality threshold. YMMV, but I encourage everyone to at least give it a shot (pun intended) :lol:

Once I get my timing down, I frequently get well over 100 different keepers from a match and rarely move from a spot once I have set up there. For the money, I think the 20/30/40/50D series bodies with the 70-200 f/2.8L is best soccer combo going if you're able to shoot on the field. JMHO.

Thanks for the comments.

Regards,
Jeff

[namasste]

some of the best soccer I have seen all year. wb is odd in the first but other than that, these are spectacular.

[corythosaurus]

Best time to get Goalie shots is before the game during warm-ups.

Typically you can isolate the keeper very well as this is normally the keeper and one or two shooters.

[namasste]

Best time to get Goalie shots is before the game during warm-ups.

Typically you can isolate the keeper very well as this is normally the keeper and one or two shooters.

good point Cory. since the keepers take so many shots from the same spot, its very predictable so the captures are easier. here's an example of exactly what you are referring to...Cleveland City Stars keeper Eric Reed during warmups.

http://www.sephotos.net/img/v1/p402010172-5.jpg

[corythosaurus]

Not to hijack a thread.......but....here are a few...all taken during warm-ups.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc16/corythosaurus/280232359_img_0278.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc16/corythosaurus/IMG_0297a.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc16/corythosaurus/IMG_0153.jpg

[thekid5]

This idea works great if your trying to shoot only the goalie. I will have to use this for the next game. Unfortunately the girl I am trying to get shots is the sweeper. I have plenty of shots towards the side of the field I am shooting from, but not very "good" shots of her in action in front of the goal.

[chris270]

Don't know if this is in the U.S. but high school soccer ended weeks ago. Must be a warm weather thing.

[Big Hands]

chris270: It depends where you are. Here in SoCal, HS soccer is a winter sport. Some places, HS soccer is played in the spring.

Scott, thank you. That means a lot to me coming from you!

Good tips about getting GK shots pregame.

Thanks all for the comments.

Regards,
Jeff

[HighPixel]

Excellent shots! Nice action, nice exposure and composition.
Good job!
HP

[Drive4show]

Don't know if this is in the U.S. but high school soccer ended weeks ago. Must be a warm weather thing.


Yeah .. we're a fall sport. Good thing , too ... we have 2 feet of snow on the ground right now !:lol:


Great shots , though. Timing looks pretty darn good to me ! Can't believe you can even be better !!

G