FA Cup Semi-Final... Knock-out football action

[gmen]

Just spent a very enjoyable afternoon shooting the Semi-Final of the Women's FA Cup between Charlton Athletic and Bristol Rovers - here are a few of today's offerings...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al003.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al002.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al004.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al005.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al001.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al006.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al007.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al008.jpg

[gmen]

...and just realised I had a shot of some serious N***n 'chimping' going down during the game as well...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al009.jpg

Identity disguised to protect the innocent!

[bigrob]

Maybe he tore his hair out because he didn't invest in Canon :D

Some great shots there by the way.

[hammered]

gmen,

I'm just starting to get serious about my photography (moving from taking good happy snaps to getting some better equipment and taking things seriously!), and these shots you have posted are what I would like to aspire to taking.

Could you let me know what equipment you used to take these shots (body, lenses), and also what settings were used (shutter speeds, apertures), if you can remember?

cheers!

[gmen]

Maybe he tore his hair out because he didn't invest in Canon :D

Some great shots there by the way.

Certainly much easier to chimp on Canon gear!

[Dr Dré]

I can't believe the quality of these shots. I'm way out of my depth here! :D

[gmen]

gmen,

I'm just starting to get serious about my photography (moving from taking good happy snaps to getting some better equipment and taking things seriously!), and these shots you have posted are what I would like to aspire to taking.

Could you let me know what equipment you used to take these shots (body, lenses), and also what settings were used (shutter speeds, apertures), if you can remember?

cheers!

Really pleased you like the pics hammered... Most of the shots were taken with a 300mm f/2.8L + 1.4x extender on a 1D MkII (the exceptions are shots 5 & 9 which were taken with the same lens combination on a 1D). Exposure was 1/1000s, f/4 at ISO640-800.

[hammered]

Really pleased you like the pics hammered... Most of the shots were taken with a 300mm f/2.8L + 1.4x extender on a 1D MkII (the exceptions are shots 5 & 9 which were taken with the same lens combination on a 1D). Exposure was 1/1000s, f/4 at ISO640-800.
Thanks!

I am thinking of purchasing a telephoto zoom lens soon, hoping to get some shots like yours.

Everyone raves about the 70-200mm (f/2.8 or f/4), but in your opinion and using all your sports photography experience, do you think 200mm is sufficient for standing on the sideline at a football match (or other field/court sporting events), or do you think I'll need to go up to 300mm (or even 400mm), to get the really good shots?

I've only been using a 90mm standing on the sidelines at the moment and haven't been able to compare 200mm v 300mm.

cheers

[freddycr]

Awsome shots ...that Mark II is really worth it's price !!

[Incomplete Pete]

200mm is pretty much sufficient for football, especially if you sit at the goal line, I took these two with a 70-200 f2.8 L IS , although I do often use a 1.4 TC with it.

http://eclipse.smugmug.com/photos/16939230-M.jpg

http://eclipse.smugmug.com/photos/12778791-M.jpg

[gmen]

200mm is pretty much sufficient for football, especially if you sit at the goal line

Absolutely. If you're shooting in and around the goal area a focal length of between 135mm and 200mm is probably the ideal.

The benefit of a longer focal length (300mm+) is that it puts a greater proportion of the pitch within 'reach' as well as isolating the subject from the background more successfully. Obviously composition becomes that bit trickier but the results are worthwhile.

The ideal situation is to shoot with two bodies. I sometimes have a 70-200mm f/2.8 or a 135mm f/2 on a second body that I pick up when the action gets too close. Here's a couple of examples from another match last weekend shot on the 70-200...

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al010.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/al011.jpg

As a first choice go with the 70-200 but try to add the 1.4x extender as soon as you can. Unfortunately this will get you itching for longer glass... sorry...

[Incomplete Pete]

Yea, I keep sitting down and figuring out the cheapest way to buy a 400 f2.8 L IS.....