First Time Photographing Paintball

[Nate P.]

Went out to the field today, first time photographing paintball. Really tricky if you ask me, shooting through glasses and goggles, not to mention dodging paintballs while not shooting.

1. http://natephillips.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tag-paintball-0451.jpg?w=533

2. http://natephillips.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tag-paintball-191.jpg?w=600

3. http://natephillips.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tag-paintball-198.jpg?w=533

4. http://natephillips.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tag-paintball-205.jpg?w=600

5. http://natephillips.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tag-paintball-161.jpg?w=600

Thoughts?

[drmac]

I like #2 with the paintball in flight... Do you have a follow-up picture showing the player getting hit?

[Nate P.]

I like #2 with the paintball in flight... Do you have a follow-up picture showing the player getting hit?
I do not. As I said, first time, still kind of figuring out the best way to go about it.

[bReed]

Looks good for your first time, here are a few tips:
Try to shoot the player really tight but dont crop any body parts/gun/equipment out
try to get some action
and neer take pictures of there back side
But looks good, Keep it up!

[Richtherookie]

Look good to me, you got some paint flying which is always cool. The colors could be better. However, you didnt make the player dress in drab colors so you had nothing to do with it. I think if they had some nice bright jerseys on it would add. Just keep shooting. Your lookin good. I do like the "goo" on the right foot of the dude in #1.

[Nate P.]

Yea, colors could definitely be better. Was not a real match, just practice.

[troybal]

Yeah some good pics for your first time!

[Bobster]

nice catch on #1, he's out ;)

[pigtailpat]

I never understood the fascination with paintball, having had 2 of 4 sons so into it and paint melted all over the floor of the garage.....ugh..........

How do you protect the camera at these kinds of shoots, I would think it is so risky to shoot in these conditions..

[YORCHI]

I never understood the fascination with paintball, having had 2 of 4 sons so into it and paint melted all over the floor of the garage.....ugh..........

How do you protect the camera at these kinds of shoots, I would think it is so risky to shoot in these conditions..
it's a great rush...before the match starts you get all this weird adrenaline and then the whistle is blasted and you just start shooting and running for cover...

it's pretty fast paced and it let's you take some stress...running around for a day with a bunch of your friends shooting each other or other people is a great way to relax...

[Thomas G]

You did a great job for your first time. Way to go. Thanks for sharing.

[Richtherookie]

I never understood the fascination with paintball, having had 2 of 4 sons so into it and paint melted all over the floor of the garage.....ugh..........

How do you protect the camera at these kinds of shoots, I would think it is so risky to shoot in these conditions..

I can agree with you! I have a newer house. I hate the light blue siding, makes me wanna keep driving when i get near the house. But I can tell you that the nice bright lime green paint spots really makes it a nice look. I have paint on EVERYTHING! Hell I had a firre call a week ago, slammed my feet into my bunker boots and found that there were paintballs in them also. BUT, we play PB as a family. Nothing better than having my 7 year old daughter shoot me and feel like a champ. I take the good with the bad. I'd rather step in paintballs than find a bong in his room.

Again, nice shots. keep up the good work and please keep posting, i'd love to follow your posts and see how your getting better. Besides I am here to learn also.

[dsul413]

I never understood the fascination with paintball, having had 2 of 4 sons so into it and paint melted all over the floor of the garage.....ugh..........

How do you protect the camera at these kinds of shoots, I would think it is so risky to shoot in these conditions..

As a proponent of paintball, you'd have to play it to really understand the draw. The adrenaline the game provides is difficult to surpass - as a former wrestler, runner, and baseball player, paintball provided better thrills than any of those. I also played soccer and basketball before high school.

I'm sorry about the paint melting on your floor, that is just a bad place to store paint (if it is melting - it takes some pretty high temperatures to melt this paint).

For protecting the camera, most of us (if not all) throw a filter on the end of our lens as step #1. I'd rather a cheap filter break than my expensive lens. I also use a kata rain cover to protect the body of my camera.

[adblink]

have to agree with the above, its an adrenaline rush I have never experienced before. However we play a little differently. 99% of the images of paintball are of speedball matches (which is what gets sponsors, shown on TV etc) but we play woodsball (or bushball), normally with about 15-20 people.

Its not as fast paced off the draw, the whole idea is playing in a dense wooded area and having to hunt the other team down, as they are you. At often times you don't exactly know where they are at the beginning and have to take your time and plan out your strategy. I can't explain the rush of creeping, around in the bush, crawling around trying to be stealthy as possible hunting you the "enemy", knowing full well they could be right around the next bush trying to do the same thing to you. Its crazy.

Again a different type of game then speedball, but gets your heart pumping for sure. Plus its cheaper, lol normally don't go through half the paint the speedballers do. I've had a bunch of kills where thanks to patience/stealth I took guys out with one single shot then hid again. We get all decked out in the camo gear and what not, tons of fun :)

//edit lmao just remembered my avatar, thats me during one of the games last year.