Shooting batters from the outfield

[tjketa]

I'm just curious if anyone has ever tried shooting a batter from over the outfield fence. Seems like you could get some good shots independent of whether it's a LH or RH batter. I realize the reach might be challenging for baseball, but probably not as much for softball.

I figure it probably isn't any better or we'd see more shots as such, but like I said I was just more curous than anything.

Tom

[droberts]

The main problem with this is range and low oportunity for additional shots. The game is based on players facing the infield. You want to be where you can capture faces during the plays rather than back of heads. Just up the firstbase line is where I like to get. You get most throwouts towards you, and since most batters are right handed you get to shoot them from the front. From that vantage point I can shoot the whole game with a 70 - 200. Although I do like having the 100 - 400 on a tripod for out field shots when big hitters come up.

[Doublea17]

I have not tried shooting baseball but have shot softball from outfield fence with my 300F2.8 with 1.4x attached the shots were ok it was just nice getting a differnt angle it was last game of season so didn't get alot of shots, I like being closer to the action, I will probably try again tomorrow if the rain stays away it will be my first time out for softball this season and team has double header so be able to get differnt angles.

[MJPhotos24]

Not from over the fence, but from the OF...
http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/mikejanesphotography/gallery-img-show?_bqG=12&_bqH=eJxLr3I2y8lOLvIuKXT2LSzISTfMKShPCdctK8i3MrSws DIytbJyj_d0sXU3AIIwPZdQvzDzqIBAA7UAkGgASDTTJNTdPNj VK6CqXM3dM97d0cfHNSgSmyYAa2kggA--

Problem has been stated, it gives you limited shots. I actually plan on doing this at an upcoming game just to do it and get different angles. I wouldn't spend more than an inning at this angle as I know what makes me money already, and it is not the shots you'd get from out in the OF.

Not mine, but also from the OF...
http://custom.photoshelter.com/c/brad/gallery-img-show?G_ID=G0000DepgvQMEn7c&_bqG=5&_bqH=eJyLLy_JcUrK9rPwC0oL8Qp2jc83cQso9c0qcS.2MjSzs DIytbJyj_d0sXU3AAKX1IL0skBf1zzzZLUAkKiau2e8u6OPj2t QJDZFAGujHJU-&I_ID=I0000i9AGFkGvuZs

Softball is a lot easier than baseball, especially if you have a 400 then you're set to go. Biggest concern is to not be distracting out there.

[tjketa]

Problem has been stated, it gives you limited shots. I actually plan on doing this at an upcoming game just to do it and get different angles. I wouldn't spend more than an inning at this angle as I know what makes me money already, and it is not the shots you'd get from out in the OF.

That's sort of what I figured, but I was really just looking at it from a different angle type of thing and as you said Mike, I wouldn't want to do it for more than an inning.

Tom

[chris270]

I did this a few times last year in a girls softball game where the fence is a little closer and only chest level.
http://www.rochesterccphotography.com/photos/346054510_4fJWX-M-1.jpg

[wesley_winterink]

I shoot over the fence a lot with a 300mm lens. I can't remember what the distance is at Iowa State but here are a couple of examples.

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_016.htm

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_017.htm

First game of 2009 is tomorrow, it'll be nice to be outdoors again if the weather will cooperate.

[tjketa]

I shoot over the fence a lot with a 300mm lens. I can't remember what the distance is at Iowa State but here are a couple of examples.

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_016.htm

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_017.htm

First game of 2009 is tomorrow, it'll be nice to be outdoors again if the weather will cooperate.

Great shots, especially "017.htm" -- love the facial expression on that one.

Tom

[bobbyz]

I shoot over the fence a lot with a 300mm lens. I can't remember what the distance is at Iowa State but here are a couple of examples.

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_016.htm

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_017.htm

First game of 2009 is tomorrow, it'll be nice to be outdoors again if the weather will cooperate.


Agree nice shots. I am going to try my 500mm f4 one of these days I can get off work early. Damn economy coming in the way.

[MJPhotos24]

I shoot over the fence a lot with a 300mm lens. I can't remember what the distance is at Iowa State but here are a couple of examples.

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_016.htm

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_017.htm

First game of 2009 is tomorrow, it'll be nice to be outdoors again if the weather will cooperate.
Yup, those are exactly the type of OF shots you can get that show it's worth it - alone with Chris' shot that I really like. If going after specific batters time it out so you spend the time getting the right ones and not out there too long though.

[FlyingPhotog]

I shoot over the fence a lot with a 300mm lens. I can't remember what the distance is at Iowa State but here are a couple of examples.

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_016.htm

http://www.winterink.com/IowaState/Softball001/softball001_017.htm

First game of 2009 is tomorrow, it'll be nice to be outdoors again if the weather will cooperate.

Those are great!

[customactionphotos]

from center field.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2490/234/49/1016526714/n1016526714_30117460_2262.jpg

[FlyingPhotog]

from center field.

Would be better with the bucket cropped/cloned out but wonderful capture.

Love the look on the Umps face. He's more suprised than the hitter! :lol:

[Zivnuska]

What kind of glass does it take to get a good shot from 400 ft (full baseball diamond)? Will a 300mm with a 1.4 or 2.0 TC do it? Longer?

[bobbyz]

What kind of glass does it take to get a good shot from 400 ft (full baseball diamond)? Will a 300mm with a 1.4 or 2.0 TC do it? Longer?

I don't know but I would say longest possible. 400 feet is long IMHO. I have to crop a lot when shooting from far side of football/soccer fields.

Here is a shot from behind the fence. It is almost full frame but cropped to 4:3 from 2:3 format. This should give some idea. Distance is < 100 feet.

http://www.bobbyzphotography.com/img/v2/p62539225-5.jpg

[Magic 24]

What kind of glass does it take to get a good shot from 400 ft (full baseball diamond)? Will a 300mm with a 1.4 or 2.0 TC do it? Longer?

So this may or may not help since it is Softball - 230 to 250 but here are two shots from center (slightly to the right). Shot with a 70 - 200 2.8 L and a 2.0 TC...I'm not at all happy with the results but kept them for maybe this reason, I don't know! And might I add - heavy on the cropping too!! Only fill 1/4 to 1/3 or the view/frame. Again - hope it helps.

[BenJohnson]

How does the catcher even catch the ball with her eyes closed?!?!?!

[DDCSD]

Hmmm.... this seems like a good job for a remote camera..... I love the results posted, but wouldn't want to spend the whole game out there.

[wesley_winterink]

Today I used my 1.4 converter with a 300mm and here are my results. I forgot to see what the distance was but I was in right center for these. The baseball photos are without the 1.4 converter.

http://www.winterink.com/CycloneFanatic/TexasTech/Softball01.htm

[wesley_winterink]

Hmmm.... this seems like a good job for a remote camera..... I love the results posted, but wouldn't want to spend the whole game out there.

I can easily get from center field back to behind the plate in between innings since there are no stands at Iowa State other than right behind the plate.

[TheMissouriShooter]

I'm looking forward to the arrivial of the 500mm f/4. I will post the results from shooting from the outfield.