Question about shooting Baseball

[beichh4046]

If you are focusing on the batter, where do you like to zero in with your AF point? I always try to zero in on the nose. But, I always seem to miss those tack sharp images.

I zero in the same way for the pitchers. Curious as to how others approach it.

I shoot with 70-200 f2.8 USM IS lens. I'll shoot anywhere from 3.5-5.6 depending on the scene. Sometimes I'll pop off a few in a row, sometimes I'll concentrate on just one shot per swing or pitch. I always have the IS on. Could this have any effect?

[snyderman]

I figured out something yesterday shooting my first baseball ever--if you focus BEFORE the action takes place, it's almost certain that the players face has moved since focus! I was trying to get tack sharp pictures of a pitcher whose dad I work with. Again, because the focal plane of his body moves throughout the pitching motion, his face was not in (even) good focus when the action I wanted to capture was taking place.

Need to regroup, rethink and develop new strategy. Look for my post with pics that says first 'crack' at baseball ever for pics from a total rookie at baseball photography. This way, you might avoid some mistakes!

dave

[Sledhed]

I focus on the players chest, when they swing they usually stay in the same plane. Almost always shoot wide open and usually a short burst of two or three frames. Turn the IS off, it doesn't do anything for the shutter speeds you need for baseball plus it will slow your focus down just a little.

[Ron V]

I focus on chest/torso and it seems to work well

[Dan-o]

Same as the others. I shoot at F4 usually so center point at the chest will get it done.

[bobbyz]

I tried my 300mm f2.8 last evening. Center Af point on the chest for batters and pitchers, shot at f2.8 and no problems with focus or DOF. This was using AI servo of 1dmk2.

[dmwierz]

I do a "focus lock" via the back-button focus on the chest (or the hands) during the warm-up swings then leave the focus alone and concentrate on timing the pitch.

As opposed to Chris, I rarely shoot a burst for batters. The ball comes at the batter way too fast. While I leave the camera in high-speed burst mode all the time, and sometimes I accidentally take a burst but the first shot is always the keeper.

Now, shooting the batter's follow-through after hitting the ball (breaking out of the box, for example) is another story. Here's where the burst can be worth using, to maximize the chance of getting the best facial expression. This is something Chris does very well - his batter follow-through shots are excellent.

[bobbyz]

Dennis - What apertures you typically use?

[liam5100]

I focus on the players chest, when they swing they usually stay in the same plane. Almost always shoot wide open and usually a short burst of two or three frames. Turn the IS off, it doesn't do anything for the shutter speeds you need for baseball plus it will slow your focus down just a little.

I experimented a little with focus points today. When I shot in Portrait for really tight crops of the batters I selected the focus point immediately to the back of the center point. That way when the batter moved forward I caught more of the swing without having to adjust my aim on the fly.

[dmwierz]

Dennis - What apertures you typically use?

I mostly shoot batters wide open. The only time I'll stop down is when I might be anticipating a play at second base (a stolen base or a possible DP turn) and want the increased DOF. As long as there's nothing distracting behind the batter (and especially when shooting a 400mm lens) you won't lose much subject isolation when stopped down.

Which focus point is used is almost irrelevant because I lock the focus before the pitch is thrown (via the back focus button) then I don't touch it again until the next pitch.

[bobbyz]

Dennis - Thanks.

[pointstores]

It sound like you need to be more of a baseball expert than a photo expert to get this right

[westside8]

It sound like you need to be more of a baseball expert than a photo expert to get this right

I'm no photography expert, in fact I am just getting into it and a friend told me about this site. However, as an athlete, I think to shoot sports, you need a certain amount of understanding of the sports, and to a certain extent anticpate what is going to happen to be able to capture some good shots.

[xn2b8r]

It sound like you need to be more of a baseball expert than a photo expert to get this right

Not necessarily an expert, but the more you watch batters, the more you recognize when they're about to swing, and how long it takes them to get the bat around from the time you first notice them starting to move. It's different for different batters, too, so the more you watch, the more you learn.

Like poker, some batters have really obvious "tells."

PS#1: I don't know jack about poker.

PS#2: I focus on the chest and shoot wide open.

[wesley_winterink]

I do a "focus lock" via the back-button focus on the chest (or the hands) during the warm-up swings then leave the focus alone and concentrate on timing the pitch.

As opposed to Chris, I rarely shoot a burst for batters. The ball comes at the batter way too fast. While I leave the camera in high-speed burst mode all the time, and sometimes I accidentally take a burst but the first shot is always the keeper.

Now, shooting the batter's follow-through after hitting the ball (breaking out of the box, for example) is another story. Here's where the burst can be worth using, to maximize the chance of getting the best facial expression. This is something Chris does very well - his batter follow-through shots are excellent.

I'm happy to say I do the same thing as Dennis except I only get to shoot softball so the outfield fence is closer. But I try to shoot a short burst and just try to get my first shot as the ball passes the plate. You just get used to the batters tendency and can time it pretty well. Then I just hope for a good facial expression on the follow through!

I also have a stepstool that I use to be able to see over the fence and I try to be slightly left or right of center depending on if it's a lefty or a righty.

Edit: I forgot this was the sports talk forum so am posting link instead of photos.



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

[bobbyz]

Some nice shoftball shots.