first time shooting soccer

[clarence]

My youngest son's first soccer game. And my first attempt at shooting soccer. And my first time shooting with the 100-400mm... (Canon 40D)

1.
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7166.JPG

2.
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7187.JPG

3.
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7252.JPG

4.
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7266.JPG

5.
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7287.JPG

6. Halftime...
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7288.JPG

7.
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7306.JPG

8.
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7389.JPG

[Gmerg]

Good clean pictures. You certainly did better than my first time out! Keep it up!

[Big K]

Nice shots, first time or not. Good job shooting from a low perspective and nice exposures especially in challenging light.

#6 is far and away my favorite. Great vision to spot that frame.

[Big Hands]

Clarence, for your first time shooting soccer, you've done very well and are far ahead of the curve with regards to actually shooting. You've shot from a nice perspective, they are mostly well timed, sharp, with good contrast, exposure and color and lots of great facial expressions with good backgrounds (whether or not you actually chose them). The following is more critical than I would offer many first time soccer shooters because I think you're ready to get to these points although it is just my personal opinion of the way I would present (most of my critique is on your presentation since your captures are actually pretty good) these particular shots.

** First thing I would say is to consider abandonong the idea that all have to be cropped at the same predetermined ratio. Many of these would show better if cropped tighter. It would allow for removal of distracting non-essential elements and it would also allow you to make the subject more prominent (larger). Elements that don't add to the composition many times detract from it.

1 - See ** I'd crop this one tighter on the top, left and bottom.

2 - Interesting composition. Aside from the focus actually being on the net more than the keeper (your only shot where the focus missed), if this is cropped this way due to it being shot this tight, then it is what it is. Personally, I kind of like it.

3 - Nice, well timed capture. Great timing and well exposed, especially considering the side lighting. ** I would crop this one about 3/4" on the left, about 1/2" off the bottom and about 1/4" from the coach's outside foot.

4 - Another excellent capture, but I'd level the horizon about 1/2 degree clockwise and crop it to within about 3/8" of the subject all the way around.

5 - Yet again, another well timed capture. I'd crop tighter on both the left (lose the player in the background) and the right.

6 - The horizon and trees leaning slightly catches my eye first, but otherwise, considering it's likely cropped this tightly on the sides because that's all there was in the original, I like this composition. If that's not the case, I would have cropped looser on the sides and tighter top and bottom. I definitely like the idea though.

7 - I'd crop this one tighter on the sides. The ref in the BG suggests this is a real game, but could stay or go. Either way is fine with me.

8 - OK, this is a tough one. I love the expressions on the kid's faces, but between the kid's elbow being lopped off (on the left and too much space on the right) and the timing of the whole thing, this would be a shot that I classify as a "near miss". A potentially good one at that, but a near miss just the same.

JMHO.

Well done overall and thank you for sharing. Looking forward to more!

Regards,
Jeff

[clarence]

Thanks for the feedback!

consider abandonong the idea that all have to be cropped at the same predetermined ratio

Yeah, I should probably run 2 sets of crops. These were all either straight OotC or quick cropped in picasa before uploading to shutterfly. My wife scrapbooks, so she physically crops the print. I've gotten some inconsistent results if I upload anything other than 4x6 AR.

So I usually end up with one "loose" edge... a side that I'd normally crop tighter, but I leave to maintain the 1.5:1 AR.

2 - Interesting composition. Aside from the focus actually being on the net more than the keeper (your only shot where the focus missed), if this is cropped this way due to it being shot this tight, then it is what it is. Personally, I kind of like it. I don't remember what my focal point was on this shot, but when I saw it, I kinda liked the almost-focus on my son's friend playing goalie, so I cropped to emphasize him in the bg. But you're right, the focus is really on the net. I like the composition though, so I might try try to do it properly on-purpose next time.

3 - Nice, well timed capture. Great timing and well exposed, especially considering the side lighting. ** I would crop this one about 3/4" on the left, about 1/2" off the bottom and about 1/4" from the coach's outside foot.Yep.. this one is one that I'd definitely crop tighter if I abandoned 4x6. I'd crop right at the coach's toe.

I played with it again as a portrait orientation and was still able to keep the 4x6 AR...

#3 recropped:
http://crtforum.com/img/2009-04-18_7252r.jpg


6 - The horizon and trees leaning slightly catches my eye first, but otherwise, considering it's likely cropped this tightly on the sides because that's all there was in the original, I like this composition. If that's not the case, I would have cropped looser on the sides and tighter top and bottom. I definitely like the idea though.
I sent the slideshow to the other parents on my son's team and everyone commented on this shot, even though there was no action and it's the opposing team.
I was just goofing around at half time, waiting for the game to start back. I also got some nice action shots from the baseball diamond behind us. I've never shot Little League before, but I know several of the dads and kids from my son's Scout Pack, so I might have to try my hand at LL next weekend.

At my son's second soccer game, all of the parents were disappointed that I didn't bring my camera. But I sent it in to get a ERR 99 looked at. So I'm Jonesin' for another shooting session. Unfortunately, I think it's going to rain this weekend.

8 - OK, this is a tough one. I love the expressions on the kid's faces, but between the kid's elbow being lopped off (on the left and too much space on the right) and the timing of the whole thing, this would be a shot that I classify as a "near miss". A potentially good one at that, but a near miss just the same. Yeah, I considered tossing #4 and #8. In #8, the soccer ball is on the left side of the frame as shown, so I can't straighten the horizon without losing even more of the ball and elbow.