Youth Baseball - need help to narrow down

[aram535]

I need help reducing this down to 2-3 images. I've narrow the list from almost 23 down to these 10, but I think I've looked at them for so long that I need a new fresh set of objective eyes.

1)
http://www.mbcli.com/%7Eawm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_0005.jpg
2)
http://www.mbcli.com/%7Eawm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_0061.jpg
3)
http://www.mbcli.com/%7Eawm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_0078.jpg
4)
http://www.mbcli.com/%7Eawm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_0123.jpg
5)
http://www.mbcli.com/%7Eawm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_0136.jpg

[aram535]

2nd Set...

6)
http://www.mbcli.com/~awm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_9826.jpg
7)
http://www.mbcli.com/~awm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_9851.jpg
8)
http://www.mbcli.com/~awm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_9862.jpg
9)
http://www.mbcli.com/~awm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_9903.jpg
10)
http://www.mbcli.com/~awm/2009/20090511-rage/_PC_9984.jpg

[canonnoob]

I see that in most of your shots you just need to crop tighter...

6&8 are good.. and 4 is close but could be better if there was a play at the plate or something.

[bnoland]

I like 3 best peronally

[Anke]

I'd probably skip on 5 (strange OOF object in foreground) and 7 (OOF).
6 and 8 are too similar too, perhaps choose 8.

Hope it helps :)

[aram535]

I see that in most of your shots you just need to crop tighter...

6&8 are good.. and 4 is close but could be better if there was a play at the plate or something.

I always keep to a 2:3 or 3:4 ratio, I don't crop beyond that. I'm wacky that way. :-)

I'd probably skip on 5 (strange OOF object in foreground) and 7 (OOF).
6 and 8 are too similar too, perhaps choose 8.

Hope it helps

#5 is the baserunner, I thought it gave it a great dimension. The next shot is the runner's back with the SS throwin' the ball from under his sleeve, that was the last image removed before posting.

Now that you mention it, 6,8 and really 10 are very similar, I can eliminate 6, and 10 from there.

#7 I don't see the OOF on the player, looks pretty sharp. What do you see that you don't like?

#2, I really liked because of the full extension for someone that is the size of the bat, but without a ball I'm going to drop that too. #4 is a fun look after scoring, but no action and no other emotion so that can be dropped.

Any other feedback on the rest?

[namasste]

6 and maybe 1 with a tighter crop (wackiness aside).

[dmmiller]

I like 2, 8, & 9 :)

[snyderman]

More votes for 8 & 9. Tighter crops all the way around might make for easier 'pickings' on your shots.

dave

[wyofizz]

I agree tighter crops, my eye was wandering. Need to get rid of the grass at the bottom of vertical shots.

Dave

[aram535]

I'm very surprised I got any votes for #2, would have figured the lack of ball and the white shirt in the background would drop it out immediately.

I can cut another 100px off of 8, 9 does have some room behind the pitcher -- I had not noticed that last night. To keep the ratio that can actually cut from top and bottom as well.

Thank you everyone.

[namasste]

I'm very surprised I got any votes for #2, would have figured the lack of ball and the white shirt in the background would drop it out immediately.

I can cut another 100px off of 8, 9 does have some room behind the pitcher -- I had not noticed that last night. To keep the ratio that can actually cut from top and bottom as well.

Thank you everyone.

Aram, since I suspect I know what this is for, I'd leave the notion of crop ratios out of this sine its not for sales. Crop em real tight in whatever ratio gets you tightest.

[spalmer]

I like 2 and 8.

[MT Stringer]

I vote for 2 and 8 also.

[aram535]

Aram, since I suspect I know what this is for, I'd leave the notion of crop ratios out of this sine its not for sales. Crop em real tight in whatever ratio gets you tightest.

You're right, it isn't for sales directly -- but parents do often come back and end and point and say I want that in a 8x10 or 8x12 or whatever.

It's happened enough time that I stopped cropping out of normal picture sizes. I guess I should just bite the bullet and say that a custom mat is required for all images. I hate making the choice but if they come back it's gotta be a 11x14 frame and a custom mat.

[Anke]

#7 I don't see the OOF on the player, looks pretty sharp. What do you see that you don't like?

It just doesn't look as sharp as the rest to me, that was all. :)

[namasste]

You're right, it isn't for sales directly -- but parents do often come back and end and point and say I want that in a 8x10 or 8x12 or whatever.

It's happened enough time that I stopped cropping out of normal picture sizes. I guess I should just bite the bullet and say that a custom mat is required for all images. I hate making the choice but if they come back it's gotta be a 11x14 frame and a custom mat.
here's a little tip that I learned from my time with MaxPreps...1600x2166. If you use this ratio and leave a small amount of space around your subject, you'll be able to print in almost any standard aspect ratio with no issues.

[cstewart]

I'm very surprised I got any votes for #2, would have figured the lack of ball and the white shirt in the background would drop it out immediately.

I can cut another 100px off of 8, 9 does have some room behind the pitcher -- I had not noticed that last night. To keep the ratio that can actually cut from top and bottom as well.

Thank you everyone.

Batter shots are almost always the best when the ball is already gone and the batter is coming out of stance and has head up following ball. "Bat on ball" pics usually have head down and face obscured.

As to cropping, I think you are confusing what "tighter" means vs ratio. You can keep the ratios you like (I usually crop to a 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 print dimension) but simply pull it in tighter around the player. This is easily done in Lightroom or Photoshop.

Finally, must be nice for young players to play on a turf field, although the "shag carpet" batter box lines look funny!

Cheers!

Chris

[Maddog12]

2 and 8 for me!

Did they skin a cat to make the batters boxes? I have never seen that before...must be the new chalk.:)

[aram535]

here's a little tip that I learned from my time with MaxPreps...1600x2166. If you use this ratio and leave a small amount of space around your subject, you'll be able to print in almost any standard aspect ratio with no issues.

I'll put that in my LR ratios, and see what comes of it. Thanks.

I was listening to Bert Monroy talk about his art work and he mentioned a ratio that is divisible by both 2:3 and 3:4 and that it's his default ratio since he can configure his art for either. I'll have to find it and give it a try as well.

As to cropping, I think you are confusing what "tighter" means vs ratio. You can keep the ratios you like (I usually crop to a 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 print dimension) but simply pull it in tighter around the player. This is easily done in Lightroom or Photoshop.


I'm really not. Comments like you can remove 1" on the right side isn't a ratio, to remove that you have to cut into the image. That isn't keeping to ratio. I don't think I got that in case case, and I really don't believe in the "rule" that says crop, than crop tighter. I think the enviornment and room for the eye to follow is actually just as important. I think it's easier to say crop it. 400x1600 images just don't hold my interest.

I'm going to give Scott's suggestion a try to see if works better.

2 and 8 for me!

Did they skin a cat to make the batters boxes? I have never seen that before...must be the new chalk.

It isn't chalk, its actually made that color, so the entire home page region is one piece.