10-12 yr old baseball along the Austrian border

[sk82712]

Well, I got an invite to shoot a youth baseball game for one of the guys in my unit, who's also a coach. here are the results. C&C needed! They also wanted to do baseball cards, so i'll post one of those.

-Adam

edit : All at ~160 iso, 70-200 f/2.8 (IS off), AV mode, AF on. The parents are very pleased with the pictures so far.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2ltiqq.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/j6sb6h.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/k12ptx.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/2hzoud.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/5y9b93.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2elxu6p.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/30112rl.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/2d8ko0k.jpg

[cstewart]

Adam:

Can you let us know what your settings and gear are? I ask because all the images appear slightly out of focus or soft and we can assist with any technical reasons why if we know that. Exposure wise, I think they could all be a half stop or more brighter...I often shoot baseball at +2/3 to +1 overexposed to assist with shadows under hats. Baseball card format looks good but players face is OOF and this needs to be tack sharp for an item like this.

For the RH pitcher shot, you should move to the 3B side of the field so he is "open" to you and so his arm and hat will not block his face, or directly behind backstop slightly to 3B side and shoot through fence. Catcher should also be shot from further up baseline so you can see his face and get eyes in shot. For batter shots too, try and move up the baselines more. I usually position myself even with or slightly beyond first or third base down the lines and then shoot batters as they come out of their swing. For reference purposes, I have posted a few images from some of my recent threads of what I am referring to above and the shots you can get from just slightly different positioning:

Pitcher
http://www.cjscons.com/cafbsa/apr28/bin/images/small/IMG_3536.jpg

Catcher
http://www.cjscons.com/cafbsa/apr25G1/bin/images/small/IMG_0941.jpg

Batter: I am even with 1B shooting in to plate
http://www.cjscons.com/cafbsa/may9G3/bin/images/small/IMG_6877.jpg

Cheers!

Chris

[sk82712]

Thanks chris, I shot this on my 1dMKiii, and 70-200 f/2.8 IS. It was my first time shooting baseball so i wasn't exactly sure what positions would work for me. Now that you mention it, they definately do seem OOF or soft. Thanks for the C&C, it's a ppreciated

[J.Napier]

Adam,
Actually this is not a bad start. Are you using the * button to focas or half press of shutter? cstewart has given you some nice examples to follow here. You can check my site as well too if you wish.
Were you shooting at 2.8? My 70-200 is always sharper at 3.2 -3.5. What was your shutter speed? It looks like you had the light and I would bring my ISO up to 400 it gives you more lee way (options). Maybe try manual next time out, it takes some getting used to but its worth it. Were you using AI servo and Center point metering for focus?
A monopod might not hurt either the 70 -200 is not all that heavy but sometimes every bit helps after a long day of handholding. Are you using any sharpening in PP?
Thanks for sharing, ooking forward to seeing more.

pacdzyne

[sk82712]

Adam,
Actually this is not a bad start. Are you using the * button to focas or half press of shutter? cstewart has given you some nice examples to follow here. You can check my site as well too if you wish.
Were you shooting at 2.8? My 70-200 is always sharper at 3.2 -3.5. What was your shutter speed? It looks like you had the light and I would bring my ISO up to 400 it gives you more lee way (options). Maybe try manual next time out, it takes some getting used to but its worth it. Were you using AI servo and Center point metering for focus?
A monopod might not hurt either the 70 -200 is not all that heavy but sometimes every bit helps after a long day of handholding. Are you using any sharpening in PP?
Thanks for sharing, ooking forward to seeing more.

pacdzyne


PAC, I was using the "half click", f/2.8, my shutter speed was 1/2500 for the majority of photos at ISO 200. It was bright. I was on AI servo and evaluative, I also set my AF to the center focal point. No post sharpening. What would you recommend for picture settings? I think my colors are a bit off. And maybe adjusting the sharpness on the camera will help.

-Adam

[cstewart]

Adam:

I'd suggest NOT using any in camera sharpening. Shoot RAW and then adjust as needed in post processing. Digital images almost always need some sharpening in post prior to conversion to JPEG. I use Lightroom and set sharpening amount to 70. Also, suggest you learn how to move focus to the back * button (Custom Function IV on Canon Cameras). Search for threads here on it for details. ALthough it seems initially confusing, it really does help improve focus in sports photography. My keepers (especially for ice hockey) went up dramatically as soon as I got the hang of using it.

[puzzle]

I know im not the OP but thanks to Chris and Jeff for your useful comments and suggestions here !!

I have some questions regarding your suggestions.

How does using Centre point metering help you with focusing? or did you mean set the AF to the central focal point?

If this is the case, is Evaluative metering advisable for baseball shots?

Lastly how would shooting at ISO 400 give you more options? It would simply allow you to shoot at a faster shutter speed right which doesn't seem necessary as the OP was already shooting at a sufficient shutter speed. I guess on duller days however this could be a big advantage. Is there any other advantage for shooting at higher ISO's other than increasing SS/decreasing aperture?