“Mother's, Don't Let Your Daughters Grow Up To Be Football Players.”

[PhotosGuy]

“Mother's, Don't Let Your Daughters Grow Up To Be Football Players.” (With thanks to Willy Nelson!);)

My cousins daughter played football for the Michigan Jaguars this Saturday & I wanted to get a few shots for her & see how the 300Ds "full-time" AI Servo focusing would work out. She’s #80, starting on offense at tight end & free safety on defense. They were undefeated after 3 games. So were their opponents, the “Detroit Demolition” who also were 3 time national champs. :(

End of the 1st quarter things were looking good, as the score was 6-7. Things went downhill from there. There was what looked like an anorexic pre-teen who ran like a squirted pumpkin seed. And lets not forget “Refrigerator Mary” & her evil twin! :D

What I learned:
AI Servo focusing doesn’t work well with a relatively short lens as the focus point was never where I needed it to be. It probably would have been most beneficial from the sidelines, or maybe not. If other players got in the way, it might have been a problem.
Manual focus wasn’t bad at all.

I used a strobe with a Tele-filter for a few of the late shots & it’s wasn’t bad either, but the pics with the warm, late evening light looked best to me.

The non-NFL lighting on the field was no-where near even. There were 1-stop holes of darkness. Here are a few of the results. I’m sure no one from SportsShooter will feel threatened :D but they are big enough for 4” X 6” prints, so she should be happy. Me, I’m planning for the next time! ;)


Immaculate Reception! ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Jaguars/Jaguars_5-05_029.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Jaguars/Jaguars_5-05_052.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Jaguars/Jaguars_5-05_064.jpg


A few more can be seen here: http://************/agwsz

[PhotosGuy]

I did some measurebating last night & learned that the top pic is a 5% crop of a 150mm shot from about 200' away. Wish I'd had a 400mm 2.8!!!

[Carzee]

Appears blurry - unsharp pics.
But the obvious comment si-
What bloody idiotic metrosexual halfwit designed those gross orange uniforms?

[PhotosGuy]

What bloody idiotic metrosexual halfwit designed those gross orange uniforms? :D:D:D My thought, exactly!

Appears blurry - unsharp pics. Also right on! But as I looked at my options, they were:
Rent a 100-400 f/1.4 lens.
Take what I could get & print them 4X6"
Don't take any amature shots, since I'm supposed to be a "Pro".

Bottom line was to get her anything I could. I know they suck, but this "client" thought they were great, so I got the "job" done. & that's what it's all about, right? ;)

[mkh]

The "client" has the final say. Not sure if she should be showing those pics around town. May not do much for your reputation unless you are around to explain.

[PhotosGuy]

May not do much for your reputation :D:D I'm semi-retired, thick skinned, & have no axe to grind with her team who only have a few shots taken by their friends with a P&S from the stands. Which is just another reason why I posted them here knowing a lot of people would call them "less than perfect"! ;) For her, they were perfect, & that's what counts in my book. I think we should let beginners know that every pic has a purpose, & if it's not "perfect", but is perfect for the user, then it's all right.

I used to think "Mopar, or NO car!" too, but now I'm driving a Malibu 'cause it does the job for me at this time.
;)