Final Paintball practice before tournament - 10/18

[timbar21]

Didn't take too many pictures today, but picked out the one's i liked best.

1. Wasn't staged, even though he has his barrel sock on, he was just walking off the field, and I just caught him.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/4002532567_7728b9ac51.jpg

2. Lots of paint everywhere!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/4002502907_3a0ef2f4ae_b.jpg

3. Liked the pod dropping

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2553/4003268878_f87853f5f1.jpg

4. Dropped some paint

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/4003271028_f204547e39.jpg

5. Epic chicken wing!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/4002525673_4898c76f68.jpg

6. Gun a tad close to the face

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/4002531711_dd6e4d4fe6.jpg

7. On your mark, get set, GO!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/4003278358_2765e64a9b.jpg

8. Shooting the breeze..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/4002514963_8b871c8fa8.jpg

[timbar21]

Whoops, date was actually 10/11. haha my bad. Tournament would be on the 18th. :D

[timbar21]

Any tips/suggestions/comments?

I'll be taking some on Sunday as well of the tournament.

[rpearce12]

These are some nice shots. If you can, try and keep some of the bright bunkers out of frame. Also, try and get a little bit lower to the ground and isolate your subject more so there's more of a 'pop.' Great shooting and keep it up.

[timbar21]

Thanks a bunch. I'll try that out on sunday.

[BenJohnson]

Not much you can do about blow out bunkers. I wouldn't worry about them.

I agree about getting lower to the ground. I would have framed the breakout shots much tighter.

[timbar21]

Thanks Ben, I'll definitely get lower.

What's your preferred shutter speed for paintball? I've heard from some 800 is good, wouldn't mind other opinions though.

[Mike Deep]

I'm comfortable with 1/500 or faster for posted players or even running players. The longer shutter speeds will "stretch out" paintballs in flight and paint splatters. But for dives, 1/800 or faster.

The biggest suggestion I would make now is framing. Usually the problem there is you can't see the whole VF. Are you using an EP-EX15 VF extender? If not, you might want to try one. It reduces the VF image and will help make up for the increased eye relief from your mask.

[timbar21]

Sounds good. I want to get the paint splatters, I'll try 1/500. Thanks.

Yeah that's the problem usually. I'm not using that. Would this be it? http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EP-EX15-Eyepiece-Extender-Cameras/dp/B0000AQI9E/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Reading those reviews though, it doesn't seem worth it. Is it true the viewfinder being nearly half as small? That's the one thing I don't like.

[Mike Deep]

That's it, and ignore the reviews on it. It's a terrible device for everyday use, but a godsend for paintball. Most people buy it so they can move the viewfinder out so their nose isn't bumping into the LCD, and only then discover it reduces the VF image. That would normally be undesirable (Especially with these crappy cropper viewfinders), but for paintball, it helps. On my 30D and XT it allows me to see almost all of the frame with a mask on. It's only $15, so try it and see if you like it. I won't go without it.

Another note about splatters, more fps makes the biggest difference, so don't expect any miracles. I only managed one or two splatters in all the time I shot a Rebel.

[timbar21]

I'll try it out then. thanks!