HS Soccer. . . . For the fun of it

[Big Hands]

My son graduated last year, but his former HS held an alumni game yesterday that pitted the current varsity squad against past players. It was good to see old friends and players, some of which I have known for many years. I counted at least 12 players I had coached myself. It was spirited, but very friendly and fun to watch. The alumni are in the dark colors. I shot with my 20D and 70-200 f/2.8L. C&C is always welcome in my threads.

1-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2795.jpg


2-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2842.jpg


3-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2886.jpg


4-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2969.jpg


5-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2990.jpg


6-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_3095.jpg


7-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_3118.jpg


8- I like the way this shot kind of captures the spirit of the day, which was 'fun' and 'comaraderie'.
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_3147.jpg

Thanks for looking!

I also have some GK shots I may post later. . . .

Regards,
Jeff

[eigga]

Love the third one... looks like a great time by all

[VinnyC01]

Great series, perfect photos! Love the last one - would love to have seen that play.

Was this an intersquad scrimmage or did the white team just have junk uni's.

[ckfishel2001]

very nice set

[Big Hands]

Vinny, the white squad is actually the current varsity team. I'm guessing they only brought their practice white t-shirts and most of the alumni brought their jerseys that were given to them at the banquet the year they graduated.

The blue player was the last defender beside the GK, so he had a 1v1 but missed wide of the goal.

Thank you both for the comments.

Here are some more shots from the match (mostly GK shots):

1- The 'old men' knew they better stretch those body parts most have not using like they used to.
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2708.jpg



2-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2810.jpg



3-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_2866.jpg



4- This crop is from a shot taken from behind the goal line at the opposite end of the pitch. The resolution is not what it could be, but I don't think it's completely unusable. . . . You might feel more limited with a 1DMkX body, but on a 1.6 crop I think the 20D/70-200 f/2.8L has been a dandy soccer combo for the money. Covers a fair amount of pitch and offers great bang for the buck if your funds are relatively limited.
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_3153.jpg



5- Since the match ended at 3-3, they , of course ;~), went to PK's to decide it and since it was all in good fun, they let me lay prone inside the area with my 20D and 17-55 f/2.8is.
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_3165.jpg



6-
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_3167.jpg



7- And what would a PK shootout be without the winners performing the requisite dogpile? :lol:
http://photos.imageevent.com/johansen01/westranchsoccer0809/wrhsalumnigame2010/IMG_3180.jpg

Regards,
Jeff

[namasste]

Fantastic series man. No crit really to offer, loved these.

[Big Hands]

Kevin & Scott - Thanks for the kind words!

Regards,
Jeff

[GW2]

20D? Wow, smokin job! Man, from the opposite endline shot, your lens must be sync'd well. Great colors and clarity on all shots.

[Coach21]

Great series, nicely done.

Andy

[Alikat]

Love the third one of the first set. Can't wait to catch my daughter like that on camera. Nice shots.

[snyderman]

Very nice. Well done. Glad you had some real light to work with. Made the shots. My favorites from your original post are #5 and 8. All are good, just my two favs of the lot.

dave

[tmalone893]

Jeff,
great series. I really like #3 the best. We started back last night so I'll have to get the rust off.

[gwickes]

Neat series... always a treat to have sunshine during winter high school soccer.

Great job with the 70-200. I really like the composition set up for the PKs... Great when its a friendly situation so you can sit where you did. Be great if refs would let us do that during tournament finals or when the game heads to "kicks from the marks" (as the purists will say) to determine a winner. Will have to try that sometime!

Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Grant

[1downfall]

Fantastic series man. No crit really to offer, loved these.
agreed! I really like how you got low on some even though the players are larger! Great action captures!

[ca7696]

Great shots the IQ is crystal clear. the pics "Pop" what was the info one the 1st few pics? ISO? shutter speed, etc ,etc, thanks for sharing..

[Big Hands]

Ali, I bet if you camp out in the right sots, you can get some nice shots of your daughter with the G9. It's not about what you don't get, it's about what you do get. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Dave, thank you! I am really thankful that was their home pitch. Between the field-turf, the decent BG and some nice late afternoon rays, it's a great place to shoot.

Thanks Theron. I haven't been around much, but I always look for your threads. Hope you're getting out to shoot regularly.


Grant, I think I was using the 17-55 f/2.8is for the 'kicks from the mark'. I took full advantage of it being a friendly-friendly and was completely prone with the camera on the turf. Wouldn't it be great if we could always do that? :lol:

Bill, I guess you could say I'm a lowdown shooter ;) I make it a point to shoot from at least a seated position. I also like to shoot while laying on my stomach until my old back protests too loudly :lol:

Thanks all for the kind words.

Regards,
Jeff

[nicmo]

Great series from a fellow soccer shooter...:-)

[gwickes]

Jeff: wow... lying on your stomach taking shots... that's getting low!!! I like low, but with comfort :-) so have a small fold up chair that's about 12" high that I got from REI that I use. However, if I ever get a chance to take shots of PKs, I'll consider the prone position.

Great stuff! Cheers, Grant