Running for Daylight

[mikec13]

At first the blurriness bothered me...now I think it makes the picture...shot from opposite end zone...comments welcomed

[christisdale]

I might just be missing somethig, but I really don't see what you're trying to show in this picture... Please correct me if Im wrong though. lol

[Zivnuska]

Welcome to the forum. It's great to have another football shooter. You will find that blurriness is almost never acceptable and that the general rule is "shoot tight, crop tighter."

Here are my suggestions for shooting football. I hope they help.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=735799

Keep shooting and keep posting. It's a great sport to photograph and a lot of fun.

Phil

[Zivnuska]

Here are some general tips from a pro. Episode 1 is terrific.

http://web.mac.com/dmwierz1/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

[mikec13]

First the piture doesn' look so great on the web site...not that SI is calling for it based on the way it looks on my monitor but it does look better...second the thing that struck me in the picture was the size of the hole...even a slow guy like me could have made it through that hole...I appreciate the encouragement I know I have a lot to learn...I will check out the links you listed...thank you!

[mikec13]

Phil - Thank you I loved your tips and after looking at your photos I wish I had never put mine up LOL...I don't think I have the same lighting problem as you mentioned in your tips...most of our games are during the day on Saturday...Now it is lacrosse season but it looks like all of the tips would apply

Thanks again for the help!

[syphlix]

heh yea i agree w/ what other ppl said... sharp football photos are what it's about!

at least you in broad daylight so you can get some fast shutter speeds :o

[Joemt]

Beware of the "striped creatures" who always want to steal your autofocus away. I believe
I could make this cut and gain a few yards. Wow, that's a hole.

Joemt.

[Zivnuska]

Mike,

Every one of us started sometime and your first effort is a great place to start your path to excellence. Keep having fun and work to improve just a little bit each time. I'm 3 years into this hobby/business/passion/OCD and read this forum most every day to learn from the top shooters here and to keep trying to improve. There are some really great pros here and they are surprisingly helpful. That's probably because they remember their own paths to proficiency.

Keep those first photos so you can look back on them 6, 12, or 24 months from now.

Again, welcome to the club.

Phil

[Zivnuska]

Mike,

Take a look at your first picture and try to re-imagine it from another perspective using the principles from the podcast and some of the hints.

It appears that the runner is closer to the opposite end zone. If you had positioned yourself just beyond that end zone, the runner would be heading right toward you and you could see his face. Faces are important.

Since you would be closer, that would help with shooting tighter. Forget the big picture, you want to be tight, tight, tight. I don't know what lenses you have but this would be a good spot for whatever is your longest lens. Preferably at least 200mm and more would be great. Now you are close enough to see the expressions of the runner in the image. Because you are in back of the end zone, there would be minimal background distractions behind the runner. Get low (sit or kneel) to add drama to the shot and you have a great image. Something similar to image 5 in the tips.

Phil

[mikec13]

Thanks Again Phil...I have a 18-200 lens on a rebel T1i and I was about as far away from the action as possible...my son wasn't playing atthe time so to be honest I was probably as interested in the conversation I was having with my friend as I was with taking pictures...I have only been reading this forum for a little while and already I have found it very helpful...I am making a real effort to get away from shooting in auto mode and primarily shooting in Av or Tv...unfortunately it is leading to so so pictures yet I do see improvement...the good news is I enjoy the experiment and I am thankful I do not need to make a living doing this because my family would starve!!!...I think my next purchase will be a flash 430 EX II (i think)...if I really get into the sports photography I may get a more sports specific lens but until I can take a good picture with what I have I will hold off on a new lens...Thanks Again

[mikec13]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2fC9Wwcgip4/S4530YCW7KI/AAAAAAAACZw/otLpBbhebT0/s400/IMG_4179.JPG

This one was a little closer to the action and no blur

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2fC9Wwcgip4/S453z4YDjHI/AAAAAAAACZo/Ag-0TKZYuPI/s800/IMG_4213.JPG

and this one was one of those sideline/halftime shots

(no PP to speak of...a bit of a reach for me at this point)