My first soccer shots, new 70-200mm

[4Bucks]

I know the coach and offered to take pictures. He got me on to the field (very strict rules about access to the field in this district). Varying degrees of success with the full gamut of lighting from bright sun to under the stadium lights by game's end. I have lots of learning, but the week old Sigma 70-200 is putting out much better shots than I could get before (especially in low light). Any input would be great. I know I should have increased the ISO as it got darker/under the lights even more than I did. Please give me any input you got. I have been cropping the pics to 5x7 then saving to Photobucket. I think it caused them to look a bit soft on here. Maybe not so much crop before saving to PB will help?
1.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7205.jpg
2.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7222.jpg
3.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7193.jpg
4.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7162.jpg
5.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7223.jpg
6.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7236.jpg
7.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7252.jpg
8.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/IRCutman/photograpy%20stuff/IMG_7234.jpg

[4Bucks]

106 views and nothing... these are really bad and you all are too kind to say so or they are okay?

[Emberghost]

Not bad, one thing that clearly stands out to me is whatever program you are resizing and saving is losing a lot of quality. I think fixing this issue would make them look a lot clearer and crisper. You did really well timing the shots, nice series.

[ChunkyDA]

All are dark. some horisons are off. Kneel down or get a low beach chair to shoot up at the players.
#1 throw-ins are usually not interesting. The ball should be closer to the player and crop tight.
#2 1/640 is starting to show motion blur. need faster. good timing for this shot but could be better.
#3 needs faces, very boring
#4 who wants this shot? White uniform has no face and partial number. Blue player is getting beaten to the ball.
#5 reasonable action but crop tighter
#6 what's going on here? Someone about to get kicked in the face? a bit late on the trigger.
#7 what was the outcome? No faces near the ball. needs to be cropped tighter
#8 needs to be cropped tighter, player 9 spoils this shot.

[The Moose]

I would recommend getting lower to the ground. The angle/perspective of it just improves the photos a whole lot.

[4Bucks]

Thanks all. I understand about tighter crops but the lines to keep the crops in "framable dimensions" would have to cut through a player. I don't care for half a player... even if it is blurred in the background. I am still working to the SS and light needed for better shots. Anyone suggest a better photo storage program... the pictures do look much better in the original on my computer. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will be trying again in a couple days... I will start a new thread tracking my progress.
Always appreciate the tips and feedback.

Here's trying a differnet photo hosting program (photoshop.com)
just a test to see if the quality is better on POTN
http://www.photoshop.com/accounts/24be1cbb8f1246459d4a289f7e9fb010/px-assets/83111af91fdd4b6fb4b6eb2aeb9e774b
http://www.photoshop.com/accounts/24be1cbb8f1246459d4a289f7e9fb010/px-assets/1ef4f1372ed3454084c77211aca7413a
not sure how to get the picture to post instead of the link?

[Big Hands]

All are dark. some horisons are off. Kneel down or get a low beach chair to shoot up at the players.
#1 throw-ins are usually not interesting. The ball should be closer to the player and crop tight.
#2 1/640 is starting to show motion blur. need faster. good timing for this shot but could be better.
#3 needs faces, very boring
#4 who wants this shot? White uniform has no face and partial number. Blue player is getting beaten to the ball.
#5 reasonable action but crop tighter
#6 what's going on here? Someone about to get kicked in the face? a bit late on the trigger.
#7 what was the outcome? No faces near the ball. needs to be cropped tighter
#8 needs to be cropped tighter, player 9 spoils this shot.

I was ready to start typing my own post, but saw this and (if I am being fairly critical. . . . and I am) I'm pretty much in lockstep with Dave on these. The canned crop ratio takes away from most of these right off the bat, and I agree about shooting from the lower perspective. If you're presenting these on a website, we don't really care about 'frameable dimensions' because, if I am being honest, it makes them look like snapshots that came straight from the "FotoMat". You're not really selling these as is are you? If someone wants to frame one of these, then re-crop it for the frame size they want and spend some more time on the processing of it.

The timing on #4 and #7 is decent, but in #7, you don't have much in the way of faces and the action is kind of obscured. the timing on the rest would generally route them to the dustbin for me (JMHO). It takes practice to get the timing down, so keep after it and learn to anticipate when things will collide.

As for the lighting, I struggle with light like that too, but at least try upping the ISO and then do some noise reduction during PP. Even if the lighting gives you trouble, you can work on composition and timing so when you get to shoot in better lighting conditions.

If you really are a complete noobie, I don't want to discourage you. Keep at it. It just takes time to get the details sorted out. It will come to you if you take the criticism as it was intended (constructive) and pay attention to the details.

As Randy Jackson would say, "Just keeping it real, Dawg."

Regards,
Jeff

BTW, I liked the shot of the female hurdler from your PS account.

[4Bucks]

Thanks Dawg! I am take it all in an learn from it. Went to soccer pracitce yesterday... just to practice some of the stuff you guys have written. Didn't take one picture frrom any position other than sitting. Gotta say... Iike that perspective and angle for these shots.

[kdvincent]

Are you shooting in bursts or trying to time it with a single shot?
I find with my soccer a burst will get the timing right after that it is all on the focus and the setup of your intended shot.
Keith

[4Bucks]

A few were on burst but a single shot for the most part. I will try more bursts next time.

[kdvincent]

I find when I an taking pictures of my own kids or one of te teams I coach I have to use te burst. Oterwise I am always late to the party. I am more interested in the action and situation than the photography. Hmm? Maybe I need to take your pictures and you need to take mine. Of course I'm on the wet side of WA.
Good luck, Keith

[JoePhotoOnline]

A few were on burst but a single shot for the most part. I will try more bursts next time.

The XSi burst is not going to be too helpful. If you keep timing them, you'll get better.

A rule I learned from shooting film, "If you saw it in the viewfinder, you didn't get it."

Try to anticipate action, and shoot BEFORE it happens. If you wait until you SEE something worthy of a pic, you missed.

[Big Hands]

I have to disagree with the burst thing unless you're getting around 10fps. I get more consistent results with well timed single frames. JMHO.

Regards,
Jeff

[JoePhotoOnline]

I have to disagree with the burst thing unless you're getting around 10fps. I get more consistent results with well timed single frames. JMHO.

Regards,
Jeff

+1 :)

[JoePhotoOnline]

BTW, 10 fps on a fastball (85mph) is about one shot every 12 feet.

[4Bucks]

Thanks... my xsi is getting me about 3.5 per second. Something I usually reserve for saying to the wife... "doing the the best with what I got".

[MT Stringer]

High school soccer is hard for me to follow. Even though I shoot in short bursts, I usually try to make the first shot count and then shoot through the action. It is not often I get the ball on head shot.

With a 200mm focal length, you will most likely have to wait for the action to come to you. Even at 300mm, shooting across the field or down field doesn't usually result in good shots.

Good luck. Keep on shooting.
Mike