HS Track & Field

[Zivnuska]

First meet of the season and winds 25 gusting to 35mph made for a lot of dust and it was occasionally difficult to hold the camera steady. I had to stick to one focal length because with one body, I didn't want to chance dust contamination. Ring of Fire for all shots. C & C appreciated.

1. I used to coach this young man when he was in 5th grade. He's going to college on a football scholarship this fall.

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV9969.jpg



2. The 4 x 800 meter relay team has 3 sisters. The twins are freshmen and the older sister Carly is a senior. Here Carly takes the lead on the first leg. Aperture Preferred, +2/3 exposure compensation for the back lighting.

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV0448.jpg



3. After a dominating win, the team checks the times with their coach.

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV0572.jpg



4. I'm going to add the 1.4 TC to get closer next time on the javelin.

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV0071.jpg



5.

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV0226.jpg



6. Sailing to a win in the 100 meter.

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV0681.jpg



7. Long jump approach

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV0309.jpg



8. The image is a bit soft but this young lady threw the discus beyond the landing zone, past the 10-15 yard buffer to the flags, plus another 10 yards to land it at my feet (I saw it coming and was in full retreat by the time it arrived). Yikes! In that wind, the thing was a lethal frisbee. She won the shot put by 15 feet and also was first in the hammer throw. She stopped by to apologize for throwing it so far and getting close to me. You can't be too careful out there. One competitor threw the discus off course, over the heads of two people (one guy was looking into a camera viewfinder) and into an evergreen tree.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/ZZIV0185.jpg

C & C Appreciated

Phil

[AZAutoPhoto]

I really like the DOF in number six. Great shots.

[4Bucks]

Great pics... are these all hand held or mono/tri pod? So crisp.

[Zivnuska]

All were with a monopod except for #3. That shot was hand held as I was walking to get into position.

[4Bucks]

Thanks. I will try my mono-pod next time.

[SYOTR]

especially number 6

[Snydremark]

These are some really terrific shots. I love the muscle detail in a number of them showing the energy they're using :D

[sfinkernagel]

Those are great! You did an especially nice job keeping clean backgrounds- After my first meet, that's something I need to improve on.

Thanks for setting the bar high!

[bobbyz]

I like the back lighting in #2. #6 is also very nice.

[Zivnuska]

These are some really terrific shots. I love the muscle detail in a number of them showing the energy they're using :D


Here's one for you!

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/2010/ZZIV0688.jpg



I mentioned the guy taking pictures who had a discus thrown over his head. When you are close to the side ropes and have a clear view of the thrower, that should be a sign that you are in danger. He is so many yards closer than I am that I'm nearly able to capture his whole body with the 400mm lens.

.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/2010/ZZIV0129_2.jpg

[Snydremark]

Great shot, too.

Wow! What is he shooting with? Something cheap to replace if he takes one in the melon?

[pspwa]

Awesome shot of runner winding down...the muscle tone..

Great DoF and colours and way so sharp

[digitaldome]

I like 4 and 6.

[mrgooch]

What lens were you using/ I am not familiar with" Ring of Fire".

[Zivnuska]

What lens were you using/ I am not familiar with" Ring of Fire".

The lens is the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 IS USM. I bought a used one recently and this is the first time I've used it for sports.

The 1D Mark III has an option for focus point selection that is referred to as "Ring of Fire." Instead of a single focus point illuminating in the view finder, a ring of red focus points illuminate around the perimeter. That is the so called "Ring of Fire."

In this mode, initial acquisition of the target is made at the center of the image and then tracking continues (servo focus) using all the focus points. I've had good luck with this technique for track or other instances where there is good separation between subjects. Typically, I use center point focus for most sports.