U8 Soccer - 4/3/10

[mom2AnH]

I am by NO means a professional ... but I aspire to take the best possible pictures that I can! Please C&C as much as you can/want!! :) Thanks so much! (I noticed the larger pics (large on Flickr) are really grainy.... any way to fix that? I didn't notice it in my original pics in DPP)

My son caught me taking his picture, this is the look I got LOL!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4487899740_9c0f2188f0.jpg
Aperature: f/16.0 ISO: 1600

Action shot! Playing keep away from the other team!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4487899096_ede12ddded.jpg
Aperature: f/16.0 ISO: 1600

running the ball down the field
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2789/4487245545_47bc72d069.jpg
Aperature: f/16.0 ISO: 1600

these 2 were coming out of play and they raced over to where their coach was... LOL!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4487262375_e602a96f1c.jpg
Aperature: f/16.0 ISO: 1600

Going after the ball
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4487245171_756d8fc33e.jpg
Aperature: f/16.0 ISO: 1600

The expression on this little boy's face made me crack up! loved it!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4487894260_68881ab575.jpg
Aperature: f/16.0 ISO: 1600

thanks so much!

[clarence]

No EXIF. Can you check what ISO and aperture these were at?

Looks like a relatively narrow aperture (background is in focus)... f/8? f/11?

The noise looks like high-ISO plus sharpening? (in-camera and/or PP?)

[eigga]

Man I hate covering those neon uniform...so much refelction = green skin.

I agree, EXIF will help.

[mom2AnH]

Yea, I realized afterwards that my ISO was way too high (oops!) ....and also my aperature was too shallow ....

must work on this!

and yes, too much PP sharpening didn't help ... but the pics looked soft to me ... but I am editing on a laptop :(

[PennsyBill]

Big thing is to much depth of field -- really need to get as wide open as you can because the backgrounds are always "busy" at this level of play.

Also, everyone keeps saying crop tighter but I like to see a bit of space --- especially with the younger players --- in the images and by leaving a bit of space when you shoot it will also allow you flexibility when you crop. And, kids that age like to see there friends in the photos with them.

If I get an image I really like I will usually crop it at least 2 ways --- an over-all view showing the action and then a really tight shot on the action --- and most times the parents (and kids) prefer the over-all shot ----- as long as their kid is large enough in the print. The over-all shots are also, for me, the most popular in the larger sizes.

Neon uniforms really do suck big time and coupled with a low afternoon sun makes me want to put the camera away and just enjoy the game.

[kini]

Yikes! F16? Why?

Gene

[mom2AnH]

Yikes! F16? Why?

Gene


cauuse, I still don't know what I'm doing when it comes to taking sports pictures! :D ;)

I only use my telephoto lens when taking soccer pictures, so any tips anyone can offer, would be appreciated. I wonder if I was to use my polarizer filter if that would help with some of the glare/brightness of the neon green uniforms.

Any suggestions/tips?

[packpe89]

OPen it up (aperture) and drop the ISO!

[mom2AnH]

OPen it up (aperture) and drop the ISO!

what ISO would you recommend?

[Emberghost]

Shoot at f5.6 and try to get shutter speeds as high as possible while using an acceptable ISO. Start with ISO 100 and see what shutter speeds you get. I would say ideally you want to be around 1/800+. This will help blur out some of the distracting background and make your subjects stand out more. Good luck.

[mom2AnH]

Shoot at f5.6 and try to get shutter speeds as high as possible while using an acceptable ISO. Start with ISO 100 and see what shutter speeds you get. I would say ideally you want to be around 1/800+. This will help blur out some of the distracting background and make your subjects stand out more. Good luck.

Thanks! going to play around at practice tomorrow so that maybe for the next game, I'll get some good shots!

[Fosters]

You might want to adjust your shooting position also. I prefer to shoot near the goal as my team is coming at me - it is tough to tell if you are far down a sideline or along the end line. You will lose out on action far away since you won't have the reach, but you will get shots on goal.

You might want to play around in the manual settings - set your f to 5.6 (since that will stay constant on your lens as you zoom), and adjust ISO until you get the shutter speeds you need/want.

Josh

[mom2AnH]

thanks so much everyone for all of the advice/suggestions!! I'll take them to heart and hopefully post some better pictures tonight. (I usually sit on the sidelines in the center of the field.... not a great place to sit either way)

[kini]

Camera- Av mode with aperture wide open or manual (if light is consistent) with aperture set to your lens' max opening at full telephoto (5.6 in your case).

ISO set so you get at least 1/800 SS or better. Use manual WB- sunny, cloudy etc.... Makes correcting in post much easier.

If you can, SIT at either end of the field. With kids this size you need to be sitting for the best angle.

If there are going to be a lot of soccer pictures in the future, a lens upgrade would do wonders. Look for a used Sigma 70-200/2.8 or 100-300/4 or Canon 70-200/4.

Gene

[SBK1]

Camera- Av mode with aperture wide open or manual (if light is consistent) with aperture set to your lens' max opening at full telephoto (5.6 in your case).

ISO set so you get at least 1/800 SS or better. Use manual WB- sunny, cloudy etc.... Makes correcting in post much easier.

If you can, SIT at either end of the field. With kids this size you need to be sitting for the best angle.

If there are going to be a lot of soccer pictures in the future, a lens upgrade would do wonders. Look for a used Sigma 70-200/2.8 or 100-300/4 or Canon 70-200/4.
Gene

I use to shoot in AV mode but I now shoot just the opposite in TV mode. I know I need a min amount of shutter speed to freeze the action and let the camera adjust the exposure. I am beginning to understand more of the light and how to use it. I now get more acceptable images in TV mode.
I keep cranking up the ISO to get my desired SS:

mkIII f/2 200mm w/1.4x TC 1/2500 f/3.2 ISO 1000
http://www.blueriverimages.com/Soccer/Select/WC-United-Blue-G13-KSA-Turf/KSATourny2010195/821334831_e2ovz-XL-3.jpg

mkIII f/2 200mm w/1.4x TC 1/2500 f/2.8 ISO 1000
http://www.blueriverimages.com/Soccer/Select/WC-United-Blue-G13-KSA-Turf/KSATourny2010192/821332579_rLqg4-XL-5.jpg

[eigga]

I now get more acceptable images in TV mode.
I keep cranking up the ISO to get my desired SS:

I doubt Tv is the reason for this...you could do the same thing in Av and adjust ISO as well. They BOTH work but my opinion is I would rather have aperture constant...especially at youth soccer games where backgrounds are crazy. Most important is as you understand your setting and lighting is that you migrate towards Manual more often. That is where you will find the most consistent results.

[mom2AnH]

I wanted to say thanks for all the insight. I've gotten a few more pictures from recent games and as soon as I've gotten a chance to go through them, I'll post. :)

I do plan on looking for a nice "sports" lens .... but might not be able to get it until this fall (before wrestling season starts though, which is a whole different "ballgame" from soccer!)