second time (imporovements??)

[AjP]

well, after fisrt time shooting High school football, I'd learn great deal and here is my second time last friday. I'm still learning and experimenting with settings, light and trying to predict where the ball will go, etc...

Please feel free to cretique!!!!

http://st.a-j-p.net/pic/football/bst/1.jpg

http://st.a-j-p.net/pic/football/bst/2.jpg

http://st.a-j-p.net/pic/football/bst/4.jpg

http://st.a-j-p.net/pic/football/bst/6.jpg

[led hed]

i'm no expert but i love the first one. too bad the ball is soft. but still very good shots.

[Croasdail]

Great work. Highschool Football + Highschool Football Lights usually = very tough shoot. I think you did awsome. Just curious why stayed at f3.x instad of coming all the way down to gain some speed.... but then again, they look great - so who cares.

[AjP]

thx, guys..

the reason I stayed 3.2, kinda secure myself in case if focus is not fast enough, since it was my second time, I'm still getting to use too. but 2.8.. 3.2 doesn't make big difference in such distance... this friday I'll use 2.8 and may be get faster shutter speed.

[jnthn205]

hey man. its me again. You shot the mustangs football game too? Thats what school I go to. I will be at this fridays game (tomorrow) what do you look like? I will try and spot you. I wont be shooting football for my school, but for LD Bell. (dont ask why) What game were these pictures shot at? Last friday or what?

[AjP]

this was Mustangs vs. Jaguars, this weekend I won't be there, I'm shooting diffferent games this weekend.

[smassey]

I really love the first, third, and fourth ones. You have some excellent captures and very tight crops.

The second one bothers me a little. I think you cropped that one a little too tight.

Overall, a very good job. If I could add one minor suggestion, the noise is a little high on the nighttime images. It doesn't detract from them, and I doubt many people would notice, but its just something to think about.

[AjP]

thx smassey, second shot is not croped, I was using prime lense so some of my show as it is, could not zoom in or out :), about noise, I tried to clean it with Noise Ninja without lossing the sharpness and quality, it is prety tough to shoot at evening just with poor statium lights. oh well, but still it is a great challenge!!!!!!!

[ToneB]

I like your shots and commend you for doing so well. I was going to ask if the lense was a prime. Very sharp nice contrast. You are certain this is your first time under lights? You composition is not bad you have kept players faces in the shot and also the point of contact too. I'd call most of those shots "money shots". I can only hope to do this good in daylight. So keep posting more for inspiration.
Tony

[Suedezu]

Although I don't really understand american football the shots are great. Love the last one where you can see that splash of dust/soil!

The first is amazing! Excellent DOF!

[AjP]

ToneB, yes this is my second time for sure :) I just learned a lot from my first time, look some magazines, observe the game and try to predict where the player will run so I can get what I really want... it is extrememly have with those kids, they are sooooooooo fast..

and I did use Canon 300 2.8L for this shots, incredible lens, even so was alittle have to get to use to it... never shot prime before either (I'm not counting my 50 1.4)

Suedezu, I didn't understnad either, I'm from Armenia (russia) and American football is kinda new type of sport to me to (after 5 year in US ) but as any sport after a while u get to use to rule and game, and it is really interesing as any sport.

[ToneB]

AjP, a 300 2.8 Prime? You da man!!! Envious. A lense will not make a photog out of you, it is what is behind the camera. Stick to what is working well and I think you are on the right track. My fear with a prime is getting too close. But the results of crisp clear shots like yours are what primes deliver. I can only hope to afford a 300/4 in my future. High school kids are very fast and strong watch yourself along the sidelines... Tony

[smassey]

thx smassey, second shot is not croped, I was using prime lense so some of my show as it is, could not zoom in or out :), about noise, I tried to clean it with Noise Ninja without lossing the sharpness and quality, it is prety tough to shoot at evening just with poor statium lights. oh well, but still it is a great challenge!!!!!!!

Tell me about it, AjP. My college's soccer field is lit pretty bad.

[AjP]

ToneB, don't be, I'm not own one, I really wish, but $4000 is not in my budget ( may be someday) I'm just renting it is only $35 per weekend. I think it is not bad deal at all.

[DavidEB]

Ajp -- second the comments about how tough it can be to shoot high school football under stadium lights. You did very well indeed. Must have been tough not over-exposing the white jerseys. Also the white balance is good, except the second shot is a tad yellow (unless the player has liver disease)

how did you support the lens - hand-held, monopod or ??? and was image stabilization on?