Tennis Shot

[mhazlett]

I took this image at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington D.C. It is one of my top choices for an action shot in my college portfolio. Constructive criticism is encouraged, I need to know if I am just emotionally attached to the picture or its actually a good shot.

[Q-Man]

Honestly, I'd like it more if the subject was a little sharper. Focus seems off (a tad soft). It doesn't appear to be from motion. What settings?

Q

[snyderman]

I realize you probably didn't have court shooting privilages, but shooting backsides in sports is the first rule of 'don't.'

Also, WB looks a bit out of kilter and the center line a few feet from the net appears to be your point of focus. You may have had focus on the player's head when he was bent over prior to extending to the serve.

dave

[mhazlett]

Not 100% sure what you mean by the settings. Everything was done manually if thats what you meant. Focused manually, shutter speed and aperture. The shutter speed was 1/500, aperture f/7.1 and iso 400. Thanks for the input. I see exactly what you are saying, and I think I need to get back out there and shot some more so I can get a sharper image.

[mhazlett]

Thanks Dave! I appreciate all the information! I will try to stay away from backside shots. I have heard a lot about White Balance (I'm assuming that's what you mean by WB) how would I go about adjusting it to the desired settings?

[poloman]

You need to double that speed. Open the aperture if you need to.
You have just enough blur going on that, at first, I thought he had 6 fingers.

[Dunedan]

Yup as pointed out - backside shot - no no for sports. And your subject is blurry.

However, I am jealous of you being able to go to the Legg Mason or any Tennis for that matter. Not much of that around here. Though I do get the Tennis channel now on DTV.

[Dunedan]

And is that Djokovic? Just curious I can't really tell - hence the backside shots being bad.

[gonzogolf]

In addition to the backside thing, it seems to me that this is the moment before the moment. The ball is high in the frame, and he is ready to go, but the dramatic moment is yet to happen.

[mhazlett]

This is not Djokovic, I wish Djokovic would make an appearance in D.C. This is Paul Capdeville, but I did get to see Andy Roddick up close. I got to be one of the twenty people on his practice court. It was quite a sight, seeing Andy Roddick playing games that I teach to 10 year olds at my Tennis Summer Camps. Hahaha.

[chopper5654]

one more thing: i dont think the composition is all that great, either. the server is dead center, and he isnt hitting the ball into any space. it looks like he is going to hit the net. i would like to see more of the other side of the court. and, since he is arched to the left, i would like to see more space on the left....since that is also where he is serving toward.

either show more space here or crop tighter earlier in the toss. you are kind of caught in the middle ground here, imo.