Help for a friend, Softball pitcher.

A buddy and myself are interested in sports photography. He just received his 7D and was shooting his daughters team. Took this of the pitcher. Comments on how to improve this shot. Thanks for looking

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/64771725@N08/6​996487382/

not that I'm any expert, but here's a few tips.
1. stay low to the ground for a better angle to the pitcher
2. keep an eye on the horizons
3. shoot with apeture wide open to blur the background and allow the subject to pop out.
hope this helps.

Shoot in portrait mode (or crop this one vertically).

Level the horizon by using the fence posts as plumb lines.

Shoot with a wider aperture to blur out the background.

Take several shots and when runners are behind the pitcher, get them poised to run to the next base as she pitches, even if they're out of focus due to the wide aperture, it'll still add to the action.

Shoot tighter if you have a longer lens.

lugnut45 wrote in post #14379472
not that I'm any expert, but here's a few tips.
1. stay low to the ground for a better angle to the pitcher
2. keep an eye on the horizons
3. shoot with apeture wide open to blur the background and allow the subject to pop out.
hope this helps.

2 and 3 are the first things that come to mind. Also the backround is boring

Level the horizon, shoot this in portrait mode, background is pretty distracting as it doesn't have a softball feel at all, and crop tighter.

BeerWolf wrote in post #14379490
Level the horizon, shoot this in portrait mode, background is pretty distracting as it doesn't have a softball feel at all, and crop tighter.

I agree but be careful of using the fence as your horizon. Often they are not level as the ground is not level

Bill

i agree portrait mode or crop it that way.. another thing is when to shoot..
that pic "to me" looks awkward.. id say get the shot with the ball up (12 oclock or so) and on release..

Looking at the pic again it seems the ball was the focal point, was that intended?

clarence wrote in post #14379474
Level the horizon by using the fence posts as plumb lines.

agree totally........fence posts are supposed to be vertical. If you can make the fence posts vertical in the frame - rest assured, you'll be "level" or as close as you can be.
It's a nice tool to keep in mind.

Thanks for all the comments. All are helpful and will apply to the next game.Will post next pics to see if he improved.

dirtylens wrote in post #14379402
A buddy and myself are interested in sports photography. He just received his 7D and was shooting his daughters team. Took this of the pitcher. Comments on how to improve this shot. Thanks for looking

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/64771725@N08/6​996487382/
IMG_6159 by dirtylens1, on Flickr

Worked

I would still have cropped portrait, since there's nothing of value in the background.

Number one rule of shooting sports is to shoot tight and crop tighter. There is way to much space on all around the subject. As mentioned earlier, horizon is way off and there is way to much in focus. Wide aperture to blur the background. The background does not add to the photo so you need to loose it with blur.

Personally I wouldn't keep that photo, it just looks awkward. I would catch her during windup, the top of her arm swing, and just before she lets go of the ball.

ajaffe wrote in post #14381949
Personally I wouldn't keep that photo, it just looks awkward.

He has to start somewhere. I think it works great to post a shot, get feedback, make improvements, post again, repeat...

He can't just delete everything until he's as good as you.