1st day out with 7D

1st time shooting under the big top, lighting was so so was trying to bump my shutter speed up to stop the action on my sigma 2,8............to get 1/400 I had to set my iso to 650

anyhow pictures all in all seem just ok focus seems a bit soft, pictures were just cropped to post, How can I improve them for the next event
TIA

what focus point did u use...??? if u used the auto focus points,it might have locked the focusing on a wrong place... for these moving pics I would use the center point Only....
First pic is off focus... people behind are in focus... not the bull w CB.
The speed was not enough either... ISO 800 in sit. like this is not an issue with 7D
are there these JPEG or RAW???
Start shooting in RAW mode and PP will sort many issues, but not focusing of course.

1. the camera looks like it's focus on red door area. So I imagine that is where you focus when the bull was coming out. When shooting anything that moves, you need to pan with the subject. Make sure you camera is focus on your subject. 1/400 shutter is too slow, as you see. 1/1000 would have done you better. Don't be afraid to up the ISO. I know alot of people do not want to get noise, but as newer cameras are being made, the ISO is going higher with less noise.
2. better then the first one, but still did not freeze action.

#1 good attempt, really tells a story with the action and the faces of the spectators. Focus isn't quite on, but otherwise good composition. A little motion blur just helps to give a sense of the action. Technically, I would do a levels adjustment to get the blacks a little blacker.

#2 if you crop as a vertical to place more emphasis on the action and less on the background (i.e., get rid of the right side) I think it makes a more compelling image. (Maybe crop between the clipboard and the girths.)

The first shot is great....I love the expressions on the faces of the spectators. If you were trying to focus on the bull rider you missed, but the shot works the other way too! For the calf roper, manually select and lock a focus point and let AI Servo be your friend. And then be careful where you aim your focus point; it looks like to me the horses face is the sharpest focus of the second shot.

Thanks for the suggestions.......next time will bump up the iso to get faster shutter speed and work on my panning

Is that a big line of bull slobber in the first shot?

mckinleypics wrote in post #11932990
Is that a big line of bull slobber in the first shot?

Yes gross

Crystal W Photography wrote in post #11929097
1. the camera looks like it's focus on red door area. So I imagine that is where you focus when the bull was coming out. When shooting anything that moves, you need to pan with the subject. Make sure you camera is focus on your subject. 1/400 shutter is too slow, as you see. 1/1000 would have done you better. Don't be afraid to up the ISO. I know alot of people do not want to get noise, but as newer cameras are being made, the ISO is going higher with less noise.
2. better then the first one, but still did not freeze action.

Crystal your completely right about the ISO with my old 40D above 500 was crap. not sure in this picture were I was focused on its hard to tell I was in AL SERVO but didn't lock the focus...........was trying to bump up the iso for a faster shutter
Thanks Again

I would think AI Servo was appropriate here. Center focus point. Focus moved to the * button on the back and focus with the thumb w/trigger finger on the shutter. 8 FPS also helps.

And as mentioned, bump the ISO and raise your shutter speed.

That said, I like the image compositions and the colors.

Titus213 wrote in post #11939059
I would think AI Servo was appropriate here. Center focus point. Focus moved to the * button on the back and focus with the thumb w/trigger finger on the shutter. 8 FPS also helps.

And as mentioned, bump the ISO and raise your shutter speed.

That said, I like the image compositions and the colors.

I was in AL Servo mode, but center focus locked I could have nailed it I think + Up the ISO
Thanks for the suggestion Im taking this in now.......I will have to go out this weekend and try the new setting

Ok Im still working on this focus just cant seem to get it.......
AL servo/ Center Focus/ Af-Lock
BTW this is also a new lens Sigma 70-200...........maybe Im just to picky on sharpens

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Um...so I can't get over the fact that the 1st picture is focused on the bulls...well...stuff. The picture of the tree is okay, but it just lacks something...the right crop might help...

jerefish wrote in post #11948315
Um...so I can't get over the fact that the 1st picture is focused on the bulls...well...stuff. The picture of the tree is okay, but it just lacks something...the right crop might help...

maybe its just me but with my 40d I seen sharper pictures also I was using a 70-200 f4 lens
Im also thinking 2.8 gives softer focus

With the tree shot you probably should have used AI one shot. AI servo is good for moving subjects. JMHO