Softball C & C

Have had only four days of good light all spring. Tried to take advantage of it for this game. All photos shot through chain link fence, except for #8.

1)

Photos 1-3 are not very flattering. The pitcher is probably top notch, but it appears as if she is dancing, not pitching.

Photos 4-7 are better and better focused, I suggest you crank your shutter speed up a little to reduce the blur. I would try to reduce the red facial tones a little, looks like it was 110 degrees outside (maybe it was?).

Background is great in photos 1,4,5.

I think #8 is best, we can see their eyes, they are in focus, all three people in the field are directly involved in the action, even the people in the stands are not a distraction as they too are focused on the action. Maybe a tighter crop would help a little, but I'm not sure its necessary.

Through the fence? I hate having to shoot through the fence, I guess that's why you got the close up of the pitcher and nothing at the plate? I do like the shots.

For softball pitchers, full body shots work a bit better (imho). It just seems to look more natural, and when you get then fully extended they look pretty cool, again IMHO)

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …wrphotography/5​695501225/

Love #1. Love it, love it, love it. You know you're tight when you can discern the color of the irides. It's neat that you can see her intensity in the arc of her left eyebrow. Yes!

#2 and 3, the closed eyes make me pass on those images.

#4 thru 7, they are all fine by me. Let your editor or the parent make his/her choice from among these very nice shots.

#8 technically fine but could use more interesting action or emotion to really make it work.

If you have another opportunity to shoot this venue, it would be interesting to play with f/stops and framing to include key parts of the scoreboard and see if it is possible to get a view that has the player sharp, enough background blur to keep the player center of attraction and still have the score readable for context. (Goldilocks!)

Your use of the golden hour lighting is appreciated. It's too often overlooked, but here, it makes the colors really pop. Nice.

I'm with Phil…I love number 1; the intensity in her eyes is great. Also, I like full-body pitcher shots, but they're not a necessity.

2 and 3 don't work 'cuz closed eyes. I like 4, but would prefer not to cut off her glove hand. 5,same comment as 4. 6 is a "meh". 7, there you go cutting off her hand again…8's OK, but I'd prefer a more interesting expression on the batter's face.

+1 for full body, sport pictures to me are not portraits. I want to see everything.

Thank you all for your C & C! That's why I love this place, there's always so much to learn, not to mention, "food for thought." Thank you for taking the time "to stop by" and offer you opinions.

#1 took my breath away, awesome # 8 also an awesome image! Very nice images you shared.

I like number 8. Good timing. Fences drive me crazy and I don't like the background they create, but that's just me. As a former college softball pitcher, I'd purchase pictures 1, 2, 5 and 6. They might look like they are "dancing"...well, if they are fluid pitchers, they kind of are.

I like #8. Talk about 'squaring up' on a pitch! Bet that was a rope that went for a base hit!

dave

Right on, Dave. It was a short hop that hit the left center field fence and it got there in a hurry. A double! (Catcher running,.....no offense to you speedy catchers!)