2011 Yonex US Open Badminton Championship

Just thought I would share some pictures from last Saturday (Finals day) at Orange County Badminton Club. C&C about photos are more than welcome, but please no bashing on one of Olympic sports.

All shots were taken with 5DmkII and 200 2.0IS at 1/500, f2.0, ISO6400 as the venue was very poorly lit... Thanks for viewing.

1.

Holy cow, 6400 at F2.0/500th, boy that is poorly lit. Great angle to capture the action.

I really want to like the pictures. The action captured is great with the mid-air captures and the facial expressions, but the backgrounds are far too distracting.

Voaky999 wrote in post #12779059
Holy cow, 6400 at F2.0/500th, boy that is poorly lit. Great angle to capture the action.

I had to seat myself at the very last row right next to the televising crew to get the angle. Took below pic before repositioning to the other side.

13inches wrote in post #12779408
I really want to like the pictures. The action captured is great with the mid-air captures and the facial expressions, but the backgrounds are far too distracting.

I have to agree with you 100%!! As much as I also hate distracting backgrounds, there just weren't much options for me... I think distracting backgrounds are maybe part of baddy pictures unless they are major tournaments where the courts are somewhat distant from spectators.

If you have the chance, move around a little or a lot. Shoot from lower, higher, the sides, anywhere you can. One thing your vantage point doesn't give is a sense of how high off the floor these players are when they're jumping.

I look forward to future sets from you!

Man...there is some SERIOUS leapage going on there I've never seen that sort of vertical movement in badminton before.

13inches wrote in post #12780188
If you have the chance, move around a little or a lot. Shoot from lower, higher, the sides, anywhere you can. One thing your vantage point doesn't give is a sense of how high off the floor these players are when they're jumping.

I look forward to future sets from you!

You're absolutely right again and couldn't agree more!! However, I didn't have a press pass to go on the floor and take variety of angled shots... By the time I set up my tripod and the big white lens at my seating area, I was pretty much stuck there for the remaining 5 1/2 hours... Although frustrating and feeling trapped at times, I had a really fun time watching and cheering on my home country taking three 1st place finishes out of 5 total categories. The other 2 categories, S. Korea did not participate...

Snydremark wrote in post #12780255
Man...there is some SERIOUS leapage going on there I've never seen that sort of vertical movement in badminton before.

Well, they are international players representing their respective countries.. Not sure about the other players, but the first player (Lee, Yong Dae) is Olympic gold medalist and one of more famous athletes/celebrities in South Korea. He won mixed doubles and men doubles.

What are you doing shooting badminton for? Arent there better sports to shoot...............Ju​st kidding I LOVE badminton, play it every week, we dont see enough of it on here But well see alot more of it when I upgrade my mk2.

Number 8 is the pick for me, its got the least distracting background and the best composition. You have captured the action well in all the others (Ive shot badminton with a 5dmk2 and it is tough work, so hats off for a good job here) but like already stated the backgrounds are a little distracting. Maybe you could have got a little closer and shot a little tighter this might help with the distracting backgrounds.

About to go check out the rest of your stuff

Cheers
Daniel

Thank you Daniel. I appreciate your comments. It's really good to hear from fellow baddy player. Cheers!

These photos are much better.

Do I see you getting a 300/2.8 in the future?

flickserve wrote in post #12928720
These photos are much better.

Do I see you getting a 300/2.8 in the future?

LOL... thanks! I don't know... maybe?

When next year's open comes round

those are some serious action shots. great captures!!!

i would crop a little tighter personally. great set.