Spring Softball Season Already Under Way

Here a few softball pics pics from my daughters new 18A Fastpitch team - Pony Express - from the ASA Halloween Bash yesterday.

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Nice shots Kenny. Pony Express....cool, always a good competative team.
Looking forward to more shots from you.

I'd be tempted to straighten up the horizon in the first shot Kenny... but overall some good work... #2 is certainly my fave. #4 is an unusual crop... not sure if it works for me or not... hmmmm

---- Gavin

Thanks Quasi.

Gavin, you're right about the horizon, it should be leveled. #4 probably should be in the "experimental" section. just thought I'd try it since the ball was so high, she was so tall, etc...

KAC
P.S. Leveled it, still sorry I chopped the umps head off, but sometimes that's exactly what you want to do to those guys.

you can scrap #3, the crop and not being able to see her face or anyone else in the shot kinda kills it

With softball you have one main thing going for you, you own a 70-200 2.8 and at the next game, take it and shoot right from behind home plate when they are on the field. The lens will focus pretty well through chain link if you are right up on it, and at 200mm you can track the running coming in from 3rd, short stop and first base positions pretty well. As well as get some great pitcher shots. Those girls show a lot of emotion in games, be sure to keep an eye out for that. Also during batting, if you dont have a good angle or already have a shot that will do, shoot the dugout, team spirit is high and you can get some great shots.

Also, I was allowed on the field during College Softballl season last year, not that it was the greatest spot, but if I wanted to just hang out and wait for a right fielder to do something, I would ask the ref before the game and usually they would give me permission to be on the good side of the fence around the mid-outfield. Of course I was on assignment so that might have made some sway with the ump.

Thanks 8's but as I said #3 was an experiment and I like it in a quirky way. As far as its usefulness, I agree it's not a publishable, sellable pic, but that is not the intent in any case.

There are none in this set, but I do generally shoot a few shots of the pitchers and other players from behind the plate (see the gallery this is from) and otherwise am on the field since I'm getting to know all the umps and coaches we play/work with.

You're right about the emotion and I typically try to get a few shots of faces and team emotion and all that from each game. You can see these and more in my gallery if you're interested.

Thanks!
KAC

P.S. here's one from behind the plate from this tournament:

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As for action #1 and #3 have plenty of that but I wouldn't think anyone on the Pony Express team would like them since both appear to be errors on their part. In #2 it's difficult to determine if she put the ball in play (is the ball coming or going ?) -- if she did bunt the ball successfully, I think it's your best shot. #s 4 and 5 don't do anything for me, but if #4's your daughter and she's in #5 they're keepers IMO. In the added shot, it's too bad she blinked and is in a rather awkward position, otherwise I like it -- good action, focus, and composition.

I can't believe they're playing softball in Colorado and not in Florida -- at least nowhere near where I live as far as I know. I'm already beginning to get withdrawal pains and doubt that there'll be any softball or baseball here until January.

fslshooter wrote:
As for action #1 and #3 have plenty of that but I wouldn't think anyone on the Pony Express team would like them since both appear to be errors on their part. In #2 it's difficult to determine if she put the ball in play (is the ball coming or going ?) -- if she did bunt the ball successfully, I think it's your best shot. #s 4 and 5 don't do anything for me, but if #4's your daughter and she's in #5 they're keepers IMO. In the added shot, it's too bad she blinked and is in a rather awkward position, otherwise I like it -- good action, focus, and composition.

I can't believe they're playing softball in Colorado and not in Florida -- at least nowhere near where I live as far as I know. I'm already beginning to get withdrawal pains and doubt that there'll be any softball or baseball here until January.

fslshooter, you're right about the errors. I want to encourage them to do better Truth is I didn't get a lot of great pics, but wanted to get a few up since this was their first tournament as a new team. #2 is actually my daughter and yes it was a successful bunt -- she made it to first -- but I know exactly what you mean with the unknown nature of batting shots. I really pretty much hate stationary batting shots for the reasons you state -- they don't really show any action -- but the players like to see themselves batting sometimes. And it has made a difference for at least one player -- who apparently identified incorrect mechanics and corrected for it.

The last one was only worthwhile because if was the end of the one game (of three) they won.

I agree that the "tall" one is pretty worthless except maybe (or maybe not) to #1.

I can't believe we're playing either, but the weather was actually pretty good. In two weeks we go to Dallas for the Easton Elite Tournament -- the weather there could be worse.

KAC

Thanks for

That makes it even better -- your timing's perfect and so are her mechanics IMO. It's a definite keeper!!