Some tennis shots

It was overcast and drizzling. I apologize for the bad lighting/underexposure​, but this was shot with an old-school 70-200mm 4.5-5.6. If I had a faster lens or if the sun came out, I think it would be better. In order to freeze frames I had to use a faster shutter speed. I had set the camera to Tv mode, set the shutter speed, and had my friend go at it. She's never used a dSLR before.

All of them were shot at 1/400s, again in Tv mode. Despite the bad lighting, enjoy!

I wanted to go 1/500s, but the lighting simply did not allow it. The photos are underexposed as is. Tomorrow, hopefully the sun will come out and the photos should be better.

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Yeah underexposed and not fast enough shutter. Whats your ISO? You should be able to increase ISO to compensate for lack of shutter speed.

potncil wrote in post #13359417
Yeah underexposed and not fast enough shutter. Whats your ISO? You should be able to increase ISO to compensate for lack of shutter speed.

Yeah I forgot about it. I think I left it at 100 and gave it to my friend. Then I started playing and forgot about the camera.

Yeah - I think you forgot about the ISO option. Crank it up.

1. Adjust ISO as the others have indicated.

2, Shoot tight crop tighter.

3. Capture strokes where the ball is between you and the player. That will allow you to see the player's face.

4. Shutter speed 1/1000 or faster (unless you prefer to see some blur of the ball)

5. Some shots will be full body and some even tighter (say from the waist up)

5. Ball + face + proper focus and exposure = Keeper

6. Add a clean background, emotion, and really tight framing and you have a great photo.

Zivnuska wrote in post #13360127
1. Adjust ISO as the others have indicated.

2, Shoot tight crop tighter.

3. Capture strokes where the ball is between you and the player. That will allow you to see the player's face.

4. Shutter speed 1/1000 or faster (unless you prefer to see some blur of the ball)

5. Some shots will be full body and some even tighter (say from the waist up)

5. Ball + face + proper focus and exposure = Keeper

6. Add a clean background, emotion, and really tight framing and you have a great photo.

Great advice, thanks! But the emotion thing, haha, that IS my emotion. Unlike most other tennis player, I'm very calm and smooth with my strokes. My face never gets bent out of shape.

Hahaha some of the facial expression of the pros crack me up.

http://www.lastampa.it …p?ID_blog=241&I​D_file=141

http://i.telegraph.co.​uk …9/nadal-face_1809796i.jpg

LOL!

auto focus is on background rather on player, not to mention severe underexposure etc

Look at it this way-- based on these images all you can do is improve.

Wow, you really should delete about 40 images, way to many. Perhaps 4126 is best??

As others have said, shutter is not fast enough and the focus is off on most of them, they just aren't sharp. No keepers for me, but keep it up.

Hello,
I shoot a lot of state touneys (NTRP) and play as well, so here is my two cents.

I also like to shoot TV mode with 1/1000 being the minimum for stop action in tennis. YOU CAN go much slower to compensate for poor lighting and still get good shots but you need to learn what types and timing to avoid excessive blur.

Ex) Good players will prepare early for ground strokes, if they are able, so you will often get a pause just before they start their forward swing motion. A split step will give you an opportunity just before they make the volley. Players typically always have a hitch or pause in their service motion, not to mention the ball does have to stop to come back down from the toss, etc. etc.

Anyhow, a good rule of thumb:

*Good lighting = 1/1000 (or higher), ISO 500.
*If it is dim lighting, adjust your ISO upward.
*If you reach your ISO limit, I don't like going over ISO 1000 on my 40d, then go Full Auto. This will allow you to control your aperture as well. The camera will not always give you the lowest possible aperture, so this will insure allowing the most light in.
*If the photos are still underexposed, or the light is diminishing, you won't have any choice but to then begin slowing your shutter speed and/or switching to a fast prime lens.

Good luck and have fun..............