Baseball - First Patriot Scrimmage

The Patriots are getting ready to start their season and had a scrimmage this past Saturday against Strasburg. This is my first time shooting baseball so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
1.

Need to crop tighter.

Couple of these look like they were taken during warms ups. Like the picther shot with the guy in the background obviously not ready to play.

Mix your angles up to get better backgrounds.

Crop the batter shots more. The catcher adds nothing to the photos.

#7 is the only shot I would use...but that is me.

Keep at it.

I personally like these and yes they could be cropped a bit tighter, however you stopped the action really well and I like the angles that you got. I love those type of pitching shots, really nice set.

Sports photography isn't all about stopping action. It should be about telling a story around the sport being played. Several of these miss the peak action. Number three for instance. Number six is a really poor angle. I mean the first thing I see is a rather larger umpire butt. #2 crop out the bored outfielder...and the catcher adds nothing to any of the pictures that he is in. #4 the peak action is missed. Something tells me it was called a ball. #8 is interesting...if it was cropped right.

Harleypugs wrote in post #14092050
Sports photography isn't all about stopping action. It should be about telling a story around the sport being played. Several of these miss the peak action. Number three for instance. Number six is a really poor angle. I mean the first thing I see is a rather larger umpire butt. #2 crop out the bored outfielder...and the catcher adds nothing to any of the pictures that he is in. #4 the peak action is missed. Something tells me it was called a ball. #8 is interesting...if it was cropped right.

I have to agree with most of this. I like the idea of trying a different angle in #6 but something more like this might have worked better IMO, but he's right, it's about a story and this photo or angle IMO, because the batter is there but blurred, indicates the struggle between the two, you see both parties to the action and it's also the moment right before something is going to happen so there's anticipation as well.

2800 x 2217

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2549 x 2162

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Phased wrote in post #14091991
I personally like these and yes they could be cropped a bit tighter, however you stopped the action really well and I like the angles that you got. I love those type of pitching shots, really nice set.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Harleypugs wrote in post #14092050
Sports photography isn't all about stopping action. It should be about telling a story around the sport being played. Several of these miss the peak action. Number three for instance. Number six is a really poor angle. I mean the first thing I see is a rather larger umpire butt. #2 crop out the bored outfielder...and the catcher adds nothing to any of the pictures that he is in. #4 the peak action is missed. Something tells me it was called a ball. #8 is interesting...if it was cropped right.

Thanks. These are some of the suggestions I'm looking for. I think it will only help me get better.

elrey2375 wrote in post #14092155
I have to agree with most of this. I like the idea of trying a different angle in #6 but something more like this might have worked better IMO, but he's right, it's about a story and this photo or angle IMO, because the batter is there but blurred, indicates the struggle between the two, you see both parties to the action and it's also the moment right before something is going to happen so there's anticipation as well.

Also, don't ever be afraid to cut the catcher off a bit, he's not the subject unless it's a ball in the dirt, play at home plate, etc.

As for catching action, you've almost got to pick an infielder and stick with him to catch the play at the right time, otherwise you'll miss it. I just stayed with the SS for this entire at bat and it just so happened that he got a ball hit to him that time.

Thank you! All great information.

Watch your backrounds. In #1 we see a bunch of buildings with with windows behind the home run fence, however in #2 I find the backround more pleasing.

Always Looking wrote in post #14092335
Watch your backrounds. In #1 we see a bunch of buildings with with windows behind the home run fence, however in #2 I find the backround more pleasing.

Gotcha. Thanks. I received some great feedback on my basketball pictures about backgrounds. I just need to incorporate that info here, too.