1st Lacrosse game

Today was my Son's 1st Lacrosse game. He's 7, and is on the U9 team. This is the first game I've done since last spring, so I'm just getting into it again, and getting the hang of it. These were all shot with a Canon Rebel XSi, 50-200 lens. Most were shot on the Action mode, but some were just auto. I really want to get a better camera body, and I need advice for what settings others use for this. Obviously when I shoot in those modes, I can't set my own ISO, it's just does auto. Any other advice, to make these better??? Thanks!!

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nice shots, good action shots

Nice, clear shots and good job cropping.

LaxMom wrote in post #14188154
Today was my Son's 1st Lacrosse game. He's 7, and is on the U9 team. This is the first game I've done since last spring, so I'm just getting into it again, and getting the hang of it. These were all shot with a Canon Rebel XSi, 50-200 lens. Most were shot on the Action mode, but some were just auto. I really want to get a better camera body, and I need advice for what settings others use for this. Obviously when I shoot in those modes, I can't set my own ISO, it's just does auto. Any other advice, to make these better??? Thanks!!

I assume you mean the 70-200 2.8 lens. Next time instead of using sports/action mode try adjusting ISO and use Tv mode where the shutter speed is 1/1000 or higher. Then later experiment with Av mode at f2.8 (with the shutter speed high)


XSi (450D)
Canon 55-250IS
1/1600
f5.6
200mm

My advice would be similar- You've captured some pretty good moments, but consider taking control of your shots by getting out of the auto modes- including "action". Your photos, and your photography overall, will improve dramatically.

My first step out was into AV mode- Its not difficult to do. For sports, you almost always want the lens wide open, or close to it, for 2 reasons- 1- it blurs your background, so your subject stands out more, and 2- it lets more light in, which allows a faster shutter speed. Try opening your lens as wide as the aperture allows (Lowest fstop) while in AV mode. Take a few test shots, and see what shutter speed the camera is giving you. I agree that ideally, you will want to be 1/1000 or faster, but always AT LEAST 1/500. If you are getting speeds too slow, adjust your iso higher, too fast, and you can back your iso down.

That's the techy stuff- after that, keep shooting- you have a good eye, that will continue to improve!

I appreciate the advice! I tried shooting in AV for a few minutes, but it just wouldn't focus fast enough. (and I'm pretty sure my fstop was as low as it would go, and I think the ISO was on auto) So, I switched back to Action. But, I have never tried TV mode, so am anxious to try that now!! And Watt, it is the 70-200, sorry about that.

I am really serious about getting a better camera body also. Does anybody have any good recommendations?? Thanks!!

You're on the highway to L now!

Outdoors --

RAW
AV
Wide open aperture
center point AF only
Test shoot; set ISO so that SS is >1/1000 (no auto ISO)
Monopod

As for gear....

Start with a used 1DMKIII, 100-400L.

Or, if budget is no issue, 1DMKIV or DX, 300 f/2.8 IS L and the 100-400.

You don't need the prime, yet, but it would be nice.

If you're only shooting in daylight, you'll enjoy the 100-400 for the zoom.

Enjoy the time in U9. You'll blink, it will be U15, then HS....

Are you in LR or Photoshop?

Regardless, your shots could use a bit of enhancement.

In LR (or ACR) try your WB at daylight, move exposure up about 1/3 stop, maybe 1/2, move the fill light up to about 1/4 from zero, move saturation and contrast to taste.

See if you like that better....

As for practice -- go shoot the practices, get on one knee to get an angle, try from behind the crease (net) just inside the corner flag.

Or, try mid field.

Try to get your kid coming to you with the ball, portrait orientation.

S.Horton wrote in post #14190520
You're on the highway to L now!

Outdoors --

RAW
AV
Wide open aperture
center point AF only
Test shoot; set ISO so that SS is >1/1000 (no auto ISO)
Monopod

As for gear....

Start with a used 1DMKIII, 100-400L.

Or, if budget is no issue, 1DMKIV or DX, 300 f/2.8 IS L and the 100-400.

You don't need the prime, yet, but it would be nice.

If you're only shooting in daylight, you'll enjoy the 100-400 for the zoom.

Enjoy the time in U9. You'll blink, it will be U15, then HS....

Are you in LR or Photoshop?

Regardless, your shots could use a bit of enhancement.

In LR (or ACR) try your WB at daylight, move exposure up about 1/3 stop, maybe 1/2, move the fill light up to about 1/4 from zero, move saturation and contrast to taste.

See if you like that better....

As for practice -- go shoot the practices, get on one knee to get an angle, try from behind the crease (net) just inside the corner flag.

Or, try mid field.

Try to get your kid coming to you with the ball, portrait orientation.

Thanks so much!! Yesterday I was shooting at one end of the field, where the action was. I moved from one end to the other, but only shot from midfield during faceoff. I stayed on the end where our team was shooting. (in the corner, just ahead of the goalie) However, I wasn't behind the crease, so will have to try that! I also use a monopod, it helps a LOT! But, I may try to get down, and take some from lower angles.

As far as cropping, should I crop tighter?? I feel like I want to get their whole body in, but if I crop really tight, I feel like it doesn't look right. Like the flow is better if you can see where they're going. Does that make sense?? If I crop in tighter, would it be better to crop just their upper body? I hate to chop off legs and stuff. Not sure if any of that makes sense.......lol Here is what I'm talking about:

Here is a slightly tighter cropping of the first one......does it flow ok without any space in front of him?

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Hmmmmm..... Crops are up to you, but that second one is too aggressive technically. You're losing "clarity" because of the quality of your lens, how much of the frame the subject filled to begin with, and, maybe, camera shake or SS being too low.

There are some go-by rules for cropping -- here's one
http://vuvav.com …ropping-photos-of-people/

(Green lines good, red lines bad)

Try increasing your exposure. The meters are guessing, so you watch the histogram and take control.

If you're AV, try EC +1/3.

Your exposure goal is the face in the mask, not the jersey, nor the background, and especially not a white helmut which, if you did "blow it out" would not matter because there is no detail you want there.

Grab a few of your shots, try the post-processing tips above, too.

On cropping....

I tend to want to leave space when I want the subjects (usually plural) to have somewhere to go, implying some next action.

Here, I broke all cropping rules for the guy camera-right, because he's really just context for my subject to run into:

S.Horton wrote in post #14190520
Start with a used 1DMKIII, 100-400L.

Or, if budget is no issue, 1DMKIV or DX, 300 f/2.8 IS L and the 100-400.

LOL !

LaxMom wrote in post #14190725
As far as cropping, should I crop tighter?? I feel like I want to get their whole body in, but if I crop really tight, I feel like it doesn't look right. Like the flow is better if you can see where they're going. Does that make sense?? If I crop in tighter, would it be better to crop just their upper body? I hate to chop off legs and stuff. Not sure if any of that makes sense.......lol Here is what I'm talking about:
Here is a slightly tighter cropping of the first one......does it flow ok without any space in front of him?
And here is an even tighter cropping. Does this work better? Or does it look funny without his legs? (and of coarse you lose clarity.....)
I appreciate all of the advice from everyone. It really helps!

Oh, and I do editing in Photoshop. My DH is a graphic designer, so we have it. However, I need to learn A LOT more about it!

First try to get a sharper pic before you start cropping!
Your XSi (450D) is good, just follow the action, AI servo and continuous shots, high shutter speed and you'll get plenty of good pics. I've only shot a couple of lacrosse games but it's a lot of fun.


XSi (450D)
cropped 50%
1/1250

S.Horton- YES, that's what I was trying to explain, about the subject needing somewhere to go. In my second shot, I left a little room in front of the runner, because he was moving forward. I think it would have looked strange if I would have cropped it really tight, and not left room in front.

In the 3rd, the ball was moving, so left some space.......in the last one, the ball was going up, so I cropped tight on the sides.

Right, but personally I do not think that the subject needs anywhere to go if there's nothing to go to.

To put it another way, open field is not a place to 'go' - no destination, just space.

Like I said, up to you.

You'll have a blast. We did, as our kid went up the ages in LAX.

Very tight community. Much smaller than it may appear.

The odds you trip over me at a tournament are pretty good, because we're both on the east coast.

Here are a few more..........

My son in blue, checking the kids stick- may have been better if I could have seen my son's expression too?...

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S.Horton wrote in post #14191442
Right, but personally I do not think that the subject needs anywhere to go if there's nothing to go to.

To put it another way, open field is not a place to 'go' - no destination, just space.

Like I said, up to you.

You'll have a blast. We did, as our kid went up the ages in LAX.

Very tight community. Much smaller than it may appear.

The odds you trip over me at a tournament are pretty good, because we're both on the east coast.

Thanks! And yes, we LOVE LAX so far! He actually started when he was 4, and this is his 4th year. He really loves defense, and will really go after the kid with the ball. He played goalie yesterday, and he actually saved a few! Although he also took one in the thigh, so got a pretty big bruise! But hey, in LAX, you have to live with some bumps and bruises! LOL But it's a very small community, and we've met lots of great people.

My Son also plays Baseball (starting this Wednesday) so will have Baseball pics to share too.