First timer with sports photos

While in Australia, there were some really amazing sights around the beaches. In Melbourne there were an incredible amount of windsurfers and kite surfers out on the water. In Manly, there was an amateur beach volleyball competition. I have never taken any photographs from sporting events, so this was a very steep learning curve for me, but I wanted to give it a go to get some feedback.

The lens used for the volleyball photos was a 100mm 2.8L IS. The lens for the windsurfing was a 70-300mm 4-5.6 IS. After experimenting with these lenses, I really understand the true benefit behind lenses like the 300 2.8L.

Comments and critiques are certainly welcome.

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Hi. Looks like a great place, sitting here with wintry snow! I think your windsurf shots were more successful. The volleyball shots sre awkward in terms of composition, timing and i think a wider viewpoint would have been better. Thanks for sharing.

James, checked out your photo link on Flicker. You have some wonderful images there. Looks like your travels have taken you to diverse regions of the world. Good for you. For your 1st time shooting action sports, IMHO you have a good start. With regard to the Beach VB photos, a face w/ball, w/(peak) action and/or emotion is a good thing. For me personally, I would discard #2 & #4 [no ball in view], #3 [no eyes]. Some full body hits or digs w/a bokeh'ed background would be cool......maybe shot from sand level or below net level. Your windsurfing shots look good on your Fkr acct., when enlarged. Keep up the passion for your photography.

Thanks for the feed back. My old 50 1.4 probably would have been a better choice for the volleyball shots. I'll keep experimenting.

Your 70-300mm, f/4-5.6 would also work for the VB captures, given enough light.

Right on. I was thinking the 50 for a wider view and better chance to get ball, body, and sand in shot.

Do all that (ball, body & sand) w/your 70-300mm. The compression would be good.

xochi2 wrote in post #15508859
Do all that (ball, body & sand) w/your 70-300mm. The compression would be good.

Thanks for the ideas!

Hannya wrote in post #15508677
Hi. Looks like a great place, sitting here with wintry snow! I think your windsurf shots were more successful. The volleyball shots sre awkward in terms of composition, timing and i think a wider viewpoint would have been better. Thanks for sharing.

Tell me about it! While in Australia, we had temperatures upwards of 40 deg C. I am now back home in Nova Scotia. This morning it was -17 deg C. Right now, we are in the midst of a snow storm.

I did find the volleyball shots very difficult. In a few months, once our beaches are open, I'll give it a go again.

Hey James! Here is an example of what we discussed earlier (Full body of hitter). I used my 70-200mm, f/2.8 w/1D Mk3. (ISO 800, 100mm, f/4., 1/250 sec, strobed (2 AB800's). Granted, this was shot indoors, but shooting outdoors, on the beach, you may or may not have even more room to maneuver for the shot.

Hey, now I don't feel so bad here in west central Wisconsin, this week.....-3° to -24° C, but today, right now, balmy.....1° C !!!