Avoiding the net?

My wife and I were shooting a women's softball game. They had a catch net in front of the stands that we had to shoot through. In some cases, the shot would focus on the players through the net and the next shot, it would focus on the net.

Any tips to avoid the focus on the net?

Best - Do not shoot through nets or fences. Move.

2nd best - Get as close to the net as possible. Ideally you want the lens hood touching the net or fence. In the case of chain link, center the lens through a diamond. Again, move.

3rd best - prefocus on a position like pitcher to get shots like your second. Use manual focus.

4th best - buy a beer, enjoy the game.

Get real close. My 70-200 is actually JUST small enough to fit in the gap of a standard chain link fence. Next step would be send samples of the best of what you have to parties involved and seek access to get in designated areas on the other side of the fence. Many local parks also have gaps in the fence near the dugout that some occasional strategic loitering can pay off with. Depending upon how the net is, you may be able to get above it?

JeffreyG wrote in post #15839466
Best - Do not shoot through nets or fences. Move.

2nd best - Get as close to the net as possible. Ideally you want the lens hood touching the net or fence. In the case of chain link, center the lens through a diamond. Again, move.

3rd best - prefocus on a position like pitcher to get shots like your second. Use manual focus.

4th best - buy a beer, enjoy the game.

+1 on all but #4, I don't drink...

Seriously, if you need to shoot through the fence, get close. If the fence is loose and blows around a lot, I loop a finger on my left hand around it and hold it in place while holding the lens hood. I shot a girls softball game yesterday and had to shoot some through a chain link fence. If you get close enough the fence disappears.

+1 what the others have said.

And take a look at the two shots you posted. One was a wider shot and got the net. The second is a tighter shot and it worked out a lot better.

And softball is the worse for me to shoot on the field. Most SB diamonds are cramped for size, and the only way to shoot them is behind the fence. So you'll need to shoot as Jeffrey said with the 2nd and 3rd best. And you'll need to be at a FL of 100 or more to make the net/fence disappear and the lens will need to be touching or 1" or less from the fence.

All Of These Images were shot behind the fence using a 70-200 with a 1.4 ET with the exception of #2-6 and #23 which was shot by a remote with a 100-400 behind home plate.

If you must be behind a net, get very close, shoot through it. No big deal.

IMAGE LINK: http://s137.photobucke​t.com …it-1_zps31a1bca4.jpg.html

Shot this on Tuesday, behind a chain link fence. Not the greatest action shot, but my wife is the head coach so I get a pass sometimes... lol

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/kenjancef/86566​20950/

Here is another shot through the fence. 1d MKIV + 70-200 IS II

HTTP response: 403 | MIME changed to 'text/plain'

Great advice above. Wide aperture works as well.

Not sports but lots of chain link to shoot through at airports when photographing planes. This was f 3.5 and the fence is gone.

Nice shot... love the heat trails (if that's what it's called...)

In the shots you have shown, I think back button focusing would be useful. That would separate the focusing from the shutter button. Focus on the mound using the back button freezing the focus where you want it. And then when you do the exposure, you won't be in danger of refocusing on the net when you press the shutter release.

Edit: As mention in another post, manual focus would be another option.

Just my noob opinion,
Doc