My first daylight??? football game

I was all excited about getting to shoot my first football game in daylight this season. I was going to try out lens and TC combinations and get to use a low ISO, but things didn't work out as planned.

The game started at 1:30 and it was so cloudy and dark that they had to turn on the lights. Then came a cold wind-driven rain right into my face and the lens for most of the game. I ended up having to just use the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 by itself, got a few shots at the beginning at ISO 400 (hoped for 100 or 200) and then had to bump it up to 800 and probably should have gone on up to 1600. Shutter speeds were 1/500 to 1/640, and aperture was 2.8 - 4.0. I was so busy drying off the lens and trying to keep it from fogging up that I didn't get that many shots.

Here's some of what I ended up with. Comments and advice are always appreciated.

#1

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great job, especially for the conditions, which you seemed to cope with nicely. the 3rd one is a bit overexposed but other than that they are fine photographs. keep it up!

Hey - peachie stuff there. I love shooting in weather. Looks like you had a good time at it. Nicely done.

Great photos. Yeah, at this time of year day games can turn into night games very quickly. If sports might turn into your thing, shoot as many games as you can, indoors and out. Your own experiences will be your best teacher. Once again, nice job.

Some good stuff.

I got to shoot a "daytime" game as well on Saturday. It was Friday nights rained out game, which meant that; the feild was a swamp, the sky was overcast, and the players were full of mud! It was like shooting a Friday night under the lights!

Billginthekeys, yeah I overdid it on #3 in pp trying to get a clear look at his eyes and ended up blowing out the white in the uniforms. Thank you for the comments in this thread and for the advice in the other one!

Alexandra

Croasdail, I always enjoy shooting sports, it's the long drive home in cold wet clothes that I could have done without this time. Thanks for the comments!

Alexandra

kidpower, yes I guess it was too much to expect clear sunny conditions in November, but I still liked it better than shooting at night. Thank you for the kind comments here and for your help in the other thread!

Alexandra

MazerRakhm, sounds like your Saturday was as fun as mine. It was better than a night game, but I ended up using pretty much the same settings as I do at one. Thanks for the encouragement!

Alexandra

Nice. I've only shot daytime football games It's strange, however, that the last game I shot had similar circumstances. The game stared at 1:30 and before 3rd quarter started I was using ISO 1600 and the flood lights were on! It was really dark for 2:30 in the afternoon. No rain though, the rain stopped 15 minutes before the game started

I like #1 here.

Great captures. Excellent considering the conditions.

burntbizzkit, I've seen some of your day game photos on here and they are really well done, beautiful colors and very sharp. I was hoping for the chance to come close to something like that, but this was my only chance and it just didn't work out for me. Thanks for looking and for the nice comment!

Alexandra

CrazyStang, thank you very much for your comments! I really appreciate the encouragement.

Alexandra

Great super sharp

What camera?

urbandancer, thank you very much!

BlaineIII, it's the Canon Digital Rebel.