Wrestling - up close and personal

So when I shoot wrestling I usually use a 70-200 or my 85mm. This time I decided to get in tighter using the 120-300. Below are a few examples. My question to you all is are these too tight, too loose, or should I just pull the batteries and look for other sports to shoot.

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Definitely not too tight. Did you handhold that beast?

Yes.. and I paid for it in higher lost shots and my shoulder is killing me reminding me why I should have stopping playing hockey 1 season earlier.... particularly when it is cold. These are for the most part all full frame shots, little or no cropping done.

I have had a thing about not cutting off body parts, but in wrestling I think it seems ok. Just trying to get my mind wrapped around it and know when and how to shoot tight.

these are great! I would not say they are too tight...

Those are great. For some reason, it's seems to be ok to cut off body parts for wrestling. I'd rather see all the pain on their faces than their whole body.

Karman

Having all limbs in the shot for wrestling is not necessary. As a former wrestler (7 years in the great state of Illinois) I look for what the offensive or defensive wrestler is trying to do and capture that. If an arm bar is being applied, shoot tight on him cranking it -- the legs are not necessary. Each move has a vital role to play and focusing in on that portion of the move is all that is needed. If a three-quarter nelson is being applied, zoom in on the head area. No need to zoom out to get both wrestlers and the official in the shot -- it is meaningless.

I really like those shots. It shows the power of the sport. Muscle tone and facial expressions are awesome. Thanks for sharing em

Gatorboy wrote in post #2599246
Having all limbs in the shot for wrestling is not necessary. As a former wrestler (7 years in the great state of Illinois) I look for what the offensive or defensive wrestler is trying to do and capture that. If an arm bar is being applied, shoot tight on him cranking it -- the legs are not necessary. Each move has a vital role to play and focusing in on that portion of the move is all that is needed. If a three-quarter nelson is being applied, zoom in on the head area. No need to zoom out to get both wrestlers and the official in the shot -- it is meaningless.

Good information. It is intersting what is viewed as acceptable in different sports. There really isn't any universal rules that apply to all. I will have to try another match and see if I can work that style better. Thanks.

Cutting off the legs is fine in my opinion. Your looking at the hands, face and body positions to get a feel of whats going on. I would only shoot the feet if the hold or move, like the ones in 5 and 6 show, show the whole "picture" of why they are in the position in the first place. The ones where the're just laying there flat, the feet are unnessary. In your pictures I feel like I'm right there front row. I love them!
Mike

Mark - Cropping/framing is a subjective matter and what appeals to one tog might not appeal to others. I'll add my 2 cents. I'd crop #1 either tighter at the blue guy's buttocks or looser with feet in the frame. I like #2 as is but it might look even better cropped slightly different -- ie, include all the guy on top's head and/or crop closer to elbows. I like all the rest the way you cropped/framed them especially the sportrait. Good stuff -- excellent faces!

Thanks Jerry... these are for the most part in-camera crops - basically as they were shot. I know I still shoot too loose for a lot of sports and I am trying to move out of that comfort zone and shoot a little tighter. Thanks for your comments.

Yeah...ya' pretty much nailed them. If the camera was your actual physical position, it is just what you would want to see.

Photography as it should be done.

very nice, mark. I like the low angle you used.